At Bellefonte High, there are various staff members that have left impacts on the environment of the high school. One place in the high school that creates a calm, welcoming environment would be the library, and this wouldn’t be possible without the two ladies who run it.
Secondary Library Media Specialist Ms. Laura Sarge and Library Clerk Mrs. Susan Crater are two key figures who help create the relaxing and open environment of the library.
“We want students to come to the library, feel welcome and utilize all materials available to them!” Mrs. Crater said.
Aside from creating a comfortable environment, they would also like for students to know that the library is a space that can be used for collaboration, community, growth, and entertainment.
“We have some fun things like magazines, DVDs, board games, crafts, and a button maker if you need a little downtime. Just know that we are here for you, if you need help in any way the library is a good place to start,” Ms. Sarge said.
The librarians do a lot more tasks day-to-day than students would think. These include, going through and making sure that the books are in order, weeding out the outdated materials to replace with more up-to-date ones, creating fun showcases, processing and cataloging new books, and working with some tech support.
“One of the biggest projects we have taken on this year is mending the books – when books are read and handled by many different people they can see some wear and tear and we work to keep the books sturdy and readable,” Ms. Sarge said.
Ms. Sarge studied education at Penn State University and has a masters degree along with several certifications. For the last 15 years, she has been working as the Youth Service and Outreach Librarian for the Centre County Library system. By working in an area so close to the school, this gave her the opportunity to be able to interact with many people from Bellefonte.
“While at the public library I met many many community families, got to know many of the BASD students, and attended many events at BASD to promote literacy and library use. My work at the public library taught me all of the skills of librarianship,” Ms. Sarge said.
The public library is a nonprofit organization, which is valuable, but rather limited in opportunities to grow and thrive. Ms. Sarge decided that Bellefonte would be a better fit for her.
“Because my background and degrees are focused in education, it was always my goal to become a School Librarian. I love being a Librarian, I have a lot of pride in saying so, and I am incredibly grateful that this opportunity came my way. I feel this is truly where I am meant to be,” Ms. Sarge said.
Both Ms. Sarge and Mrs. Crater have hobbies outside of school. While each woman has their own two children, they still find time to do the things they enjoy.
“I am a practitioner of energy healing through sound and vibrational therapy as well as Reiki. I am an herbalist and volunteer in an herbal learning garden. One of my favorite things to do is work with herbs to blend tea for healing. As you might expect, I enjoy tea, cats, cardigans, and books (especially horror),” Ms. Sarge said.
Mrs. Carter also has other hobbies, which include traveling, reading, and bike riding. Not only does she work in the library, but she is also a travel agent.
Each of these ladies would love to see more students in the library and encourage them to please push in their chairs and become more involved with the library.
“We love students coming to the library! We wish they would interact with displays and not be afraid to touch them. They’re there for the students to enjoy,” Mrs. Crater said.
