If you attend the Emporia Middle School, then you are very much aware of the many different staff around the school. All of the staff do a different job, and the EMS would crumble without them. Recently, I interviewed Amber Ovsak, or more commonly known as Mrs. Ovsak, the EMS librarian. I asked her about many different things about her job and her life home. If you continue reading I will tell you about her great answers!

Q: How long have you worked at the EMS, and did you attend here as a student?

A: “I did not attend here as a student. I am not originally from here, and I have taught here for 4 years. I taught social studies for 2 years and the past 2 years I have been in the library.”

Q: Give a brief summary of what you do at  EMS.

A: “Well, I think my main job is maintaining the library space and collection. My job includes ordering books and making sure we have the resources and supplies to support the teachers with what they need.”

Q: What is your favorite thing about working here at EMS?

A: “I think just working with students. I think I really like just working with students in general, but, as a librarian, I really like talking to them about reading and teaching them to enjoy books. I think I also like as my job, specifically, coming in to the library and making a space students like to visit whether they like reading or not. Maybe being here would make them want to read more.”

Q: What do you think the effect would be if you left EMS?

A: “I think as long as there is somebody in the library, and  as long as there is a librarian that is passionate about what they do and has a desire to help others, I think the school would be fine without me, as long there is a librarian. I don’t know, I think that would be better answered by somebody other than me. I think if the value of the library was just to check out books, I think it would impact students who are in the alternative classes the most that come in to listen to stories and that use the makerspace [interactive and hands on space] if all the library used for was to come in, check out and read And you need someone to make sure that books are ordered and the space is maintained.”

Q: What inspired you to become a librarian?

A: “Well, I have always had a desire to help people and to kind of make a difference, and with library work the essence is to help people learn without sitting in a classroom. It is kind of an open space that nurtures learners and readers and provides access to information that’s free and equal to everybody.”

Q: Did you go to college? If so where?

A: “Yes, I went to Northern Arizona University, it’s in Flagstaff, Arizona. I got 2 degrees there, a masters in political science and a bachelor’s in women’s studies. I went to ESU [Emporia State University] for a library science degree.”

Q: Have you always lived in Kansas or Emporia?

A: “No, I am originally from Concordia, KS, which is in North Central Kansas, once I finished high school I moved to Lawrence for 2 years and then decided I needed a change and moved to Arizona for 9 years then moved to Emporia.”

Q: Tell me a little bit about your family.

A: “I have a husband who teaches Social studies at EMS and I have 2 sons, Milo is 10 and Felix is 7 and we have 2 dogs.”

Q: What is your favorite color and why?

A: “My favorite color is yellow and I think I just like it because it is warm and uplifting.”

Q: Is there somebody specific you look up to or admire?

A: “I think probably Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She is a supreme court justice and she has worked very hard to get to that point and is very intelligent and always supports things that I think are just.”

Q: What is your favorite book and why?

A: “I have a go-to answer but I don’t know if it’s that accurate. I like so many books for different reasons. It’s kinda a hard thing. I really love The Little Prince, and I think that has a lot of really important lessons and each time I read it again I pick up of something new. I also really love Charlotte’s Web.  I think the characters are just really likable and memorable, and I think that’s one of those stories you can just read again and again and still enjoy.”

Q: What is your favorite author or genre?

A: “I would say right now Sharon Draper is my favorite, but I don’t know if that’s permanent, I think just having heard her speak and being for so confident [Mrs. Ovsak recently heard Sharon Draper speak a literature festival]. But I’m not a writer myself but maybe I could be. I like dystopian books also.”

Q: Do you run any clubs after school? If so can I please have some brief information about them?

A: “Yes I do, Monday I have maker club and with that club we have a teen librarian from the public library comes and helps and so far we have made flashlights out of popsicle sticks and we are about to do 3D printing. On Tuesdays I do board game club, on Wednesday I have writing and we do that with Quivira [Writing program at Emporia State University] and we have a project going over a podcast. And on Thursdays we a have book club and we have professors and students from ESU [Emporia State University] that come help facilitate that and I think all of the clubs so far in the library have been really great.”

Q: Have you always enjoyed reading, or just as an adult?

A: “I have always enjoyed reading. I didn’t read as much through college because I was reading what was assigned but as a adult and librarian it has been really fun to read middle grade and young adult literature.”

Q: Are there any other librarians that you work with in the library?

A: “Mr. Barb, he is the library clerk.”

If you attend EMS you know that Mrs. Ovsak is the librarian, but you probably didn’t know about her taste of books and her personal life. Mrs. Ovsak is a very kind-hearted woman, and I am so glad I got to interview her! Maybe the next time you stop into the library, you will understand that she does more than check out your books and say, “thank you ,have a nice day!” Also, you might want to talk to her about books, because she will be very happy to have a nice conversation with you!