Date: Fri 11-Apr-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

schools-Pat-McLear-library-HOM

Full Text:

National Library Week- Pat McLear: Head O' Meadow's

`Walking Encyclopedia'

Head O' Meadow Media Specialist Pat McLear is shown with first grader Christie

Fogelstrom in teacher Sue Dragone's classroom, sharing a Chinese meal while

demonstrating her chop stick technique.

-Photo Courtesy Kathleen Belmont

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

Students, teachers and parents at Head O' Meadow School know where they can go

to find out about almost anything, to hear a good story, or to learn how to

use chop sticks.

"Pat McLear is one of our unsung staff members," said Kathleen Belmont, HOM

publicity chairman, describing the HOM library media specialist whom she

called a "walking encyclopedia."

Ms McLear has been an important part of HOM school life since moving to

Connecticut from Juneau, Alaska, two years ago.

"My family lives in Massachusetts, and I decided after 15 years in Alaska, it

was time to live nearby so we could hang out together," Ms McLear said.

Looking for a job from so far away wasn't difficult, she added. All she had to

do was get onto the Internet and research available positions listed by

Connecticut schools.

Ms McLear is enjoying her stateside HOM job very much, she said, but she

couldn't resist making a good-natured dig at the local schools' policies to

close for bad weather.

"It's amazing to see snow days here. In Alaska, it would snow and you'd go out

and shovel off your car, and the plow would come by and you'd shovel your car

again, and then you'd drive to work!" she said.

Also, she's not used to having to be in school into June.

"In Alaska, we're done by the end of May," she added.

When asked about the American Library Association's upcoming celebration of

National Library Week April 13-18, Ms McLear made several observations about

the reading habits of students these days.

"There are kids who are voracious readers and kids who are reluctant readers.

That doesn't change," Ms McLear said.

But as for why the reluctant readers don't choose to pick up a book, Ms McLear

wasn't sure she knew the answer to that question any more than those

children's parents did. As an accomplished storyteller, however, she did have

one encouraging insight to share.

"I don't see the electronic media taking away from their abilities of

concentration or imagination. When I sit down with them to tell a story,

they're there!" Ms McLear said.

It's reassuring, she said, to know they can listen so well.

Ms McLear had some advice for parents about how they could help their children

attain the reading habit.

"It's not enough just to read stories to your children. They have to see you

reading, as well. Turn off the television and pick up a novel or romance or

newspaper and read for pleasure. You can be a model," Ms McLear said.

Let them see that you choose to read for no other reason than "just because"

you feel like it, she added.