Mrs. Evelyn Smith retires

Tony Thai, Staff Writer|October 16, 2015

"Mrs. Smith would always be there to help me, whether it was looking for a book or solving an issue on the computers. She was a great librarian," said Joey Stevenson, junior. Cam High is currently looking to hire a new librarian after the retiring of Mrs. Evelyn Smith, who worked as a teacher librarian for the past ten years.
“Mrs. Smith would always be there to help me, whether it was looking for a book or solving an issue on the computers. She was a great librarian,” said Joey Stevenson, junior. Cam High is currently looking to hire a new librarian after the retiring of Mrs. Evelyn Smith, who worked as a teacher librarian for the past ten years.

After serving as Cam High’s librarian for ten years, Mrs. Evelyn Smith, teacher librarian, retired last week in order to spend more time with her family and focus on her health.

“My mother is 95 years old and my two granddaughters, who live in northern California, are growing up too fast. Additionally, I developed a back problem over the summer, and I was coming to school in pain every day, which limited my functions on the job,” said Smith. “I thought I would retire at the end of the school year, but with my back pain as well as some of my family members having health issues and needing my help, I decided it was in everybody’s best interest if I retired sooner rather than later.”

Smith started her teaching career in 1982 at Fillmore High School, where she taught science and child development. In 1995, she was hired by Oxnard Union High School District to teach English at Channel Islands High School and then at Pacifica.

In 2003, Smith decided to become a librarian. “I became interested in changing my career to that of a teacher librarian because it fit my personality of being organized and research-oriented,” she said. “Of course, I am also an avid reader, so having a job where I am surrounded by books was a perfect match.”

During her ten years at Cam High, Smith encouraged the use of technology by increasing the library’s number of computers from ten to fifty, as well as by helping students and teachers use the internet in their research. “I wanted to be a librarian because I like to do research and help students find resources for their reports or projects,” she said. “I also like to collaborate with teachers on their lessons and help them incorporate informational technology into them.”

“The best thing about the Cam High library is that the students value it and feel welcomed to use it, said Smith.

“I want the Cam High community to know […] that the library is a great asset to the school. Many, many students take advantage of the library and all it has to offer and make it as much a part of their school days as going to their classes.”