But for the veteran media specialist in the Butler County school system it was a labor of love.
Justin Smith, principal of Madison Junior-Senior High, described Fultz as more than deserving of her inclusion on the Newbery Award Selection Committee for the 2017 awards. The committee annually determines the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
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“She is an integral part of our school and the (school) Media Center is a place where students want to go and Elaine is a huge credit to that,” said Smith. “She is dedicated to improving literacy for all students.”
Fultz was one of 15 people nationwide who decided “The Girl Who Drank the Moon” by Kelly Barnhill was the best children’s book of the year.
Many of the books Fultz read have been added at no charge to the school’s library.
Fultz recently talked with the Journal-News about her career and involvement in the Newbery Award Selection Committee:
1. What does being a part of this award mean to you?
“Being a part of the Newbery committee has been a highlight of my career. The members of the committee are such intelligent and fun people. Being a school librarian is often lonely because you’re the only one in the building, so being around such dedicated fellow professionals was enlightening and satisfying.”
2. What does the award mean to Madison Schools students who use your media center?
“My involvement with the Newbery committee will benefit Madison students because most of the books I received from publishers will be added to Madison’s elementary and junior-senior high school libraries. Our collections will be up-to-date with some of the greatest books published in 2016. Also, since I read so much, I’ll be able to talk with the students about the books and will have more of a chance to get the right book into the hands of the right reader.”
3. When and how did you fall in love with reading?
“My mom read to me as a child, and we visited the West Carrollton public library for story times and books every week. I was allowed to take home as many books as I could carry. As a teenager I worked in my junior high library and eventually at the West Carrollton public library. Both places had wacky, energetic, fabulous librarians who mentored me. I’ve been reading children’s and teen books in libraries all my life.”
4. Where are you from and how long have you been at Madison Schools?
“I grew up in West Carrollton and graduated from West Carrollton High School. I studied English Education and Library Media (school librarianship) at Wright State University, and then received my Master of Library Science from The University of Pittsburgh. This is my third year at Madison after working in both school and public libraries for over 25 years.
5. What have been some of the other highlights in your career?
“I won an Intellectual Freedom (IF) award from OELMA (Ohio Educational Library Media Association) for defending a wonderful book that someone else saw as not so wonderful. I had to give a speech for the IF award and the editor of the School Library Journal was in the audience, so I was very nervous and also very excited to get recognition for doing something I believe is a very important and basic part of a librarian’s job — providing books for all citizens and families who utilize the library.”
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