Cole’s Connie Zack Leaves The Stacks

The irony is not lost on Connie Zack: after less than three months at the sparkling new library at Cole Middle School, she has retired.

“It is very, very hard to leave the beautiful new library facility,” she said. “But after 39 years in the profession, it is time for me personally to take some time to travel, read more and enjoy my grandchildren.”

Zack spent 32 years as a librarian at Cole and 7 years at Rocky Hill School before that. She always loved connecting with her students. The question she never tired of hearing was, “Do you have another book like this?”

Of course, things have changed a lot in 39 years. But Zack said that in spite of all the distractions children have today, they are reading more than ever - more than 13,000 books circulated through the library at Cole this past year, she said.

“That's pretty amazing for a little over 400 students!” she said. Zack attributes some of that to the number of good books being written for young people these days. She said she’s found that students read “much more” fiction these days than non-fiction.

Of course, the term “librarian” is almost passe. Usually, librarians are referred to as “media specialists.” That’s always been all right by Zack - noting that her job combined two great passions: literature and technology.

“I have also enjoyed watching how technology has transformed the library over the years,” said Zack. “When I came to East Greenwich in 1979, there was not a computer in sight and certainly no Internet.... It used to be that when planning projects with teachers, we would have to ascertain that we had enough research material to support the project. Now we have too much information available and students need to learn how to evaluate what's important and what's credible - a whole new set of skills.”      

Zack, for EG Patch, said she’s had a “wonderful 32 years” at Cole. “Seeing the world every day through the eyes of young people has been fun and always rejuvenating.”

Librarians on the move

Zack’s retirement opened up a plum librarian job. Under union rules, the librarian with the most seniority is first in line for any openings. In this case, it was Phyllis Humphrey, long-time librarian at Eldredge. Not surprisingly, she took it. So, after years of working in the smallest and oldest school library, Humphrey will move into if not the biggest, certainly the most modern library in the district.

Despite the cramped quarters at Eldredge, the move is bittersweet for Humphrey.

“I absolutely loved Eldredge and was somewhat sad to leave the many friends I have made over the years,” she said. She credited the administration with encouraging her to explore new technologies and teaching strategies. But, despite some nerves (“it’s a little frightening to leave one’s comfort zone”), Humphrey said, “I am happy to be moving with so many students that I know;  I think we will all be happy to see familiar faces in a new environment.”