And so…

Here we are – the eve of my last day as a full time school librarian. It has been a week worthy of celebrating and I’m happily anticipating the day and the social mixer which will follow it.

This excitement doesn’t mean that I won’t miss many aspects of my career. The connections with people, especially kids, were always the best part of the field. How can one not cherish a life in which they might be told by a student that “I’m their biggest role model?” or hearing from a colleague that they have found me to be inspiring?

That’s some heady stuff, right there.

That’s also something that billions of dollars and AI will never be able to experience or do as well as a sincere and human librarian.

Although I’m not particularly sentimental, I did take an extra long lap through the building after homeroom earlier today. My heart clenched with a gentle pang when I comprehended that I had only one more morning homeroom, one more meander through a building which I have come to know.

But, my feet were light as I walked down hallways and up stairs. I was still riding the high of having crushed the event I had planned – the single night screening of The Librarians at The Spectrum with pre and post hospitality at the neighboring, The Delaware.

Advance ticket sales for the documentary neared 100 a couple of hours before the film began. The bar stools and a number of tables at The Delaware were occupied with movie attendees pregaming by 4:45 pm.

I seemed to know everyone – and so many of them appeared to know one another. Worlds were colliding in the most wonderful way.

The film was scheduled to begin at 6:00, but prior to the start I made a few remarks and introduced a special guest, NYS Senator Pat Fahy.

Good evening. If we don’t already know each other, please let me introduce myself. My name is Silvia Lilly and I am a librarian. This Friday, my more than 30 year career as a school librarian will be drawing to a close. I can’t imagine a more gratifying way to wrap things up professionally than by being in this theater, surrounded by people who know as I do, that books and libraries change lives.

The film we’re about to watch will illustrate that there are people who believe that access to books and information is a threat, that librarians are groomers and distributors of pornography, and that the only solution to this imagined problem, is to remove materials and prevent access to books that these people find personally objectionable.

These people are wrong.

Libraries and librarians provide their patrons with mirrors and windows – opportunities to see unknown worlds and their own selves reflected.

Libraries are a vital component of a free and educated society.

Libraries are under attack and together we need to stand up and resist the efforts of organizations and individuals who are working to eliminate access to ideas, diverse perspectives and knowledge.

Thank you all so much for being here and for understanding those truths and for supporting local, independent businesses like The Spectrum and neighboring restaurant, The Delaware.

We have a special guest tonight, NYS Senator, Pat Fahy. Pat and I go way back to the days of daycare dropoffs and pickups and her entry into local politics as a member of the Albany City School District School Board. She has worked tirelessly to improve education and make our city and state a better place for all and I welcome her presence here with gratitude and appreciation.

The film was as disturbingly powerful (and timely) as I had imagined. If you weren’t able to attend Wednesday’s show, you can catch it next month at the NYSWI where there will be a panel discussion led by exemplary library professionals, Alicia Abdul and Roger Green. While the film will eventually air on PBS, this is one that should be watched in a theater or performance space. There’s just something about sitting beside other people who see and understand what is happening in our country and knowing that you’re not alone.

The film was very well received and the responses were strong and filled with emotions – gasps, laughter, cheers and enthusiastic applause as it concluded.

It was a remarkable evening and coda to my career and I am so proud of myself for the effort I put in to make this event happen.

It’s now Friday morning. After two consecutive nights of poor sleep, today I awoke well rested. I’m feeling nervously excited – nervous about losing my composure during a day of goodbyes and excited about what feels like unlimited opportunities ahead.

I don’t know what might come next,* but I’m ready.

Well, as soon as those banana chocolate chip muffins for my homeroom are baked, that is.

*until mid-April and my trip “home” to Ireland 🇮🇪, I’ll be at Nicole’s 4 nights a week. Stop in!