AAPS Library Services Department

We are excited to welcome back students in our libraries as we embark on another year of engaging programs to run, new books to read and meaningful instruction to deliver!

by Rachel Goldberg,

Librarian, Wines Elementary School

Library Services District Chair Y5-5

On September 28, the elementary librarians visited to the Downtown branch of the Ann Arbor District Library to meet with a brilliant team of AADL youth librarians. The AADL librarians shared information about the youth collection’s transition from traditional cataloging to a categorization system based on the BISAC Subject Headings. The AADL librarians shared their categories with the AAPS librarians as well as their process for determining best fit and evaluating the categories over time. They also shared stories of what has worked well, what they’d do differently if they were starting over, and lessons they learned along the way. For our elementary librarian team, it was helpful to learn from other librarians who have also worked to increase patron autonomy in the library by making library systems more intuitive for the users they’re designed to serve.

It was also a joy to talk about youth collections with others who are also deeply invested in curating robust libraries for young people. At the end of our visit, we went through the Downtown Kids section with the AADL librarians and got to see some of their systems in practice. We were also excited to learn of a few new titles that we’d like to add to our own shelves. Most of all, we appreciated the chance to collaborate with one another, as well as with our public librarian colleagues, to share information and learn together.

By Kim McLean

Librarian, Clague Middle School

After a brief presentation on the history of the AADL Archives by Andrew MacLaren, AADL Archives Manager, the secondary librarians toured the warehouse to explore the various resources including historic photos, documents, newspapers and municipal records on Washtenaw County. The goal of the event was for librarians to best identify and evaluate relevant archive materials including local primary sources, collections, and digital resources within the community archive that align with social studies curriculum topics, standards, and essential questions.

Jennifer Colby, Secondary Library Services Department Chair and Instructional Technology Consultant, located a poem she wrote when she was 9-yrs-old that was published in the Ann Arbor New while browsing through the newspaper clipping files, Upon further exploration in the archives, she also found several newspaper articles about her father, Ron Pudduck, from his racquetball playing days and his time as an AAPS teacher.

The secondary librarians were grateful for a chance to explore the wonderful resources and materials that the AADL helps to archive and preserve for generations to come!

Rachel Goldberg, Librarian at Wines Elementary School and PreK-5 Media Specialists AAPS District Department Chair, has been selected as this year’s recipient of the Michigan Association of School Librarian’s Margaret Grazier Award for Contribution to the Profession after being nominated by her AAPS elementary school librarian colleagues. Rachel encourages collaboration within the Library Services Department and plans engaging professional development so that all of the district librarians can learn from one another. She brings strong knowledge of school librarianship that helps us grow in our work as our roles continue to evolve. Rachel truly embodies what it means to be an outstanding library leader and is incredibly deserving of recognition. She will be honored with this award at the MASL President’s Award Gala, which will be held on Thursday evening, October 29, 2026 at the Kensington Hotel in Ann Arbor.

My name is Lily Ma and I’m the Thurston Elementary School librarian. I’ve been in Ann Arbor since 6th grade where I went to Clague Middle School and Huron High School. I continued on at the University of Michigan for my bachelors and masters (Go Blue!). In my free time I love to crochet, read, watch F1, and spend time with my family. I have two sons (5 and 2) and a cattle dog who is less Bluey and more Muffin.

I was a classroom teacher for 11 years before moving to the library. I loved many aspects of being in the classroom and taught across grades 1-4. This is the best of both worlds - teaching and books! I love that I get to be part of each student’s reading journey from Y5 through 5th grade. It's the best feeling in the world to watch a Kindergartener light up and clap over a book. Equally amazing is being able to have deep conversations with 4th graders after sharing a story together, and seeing the gears turn as connections are made between the book and real life.

Recently I read Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass’s book The Lost Library. It was the perfect embodiment of why I love books - magical, touching, mysterious, humorous, beautiful, and left me thinking for a while. Plus there were cats and illustrations, so that’s a bonus.

I gush a lot over books but I wish everyone knew that an elementary school librarian does way more than just read books to kids. That's certainly one part of my job. But in addition to that, I am overseeing a space used by students, staff, and community members, managing hundreds of check outs each week, curating a collection of over 10,000 books, teaching lessons back to back every day, creating relationships with our 500+ students, and inspiring students to develop a lasting love of reading. Books are the central focus but we certainly do a lot more than just read! I think libraries and librarians are the heart of a community :)