Why ROOKERY?

In January 2004, I became the keeper of “The Rookery”, a hobbled together space that served as Prescott Elementary School’s library and computer lab. The name, displayed on a sign above the entrance, was so embedded into Prescott’s culture that no one thought it odd to say “check to see if the Rookery has that book” or “We’ll start working on the VoiceThread in the Rookery tomorrow”.

In 2005, I created a website to extend the Rookery’s availability beyond school walls and school hours.   For visitors unfamiliar with the term, I offered this explanation:

A rookery is a nesting area where penguins (and other birds) nurture their young. Penguins are our mascot at Prescott School, and the library/computer lab is our “Rookery”. We strive to make it a welcoming and nurturing place for our young students.

click to view an archived copy of the Rookery Website

The Rookery (and Prescott school) was a magical place for me.. and for other people as well.  In the spring of 2008, Prescott was listed as one of the top five public elementary schools in the state!

Sadly, due to budget cuts and declining enrollment in the school district, Prescott was closed in June 2008 and the staff and students were reassigned to other schools.  

For the next four years, I worked at other school libraries, looking for my next magical place.  Then, last summer, I became the keeper of a new space at the center of Blanchard Middle School.  It houses over 18,00 books and 50 computers, but the most eye catching feature is the large flock of colorful birds floating below the ceiling.

School lore has it that the birds are to remind us of the Lessons of the Geese by Dr. Robert McNeish.   I LOVE these lessons and thought of calling my blog “Lessons from the Geese Library” or “Thriving Under the Geese”.... but those are mouthfuls, and the fact is, the birds don’t look to me like geese.

But the birds are beautiful reminders that this space can be 
where Middle School students find their wings and learn to fly.

A place where we nurture them and help them grow.

A rookery. For Middle School