GOA Library is Transforming!

By Katriela Nelkin ‘25
After a two year hiatus, Golda Och Academy’s Bernard J. and Zelda Meislin Memorial Library is getting a makeover. Mrs. Ulric, who has been working at GOA for more than twenty years, is now hard at work reforming the library and refreshing its collection of books.

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GOA has recently received a gift of $10,000 from the daughters of Marion Jacobson, in honor of her milestone birthday, to create a new Marion Jacobson Fiction Collection in the library. 
“This wonderful gift will allow us to keep the fiction collection up to date and improve its diversity and inclusion,” said Mrs. Ulric. “It comes at the perfect time to assist in the revitalization of the library!”
With so little space available in the small library, there is a limited amount of shelf room, making Mrs. Ulric’s first step in renovation to clear out old and unused books. If a book has not been checked out in fifteen years, it will be considered for removal. Additionally, many of the older informational books in the library are irrelevant and outdated, and need to be replaced with correct, current information that can be used for research projects.
“The library is not solely for research, but also for pleasure,” said Mrs. Ulric. “This should be a comfortable and safe space,” she continued. “A school library is not an archive. It is not a college library or a public library. It needs to match the students’ interests and needs.” 
To help match these interests, both the nonfiction and fiction sections are being expanded. The fiction section will now be organized by genre, so students can browse and more easily find a story they are interested in. Mrs. Ulric will also be displaying books with their covers facing forward to attract attention, similarly to how books are shelved in stores. Books will be displayed in this manner for special themed events as well, like for National Poetry Month this April, when visitors to the library were greeted with collections of poems. 
The library renewal project is also a new opportunity for student involvement. The Library Advisory Club will aid Mrs. Ulric in improving our beloved library and guiding other students in their search for the right book. Although it is not yet an official club, there will always be a way for students to assist whenever the library is open.
“I love the library. It is a relaxing place to hang out and I am excited to help with the changes in the future,” said freshman Sonya Katz.
“I am glad our GOA library is expanding its collection, as it is a great way for me to find and read new books without having to spend money to purchase them,” commented sophomore Josh Lancman.
If there are specific genres of books you would like to see on the shelves, fill out the form attached to the weekly student update or find Mrs. Ulric during the lunch period to chat. Or, talk to Mrs. Ulric if you would like to join the Library Advisory Club and help make the library a better place in our school.

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