Media specialist and librarian Nate Pedersen has already had a taste of the day-to-day work in the Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton media center, having spent one month there during the previous school year. Now that the first day of school is coming, he’s ready to enjoy a full year in the library.
“It’s been great being here,” he said. “Everyone is welcoming and super supportive. It’s been a pleasure to be a part of this team.”
Pedersen grew up not too far from here in Mankato. One thing that is obvious right away is that he’s a bookworm. That may seem obvious since he’s a librarian, but he’s been that way his whole life. He reminisced about fond memories of his mother bringing him to the North Mankato library and checking out books. It’s why after graduating from Mankato West High School, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science.
For 20 years, he traveled all across the country, from coast to coast, working wherever his heart led him, whether that was some place in Oregon or Georgia. “I had always enjoyed traveling and experiencing different parts of the country,” he elaborated. “Being a librarian has provided a vehicle to do that. I enjoyed the opportunities to explore different regions.”
After two decades, though, his heart desired to be closer to home. “I was looking for a position in this area with the intent to move back home,” he explained. “I wanted to be closer to family and the community I grew up in.”
Pedersen was brave to move back here in the middle of winter. As mentioned above, he’s technically not “brand new,” as she spent much of May filling the media specialist position. However, one thing he has always liked about being a librarian is the community-building aspect that some may not consider when it comes to a media specialist. However, JWP seemed to be the perfect fit for him.
“Having that community-building component is an attraction to this profession,” he said. “This can be true in the public library and school setting. JWP’s perfect for that. We’re in the center part of the building. Libraries can bring students and faculty together to create an open, welcoming space, in addition to the books themselves.”
He has also developed an appreciation for the setting of JWP, where all grades, from K-12, are housed in one building. “You get all kids here, and it’s fun to see all the student interactions.”
It’s been one of his favorite things about teaching kids and working as a media specialist. “Every day, I come home with a good story to tell. The kid will say something outrageous but funny, or you will witness something heartwarming or moving.”
On the other hand, he acknowledges the challenges of being the librarian/media specialist in a K-12 school. “You need to engage students on different educational levels on their journey,” he pointed out. “You have to figure out how to make a collection of books relevant or interesting to preschoolers and seniors.”
It’s a challenge that he’s more than willing to take on as he prepares for his first full year as a JWP Bulldog. He has noted that one of the main attractions of JWP was the administration. “The teachers and support staff have been great. During the interview process, I had the opportunity to meet and engage with leadership. It’s good leadership, and the school is filled with teachers who are excited to be here.”
To summarize his whole story, “I’m super excited to be here,” he said. “It’ll be great getting to know everyone.”
