Dr. Tamara Blesh
Gardiner High School

The Maine School Library Media Specialist of the Year award, which is made annually by the Maine Association of School Libraries, was renamed this year in honor of one of the profession's leading lights in the state of Maine. The award will now be called the "Walter J. Taranko School Library Media Specialist of the Year." The change was highlighted at the award ceremony which was part of the Maine Libraries Conference 2000, Augusta.

For many years, from his berth at the Maine State Library where he is currently Media Services Coordinator, Walter J. Taranko has cajoled, hectored, persuaded, charmed, and inspired school librarians all over the state to provide better programs for their students and faculties; to make their collections and skills an integral part of the curricula in their schools; and most importantly, to understand that they were competent to do so. This year's award recipient, Dr. Tamara Blesh of Gardiner High School Library Media Center, made Walter's mentorship one of the central points of her acceptance speech.

In announcing the winner, MASL Past President Sylvia Norton discussed the letters MASL received as part of Dr. Blesh's nomination, expressing the high regard and value the staff holds for her work, particularly mentioning phrases such as 'cares deeply about her profession', 'dedicated to students, a mentor for staff'. An English teacher wrote of how she took a techno-phobic staff and gave them skills and confidence. Her superintendent wrote of her 'visionary outlook' and ability 'to push the envelope in a very positive way' to support information literacy opportunities for students.

Between Tamara and Walt, the bar has been raised very high for librarians all over the state. We welcome the challenge, and congratulate these two fine professionals.

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