Tiffany Whitehead: Librarian Superstar

By Alaina Laperouse
    One of the 2014 Library Journal’s Movers and Shakers and an International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Emerging Leader is found right here in Central.  As all the students and staff at Central Middle School (CMS) can attest, Tiffany Whitehead has been moving and shaking things up at CMS since she returned as the librarian in December of 2011. 
    According to CMS Principal Jason Fountain, “Mrs. Whitehead is definitely not the image of the typical librarian that I remember from middle school. She is inviting, and always seeks new ways to make reading ‘cool’ and fun for our students. Additionally, Mrs. Whitehead is always pushing the envelope to help our students understand the challenges and promises of becoming productive digital citizens. I can’t imagine the CMS library without Mrs. Whitehead!”
    Both awards place Whitehead into an elite group.  Every year the Library Journal chooses 50 Librarians (public and private) for their prestigious award.  The winners had professional photo shoots in Philadelphia and then were each given a page in the March 15, 2014 Library Journal.   Likewise, ISTE, a group of more than 100,000 educators worldwide, picks 7 individuals under the age of 35 to earn their Emerging Leader award.  These award winners attended a luncheon in Atlanta, GA during the ISTE conference and were awarded a plaque.  
    While you may have not been at ISTE, you may have seen Whitehead on Sylvia Weatherspoon’s “2 Make a Difference” this past spring.  She was recognized for creating a library space that breaks with tradition.  The library at CMS is riding a new trend in library organization, moving away from the Dewey Decimal System and to one that is organized by genres or as we like to call it “genrefication.” With the changes to the organization Whitehead has been able to increase student circulation.
    Students in Whitehead’s library are able to take care of their own circulation needs.  Gone are the days of the old card catalogue with the librarian sitting behind a desk.  Today students use Follett Destiny to check in and out their books, and also search for books according to their own interests.  Whitehead is able to assist students with finding books, creating projects like the videos for the CMS Wildcat News, or just give students a few minutes of her day to share in the love of literature.
    While reading is a main focus of a library, the students are not limited to just books at CMS.   Whitehead has created lessons that challenge students to be responsible digital citizens and to make global connections via Google Hangouts, all the while challenging herself to be an example as a digital role model.  This past year, students at CMS connected with authors, other libraries, and other classrooms to extend learning and connecting outside the walls of their school.
    As a digital role model, Whitehead puts into practice what she teaches.  Her blog, MightyLittleLibrarian.com, has followers from all over the world, which helps her focus on encouraging change, provides a sounding board, and is a place for reflection. She also shares her knowledge by speaking at national and regional conferences. This fall, she will be presenting the keynote address at the Florida Association for Media in Education.