Soul of 78: Grace Williams
Librarian at Cordova High School
Words by Suzie Walton | Images by Ryan McGill
The Cordova High School library is a magical escape tucked between the main office and the gym with enormous glass walls and oversized novels painted on canvases. Most mornings, the smell of mocha wafts through the halls, enticing students to stop in for java on their way to class. Near the circulation desk stands their beloved librarian, Grace Williams, who proudly oversees her well-kept garden of intriguing stories, laudable biographies, and coveted sets of novels. But this student sanctuary is so much more than just a place to check out books, Grace makes sure of that.
“Students’ needs reach far beyond educational standards,” Grace explains. “My goal is for the library to fill as many needs as possible and for students to see the library as something akin to a student center instead of a boring, quiet place filled with old books.”
Throughout the day, students trickle into this cavern of material to work on the yearbook, research some class assignments, or request help with technology. Grace admits that student needs have changed over the years, therefore the library must, too.
“Students often read less but still seek information,” she says. “I’ve adapted to their needs by creating a space to help them navigate and sort through information while applying critical research skills.”
Grace secured her position at CHS in 2018 when she accepted the media specialist position after 13 years at Cordova Elementary. Her journey to this position began at Parrish High School under the guidance of two great women: English teacher Deb Hudson and French teacher Shelley Graham. Both inspired Grace with the love of language.
“I originally wanted to be a linguist because I loved my French classes, and I thought I could travel and explore the world, but I was years behind on my foreign language skills,” Grace recalls. “While Mrs. Graham sparked my interest in a foreign language, Mrs. Hudson encouraged me to consider teaching.”
Even though Grace loved the magical moments at the elementary level, she enjoys the flexibility and creative ways she can make learning fun as the media specialist. Once she took the reins of the CHS library, she brought her natural, creative flair with her and transformed the area. As a result, students began to pour into the library more than before within a few weeks. “I want the media center to be a welcoming environment where students go if they are lost, need advice, a warm cup of coffee, or a hug. It’s so much more than a place filled with books; it’s where students can come and feel loved and accepted,” she insists. “It’s my calling, and I am blessed by the relationships that develop within these walls; I want to be here for my students.”
Grace knows during their teenage years that her students do not have much time to read, so she tries to cater to their reading needs and styles. She prizes her acquisitions and never takes a day for granted. Instead, she walks among books and prepares her students for the technological challenges of tomorrow. 78