2006 Walter J. Taranko
School Library Media Specialist of the Year

Mary Moore of Freeport High School, Freeport Maine has been named the Walter J. Taranko Library Media Specialist of the Year by the Maine Association of School Libraries (MASL). The award was announced at the Maine Libraries Conference in Augusta, Maine on September 17, 2006. Nominated for the honor by fellow teachers at Freeport High, Moore's work was commended in numerous letters of support from students, administrators, and the wider Freeport community.

In letters of nomination Freeport teachers lauded Moore's collaboration with other teachers, her involvement in facilitating and assessing student work, and her success in helping to implement information literacy into the general curriculum. The opening paragraph of the nomination reads in part,

"From her Books and Bagels book club chat room to her web site evaluation rubric, to her extensive presentation of MARVEL, Mary seamlessly integrates technology into teacher curriculum so that the technology enhances, not lessens, the students' and teachers' pursuit of knowledge."

Moore, a lead teacher in the Maine Learning Technology Initiative, is equally involved in promoting reading. She has chaired the Reading Across the Curriculum Committee and was instrumental in updating the school handbook designed to reinforce study skills, research and writing strategies. Thomas Edwards, Principal of Freeport High School wrote of Moore's love of literacy, citing especially grants she has received to implement programming for shared community reading. Other educators were enthusiastic about book purchases designed to promote leisure reading as well as to support the school curriculum and to enhance technology resources.

Pam Goucher, Library Media Specialist at Freeport Middle School and herself a former recipient of the Taranko Award, notes that Moore shares her professional expertise both locally and statewide, commenting that she has served on the MASL Executive Board as NEEMA representative. Goucher added that Moore has presented programs at Maine Libraries Conferences, at ACTEM, Maine Educational Technology Conferences and at local in-service days. Goucher concludes, "Last, but not least, Mary is a great colleague."

The Taranko Award, presented annually by the Maine Association of School Libraries (MASL), honors school library media specialists who have made significant contributions to the library media profession at the local and/or state levels. The recipient, chosen by a committee of MASL members is given a plaque recognizing the work of the honoree while the school library media program receives a $500 donation in the name of the award winner.

The award bears the name of Walter J. Taranko who, throughout his career at the State Library, was an enthusiastic and able mentor to school libraries and librarians in Maine.