At the recent Louisiana Library Association annual conference, Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy librarian, Elizabeth Kahn, was awarded the 2018 James O. Modisette Award for excellence in a middle/high school library program. Kahn has been at Taylor since 2006 when she was hired as the first librarian there. While at Taylor, she has curated a rich collection of print and electronic resources for the students. She works collaboratively with the teachers to develop strategies for teaching students how to become expert researchers. Her motto for the library is All Readers Welcome, and reading for fun is highly encouraged. She introduces her students to many authors either with a face to face visit or virtually.
In the library, they love to celebrate and activities are planned yearly to promote Teen Read Week, Teen Tech Week, and National Poetry Month. Several years ago a makerspace was created with materials that help promote critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving. Kahn says that the library at Taylor may not be the quietest place on campus, but it is a space created for students to become the lifelong learners that they need to be to succeed in college and career once they leave Taylor.
Congratulations to Elizabeth Kahn!