Send Email to Mona at: rkerby@wmdc.edu
Visit Mona's website at:
http://www.carr.org/authco/kerby.htm
Authors Among Us - Children's Writers Who Are or Who Have Been Librarians
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Mona Kerby
Send Email to Mona at: rkerby@wmdc.edu Visit Mona's website at: http://www.carr.org/authco/kerby.htm |
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Authors Among Us - Children's Writers Who Are or Who Have Been Librarians
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Featured Titles by Mona Kerby
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Cockroaches and Friendly Bees, Ferocious Bees
ISBN: 0595146643 |
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Amelia Earhart: Courage in the Sky
ISBN: 014034263X |
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Robert E. Lee: Southern Hero of the Civil War
ISBN: 0894907824 |
| Find out more about Mona's books at: http://www.carr.org/authco/kerby.htm | |
| What influenced you to become a librarian?
I was a kindergarten teacher, and five-year old Chris Johnson could read at the third grade reading level. At the time, kindergarten students could not check out library books. We jumped through hoops to get him into the library, and then I wondered why my other students couldn't go. When I saw a job posting for school librarians in our district, I applied. Our supervisor was looking for teaching librarians, and that was exactly what I wanted to do. Do you have a library/information science degree? I have a M.L.S. from Texas Woman's University (Woman's is spelled exactly the way I have typed it) Denton, Texas. I earned my master's while I was working as a librarian. I loved going to school so much that I continued for my Ph.D. in library science from TWU. I worked full-time while going to graduate school. What kinds of library positions have you held and where? I was an elementary school librarian at Little School in Arlington, Texas for 15 years. Now, I am an associate professor and graduate coordinator of the school library program at Western Maryland College in Westminster, MD. Which came first in your life, your career as a librarian or writing? First came teaching, second librarianship, third writing books for children. Did your library work directly influence your work as an author? My library work directly influenced it because I was surrounded by 10,000 books and 800 kids. I was always reading, and I learned exactly what they liked. Did incidents from your library work ever make it into your books? Oh, heavens, yes! I always used to throw a pizza party for the kids who read during the summer. That party went into the book 38 Weeks till Summer Vacation. I put our principal in the story. He used to help me with the party. We used to have author visits. I put an author visit in the book and some of the funny things the kids used to say. Did you ever set any scenes in your books in the library? Yes, the pizza party was in the library and we turned out the lights so we couldn't see the dust -- in real life and in the book. What were the greatest benefits of being a librarian to you as a writer? Reading and being surrounded by students I loved. Are there any drawbacks to being a librarian and also a writer? Well, you get tired because you are so busy! If you write while working as as librarian, how do you manage the time-juggling act? It's tougher to write and work the older I get. In my 30s, however, I did everything! Did you find any conflicts or job-related difficulties in being both a writer and a librarian? Nope, I have many students who have gone on to become writers and readers because they were modeling me. If I could do it, so could they! How do your administration and colleagues view your authorship? Is it appreciated and encouraged? Are the library patrons aware of your writing? Sure, your friends are always proud of you. But nobody likes to be around someone who is pompous and proud. I'm proud of my friends for their talents -- it's a mutual admiration society. Do you feel that librarianship has specific benefits to you as a writer? Because I always am reading! I get to look at new books. Because it is the best job in the world! |
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Last Updated October 28, 2003