Our Lady of Prompt Succor Elementary School
A Volunteer’s Musings
Our Lady of Prompt Succor Elementary School
St. Bernard Civil Parish, Chalmette, Louisiana
Upon reaching our school, we met Sharon Coll, the new principal, a delightfully sparkling person who immediately made us feel so welcome. I expected that we would be shown our jobs immediately, but she first gave us a tour of the school. The library lost all of their books and furniture. She showed us one of the policy handbooks, with pages stuck together and black mold emitting an aura that only hinted at the horrific job of cleanup around their campus. The water averaged only about 3 to 4 feet most places around the school, but in the initial surge, it had removed a brick wall from the foundation and totally demolished the living quarters of the nuns. However, I don’t know how to describe the attitude that Sharon demonstrated. She knew that all would be well, and she knew that a lot of the work was still ahead. Her conversation included no hint of bitterness about what should have been done by city or federal government.
Finally around 10:30 we arrived at the library, a former classroom housing a few computers set up for inserting circulation information, cataloging, and producing labels. I had signed up for typing circulation information in, but when asked who would catalog, only one other librarian and I seemed to be willing. Others took equally important tasks. With a little bit of training on cataloging with the Follett plan, Paula and I set out to do the job. We kept hearing, “Please just do the best you can. It’s okay. Whatever you can do, will be great.” We met the new librarian who assured us that she had made so many decisions, that she welcomed our input on where the call numbers and date due slips should be placed. She was fatigued by the new job, and perhaps by all of us asking her questions at once. I asked our host what had happened to the former librarian and learned that she had drowned in the flood. Sharon herself had lost everything in her home—covered by 12 feet of water. You wouldn’t believe how she remains optimistic!
The team of us worked well together and as quickly as possible. Throughout the day Sharon looked in on us and cheered us on. I was lucky because Paula knew some cataloging, and she was glad that I could type. We discovered that none of the books were easy to catalog. Sometimes it was just the ISBN number that didn’t match. Other times there was just no record at all, so we gave it our best original cataloging.
What did we accomplish? I wish I could say that we finished cataloging and processing all of the books. But we made only a small dent in the cataloging, barcoding, labeling and book due slip placement. Suddenly it was 3:30 p.m. and we had to meet our bus.
I vowed to bring this story to my colleagues so that we could send a collection of construction paper, scissors, pencils, crayons, and supplies that you would expect any elementary school to have. There are no open stores close to the school, so that school materials are limited.
I have been amazed by the output of generosity by library staff and faculty. I visualized that I would be sending a box of supplies. We have to date sent 4 boxes containing construction paper, notebooks, pens, pencils, calculators, erasers, crayons, scissors, and other classroom staples. Practical Sharon gave all volunteers a wish list and many items have arrived from generous people at this library. We even have a videotape player that goes with the next shipment. Sharon has received the first 2 boxes and thanks everyone for caring so much.
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