In this edition of Thinkering Voices, Thinkering’s co-founder Jim McGuire sits down with Arlene Laverde, a lifelong educator whose journey from the classroom to the library is a masterclass in transformation.
What began as a reluctant career pivot—“Well, that’s a stupid job,” she told her principal when first offered the library position—has turned into a decades-long mission to champion libraries as the heart of humanized learning. Arlene doesn’t just run libraries. She builds communities within them.
And she’s sounding the alarm: schools without certified librarians are failing their students.
From Reluctance to Reinvention
Arlene began as a classroom teacher in 1990, teaching fourth and fifth grade for over a decade. But after a particularly rough year, she needed a change. With no open tech roles, she begrudgingly took the library post—and discovered something unexpected: purpose.
“I want to say I was a fabulous librarian… but I wasn’t. I was just doing what I thought I was supposed to do. I had no idea what I was doing.”
That humility didn’t last long. Driven by her belief in the potential of the role, Arlene returned to grad school while raising two young kids and completely reinvented her approach to learning. Since 2006, she’s served as a high school librarian, an adjunct faculty member at Queens College, and a fierce advocate for school libraries across New York.
What Makes a Great Librarian?
Arlene is clear: a good librarian is more than a book-shelver. They’re an educator. A curator. A connector. A protector of student voice.
“We teach research without kids even knowing they’re learning it. We make the library a place where every student can find something for themselves.”
And most importantly:
“The library is the only place in a school that belongs to everyone.”
Her philosophy is simple: a great library is built on love, not silence. Arlene proudly calls herself the loudest person in the library, debunking the age-old shushing stereotype and replacing it with laughter, discovery, and dialogue.
The Librarian as a Public Health Strategy
One of the most poignant parts of the conversation came when Arlene described how she used visual maps and shelf guides for “tough topics.” Instead of asking students to expose their questions or pain directly, she gave them quiet tools to find what they needed—on addiction, mental health, grief, identity—without having to ask.
“They knew they were safe. That someone saw them. That someone thought of them.”
It’s a trauma-informed, student-centered practice that would resonate with any school counselor. And it lives… in the library.
So Why Aren’t There Librarians in Every School?
This is where Arlene gets passionate. In New York State, every school must have a library. But not every school must have a librarian.
“Without a librarian, you don’t have a library. You have a room full of books.”
Budget constraints. Misunderstandings. Weak hiring pipelines. Arlene identifies all of them. But her biggest frustration?
“You wouldn’t close the English department because of one bad teacher. But schools close the library because of one underprepared librarian.”
She’s right. And she’s not just ranting—she’s organizing. Advocating. Mentoring. Teaching future librarians. Showing up in systems that forgot what libraries could be.
What’s Next?
“The next five years? A lot of fighting.”
Arlene knows it won’t be easy. But she’s not alone. The Thinkering Fellowship is building a national network of educators who are creating bold, human-centered solutions—and we believe the librarian must be central to this movement.
If you’re a librarian with a vision, we want to hear from you. If you’re an educator who’s found refuge, inspiration, or mentorship in a library, we want to build with you.
Let’s stop asking if libraries are still relevant.
Let’s ask what would happen if every student had access to a librarian like Arlene Laverde.
Join the Fellowship. Build What You Believe In.
Applications for the next cohort of the Thinkering Fellowship are now open. Whether you’re a librarian, teacher, coach, or media specialist—if you’re building something powerful for students, we want to help you make it real.
👉 Apply or nominate someone today!
🗞️ Keep up with educator interviews and more at thinkeringmedia.substack.com
Let’s make sure every school has a library.
And let’s make sure every library has a leader.
