VOA慢速英语2021--获奖图书馆员在疫情期间提供帮助

Award-Winning Librarians Help During Pandemic

Anyone who loves to read loves a library. The sight of thousands of books organized on shelves; the smell of old books mixed with new ones; the sound of a librarian silencing a noisy visitor – are all part of a book-lover's dream.

But libraries are much more than that.

In this digital age, libraries and the experts who run them help bridge the digital divide between those with technology and those without. Librarians help people find important information in a huge sea of material. They support literacy and a love of reading.

This is true in normal times. But libraries and librarians are even more valuable since the 2020 coronavirus, which forced most students into online education.

The American Library Association (ALA) started the I Love My Librarian award in 2008. Each year 10 are chosen for the award. ALA President Julius C. Jefferson Jr. noted² the extreme difficulty caused by the pandemic in his praise for the 2021 award winners.

"Librarians have risen to the occasion," he said, "providing much-needed resources to their communities from a safe distance."

Library users nominate their favorite librarian for the award. They are chosen for their expert knowledge about books, their support for learning and reading, and for their contributions to the community.

Each winning librarian receives $5000, and a $750 donation to their library from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

The Associated Press reported on the winners for 2021. And now the envelope please!

Jayanti Addleman is the library director at the Haywood Public Library in Haywood, California. The website I Love Libraries.org explained her work during the COVID-19 crisis. She made sure everyone, but especially people in need, could easily get a library card online and devices to help bridge the digital divide.

At Washburn University, in Topeka, Kansas, librarian Sean Bird made sure that all students taking classes online because of the coronavirus received laptops. One student wrote about Bird: "That dude changed my life. He is the reason I graduated."

Jessica Bell of Boston's MGH Institute of Health Professions won for making the library "a world-class resource for teaching and learning." She also led online events to keep students calm and connected.

Naomi Bishop³ at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, in Phoenix⁴, won for being a voice and leader for social justice. Her nominators said the local medical community turned to Bishop "for up-to-date research about public health and safety best practices."

Jesse Braun of Beverly Vista⁵ Middle School Library, in Beverly Hills, California, won for leadership in providing online and physical resources during the pandemic. His nomination⁶ states that he grew the library "into a beloved, student-centered environment, where every child, every teacher, and every family could feel at home."

Adilene Estrada-Huerta of the Sacramento Public Library in California won for "outstanding outreach services to Spanish-speaking families" and Russian as well. This tech-savvy librarian also adapted the library programming to a virtual format¹.

Librarian Jianye He at the University of California, Berkeley, won for building community and helping⁷ Chinese teachers. Her nominees⁸ describe her as "a home away from home."

Jane E. Martellino at the International School at Dundee, in Greenwich, Connecticut won for creating an exciting culture of literacy. She has helped countless⁹ children discover the joy of reading through her programs. During the pandemic, she created a tablet-based online product for students to access digital books, stories, and learning resources.

Jennifer L. Newcome at Northeastern High School in Manchester, Pennsylvania is a research partner and source of support for both teachers and students. One nomination letter said that Newcome noticed a student who seemed hungry sitting alone in the library at lunch. So, she began bringing food for him every day and checking in with his teacher. The boy, who had been struggling in his studies, became an honor roll student.

Elizabeth Moreau Nicolai from the Anchorage Public Library in Alaska won for "promoting literacy" and other services for Alaska's young people. Her nomination said: "Her passion for equitable¹⁰ programming and collections have helped shape the library's goals of inclusion and service to the entire community."

Words in This Story

literacy – n. the ability to read and write

occasion – n. somewhat formal : a particular time when something happens : somewhat formal : a chance or opportunity : a situation that allows something to happen

contribution – n. something that is given to help a person, a cause, etc.

dude – n. chiefly US slang : a man

best practices – n. a procedure that has been shown by research and experience to produce optimal¹¹ results and that is established or proposed as a standard suitable for widespread adoption¹²

virtual – adj. being on or simulated on a computer or computer network

honor roll – n. especially : a list of students who have received good grades in school

passion – n. a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something

inclusion – n. an act of taking in as part of a whole : the state of being taken in as part of a whole

1 format   

n.设计，版式；[计算机]格式，DOS命令:格式化(磁盘)，用于空盘或使用过的磁盘建立新空盘来存储数据；v.使格式化，设计，安排

参考例句：

• Please format this floppy disc.请将这张软盘格式化。
• The format of the figure is very tasteful.该图表的格式很雅致。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 bishop   

n.主教，（国际象棋）象

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

4 phoenix   

n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生

参考例句：

• The airline rose like a phoenix from the ashes.这家航空公司又起死回生了。
• The phoenix worship of China is fetish worship not totem adoration.中国凤崇拜是灵物崇拜而非图腾崇拜。

5 vista   

n.远景，深景，展望，回想

参考例句：

• From my bedroom window I looked out on a crowded vista of hills and rooftops.我从卧室窗口望去，远处尽是连绵的山峦和屋顶。
• These uprisings come from desperation and a vista of a future without hope.发生这些暴动是因为人们被逼上了绝路，未来看不到一点儿希望。

6 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

7 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

8 nominees   

n.被提名者，被任命者( nominee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She's one of the nominees. 她是被提名者之一。 来自超越目标英语 第2册
• A startling number of his nominees for senior positions have imploded. 他所提名的高级官员被否决的数目令人震惊。 来自互联网

9 countless   

adj.无数的，多得不计其数的

参考例句：

• In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
• I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。

10 equitable   

adj.公平的；公正的

参考例句：

• This is an equitable solution to the dispute. 这是对该项争议的公正解决。
• Paying a person what he has earned is equitable. 酬其应得,乃公平之事。

11 optimal   

adj.最适宜的；最理想的；最令人满意的

参考例句：

• What is the optimal mix of private and public property rights in natural resources?私人和国家的自然资源产权的最适宜的组合是什么？
• Optimal path planning is a key link for the sailing contest.帆船最优行驶路径规划是帆船比赛取胜的关键环节。

12 adoption   

n.采用，采纳，通过；收养

参考例句：

• An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
• The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。