26 Jul 2011
She has worked in Dallas ISD for 39 years, starting in the classroom
DALLAS – Patsy Hoffman, the librarian at Dallas ISD's Central Elementary School in Seagoville, has been named the 2011-2012 Librarian of the Year. She has worked for 39 years in education and 17 years as a librarian, all in Dallas ISD.
Hoffman began her career as a teacher, but said she was destined to become a librarian. As a student, she worked in her elementary, junior high, high school and college libraries.
"Many libraries and librarians are in the crosshairs of budget cuts today. Many people think librarians just keep libraries quiet and check in and check out books. Libraries are so much more," Hoffman said. "We offer freedom and the entire world to all students, rich or poor. When children can read, then they have a chance to succeed."
Mary Ann Gibson, a teacher at Central, nominated Hoffman for the honor. "She works every day to find each child that 'one special book' to fall in love with, and that 'one special book' to lead them to a lifetime of reading and learning," Gibson wrote in the nomination materials.
Gibson called the library at Central the hub of the school. Central Elementary classes visit the library on a regular basis for formal instruction, but Hoffman also works with students one-on-one and in small groups. Teachers collaborate with her on projects and schedule extra time in the Media Center for research. Hoffman also sponsors book fairs, where teachers, students and parents buy books.
Hoffman earned a bachelor's in Education with an emphasis on English from East Texas State University in Commerce (now Texas A&M-Commerce), and later earned a master's in Library Science from Texas Woman's University in Denton. Besides her time at Central, Hoffman also worked at James Madison and Alex Sanger.
"I agree with the President when he said, 'And, so the moment we persuade a child, any child, to cross that threshold into a library, we've changed their lives forever, and for the better. This is an enormous force for good,' " Hoffman said.
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