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Oh The Places You'll Go with a Lifelong Love of Books

Oh The Places You'll Go with a Lifelong Love of Books
Posted on 10/02/2019
Library Para Nicole Crow shows off new books secured for Fitzmorris Elementary School“If you keep your eyes open enough, oh, the stuff you will learn. Oh, the most wonderful stuff.” – Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss had some wise, inspiring words for young reader Nicole Crow. Ten-year-old Nicole once marched into her elementary school library on a mission - excited by the lure of a portal to another world, the smell of the books, and the adventures to be found within so many pages. 

Now an adult, and brand new Jeffco library and tech ed para-professional, Nicole has landed at Fitzmorris Elementary - still on a mission that could only be executed in the sacred space of a library. 

As a new para, only on the job since August, Nicole noticed right away that the library had empty shelves, older books, and even some that needed some physical repair or care. Being a bibliophile (one who loves books), Nicole knew that her students at Fitzmorris were missing out on the "the power of a book, the excitement it can awaken, the imagination it can spark, the family bonding it can create or solidify...the way a new book feels when you peel the pages apart for the first time or the difference in how a new and old book smells when you turn the pages, both intoxicating in their own endearing way," she explained. 

Nicole also knew that being at a Title I school meant she would have to be adventurous when considering how to replenish and revamp the library's aged collection. Nicole turned to crowd-sourcing through her family, friends and social media and set up a list of various books and amenities on donorschoose.org.

Within three weeks, Nicole completed her mission. About 40 brand new books, some Harry Potter stuffies and a cozy bean bag chair arrived at Fitzmorris Elementary in September. Nicole wanted to include the stuffies and bean bag chair to encourage student engagement with the new books in a cozy, comfy environment  - just as her own parents had done with her in her youth when they read with her almost every day. 

To serve all students at Fitzmorris, Nicole had requested reading levels for grades preschool through 5th grade. "I wanted some newer books, some empowering female books (Ada Twist, Scientist; Rosie Revere, Engineer and Iggy Peck, Architect), some beginner reading books for kindergartners and beginner chapter books," she explains, "I also, selfishly ordered some of my old favorites by Roald Dahl and Dr. Seuss, and LEGO books for all the creators here." The books will soon live in a newly designated "What's New" section of the library.

Nicole has truly taken her favorite author's advice to heart, fully embracing the places she'll go - moving mountains and outdoing the Dr.'s success formula set forth in one of her favorite books...

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!


-Dr. Seuss, Oh the Places You'll Go

Library Para Nicole Crow poses with new library books for Fitzmorris Elementary
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