For librarian Mrs. Judy Toczek, encouraging reading is more than just her job, it is her passion. She has been looked upon by students and teachers alike as an exceptional advocate for literature for her many years as Watson’s librarian.
“I started in 2000, so this will be my 17th year [as Watson’s librarian]. I’ve always been a big reader, so I guess I wanted everyone to love it as much as I did,” Toczek said. “I don’t believe that there’s any kid that’s not a reader--if they don’t like to read, it’s because they haven’t found the book for them yet.”
Finding the “right book” is one of Toczek’s largest goals for her students. Although doing so can occasionally be a challenge, it is one that she takes head on.
“The first thing I ask them is what the last thing they read that they liked was, because I can work off of that. If they have never found anything they’ve enjoyed, it’s just a hit and miss thing. I won’t ever give up. There’s something out there, I just haven’t found it yet. I just keep looking until I find it,” Toczek said.
Toczek’s hope for her students as they grow older is that they do not lose the love for reading that she tries so hard to instill. In today’s fast-paced society, maintaining a passion for reading is a challenge for all ages.
“Reading should be a pleasurable thing; what you choose to do when you have nothing to do. Everything’s so fast-paced now. Instant gratification. You know, [the kids] like the video games because it’s instantaneous: the guy lives, he dies, you run, you jump. But with a book you learn to be patient, you learn to wait for the good stuff to happen. I think that’s something that kids need to learn, and I’m sad that they don’t have that anymore,” Toczek said. “I try to fight that by getting them to love reading when it’s still a joyous thing to do. Reading is a gift and a joy and a love, not a chore, not a job, not something you have to do.”
For Toczek, encouraging students to develop their love for reading is anything but a chore.
“[The best part of my job is] probably talking about books with the kids. I read to every single class. That’s probably one of my favorite moments, when I’ve read a book, and I can see that they love it too. I also love crawling through the book racks with them and pulling out books and talking about books, that’s a lot of fun too. I want them to love the feel of a book in their hand. I’d like kids to know that this is a fun, safe place to be, that they can always come back and find a book. I hope that when they leave here that they realize that reading is fun,” Toczek said.
Her dedication to reading breaches beyond the Watson library walls as well. Two years ago, Toczek implemented a free library outside of the school to make used books available to the public.
“I’ve been really happy with the little free library in front of Watson. Everyone’s been so great and respectful with it,” Toczek said. “[You can] bring a book, take a book or share a book. I stock it with paperback books or books that parents donate, and I want people to know that it’s out there and to use it. Its free. Read the books with your kids, read the books on the playground with them, bring books back that your kids have already read and bring new ones.”
All it takes is the mention of reading or a book to see Toczek’s face light up with joy--a trait that she instills within students for years past elementary school.