Hillbrook’s longtime librarian shares about her latest chapter, retirement
For many Hillbrook alums, sitting cross-legged on the floor gathered around Charlene Douglass’ rocking chair in the library ranks among their favorite Hillbrook memories. Regular visits to the library meant finding a “just-right” book to check-out and then listening to Charlene read a book aloud. Like magic, Charlene knew just how to capture children’s attention and engage them in a story. She regularly had an entire class of children in rapt attention desperate to hear what was on the next page; and she often left them wondering with a cliff-hanger, until the next library class. As the long-time Hillbrook librarian, Charlene was also superb at helping children the perfect book to take home and read: a book that could spark an interest, stretch a young mind, and turn a restless child into a reader.
Charlene retired in 2011 after 25 years at Hillbrook. She is enjoying life with her husband, children and grandchildren. Charlene lives in the Santa Cruz Mountains and spends her summers in Maine. We recently reached out to Charlene to find out about her life after Hillbrook, which includes construction projects, hikes with friends and of course, books!
Tell us what you’ve been up to since retiring 7 years ago:
“When I retired from Hillbrook, I had a huge mental list of things that I never had enough time for while I was teaching. They included quilting, sewing, knitting, weaving, gardening, canning, building things, and traveling. Of course, reading for pleasure was on my list too, because while I was at Hillbrook I was very busy reading books for grades JK-8 so I could recommend them to the students.
It took more than a year to stop thinking about everything in terms of how it fit into the Hillbrook curriculum. When I was on an errand, I would find myself reaching for something that would fit into the lesson plans of one of the teachers. I think I pestered them with email links for awhile.
It surprised me that the first year after I retired I actually read very few books. I could just not sit still. I was so used to moving all the time and fitting tasks in between classes, that I would sit down with a book, think of or see something that needed to be done, and put down the book. I made quilts, knitted presents, planted herb and vegetable gardens, and canned many jars of jam, chutney, guava barbecue sauce and peach salsa using fruit from our trees.
After the first year I relaxed into being retired and was able to feel like this was more than an extended vacation and I didn’t have to hurry so much. I began reading books that had been on my wish list and also continued collecting great children’s books and Young Adult books. My husband Paul and I rebuilt our deck and constructed some other things, and took out all the lawn and created a native plant drought resistant yard. We enjoy going to Maine every summer.I’m still in touch with some of the other teachers who have retired from Hillbrook. We go walking in the redwoods or at the beach, or out for an adventure looking for supplies for our craft or art or garden projects.”
What has been the most rewarding thing you’ve done since retiring?
Two years ago Paul and I became grandparents twice! Our son and daughter-in-law have a boy who will be two in April, and our daughter and son-in-law have a boy who will be two in June. We see them all as often as possible and I always have plenty of books ready. I love reading to both of them, and love seeing their parents read to them too. Since I started my teaching career in Early Childhood Education, teaching college courses in child development and directing a campus lab school for 2-5 year olds, I feel like I have now come full circle. I’m enjoying building things for our grandchildren and doing all kinds of things with them.
When you think back on your years at Hillbrook what stands out for you? What are your fondest memories?
Finding just the right book for a student was always rewarding, seeing them excited about reading. I was privileged to have time to read aloud to every class, and to plan my own curriculum, combining love of literature and research skills. When a book really captured the attention of a whole class, no matter the grade, it was memorable.
I loved seeing the children grow up at Hillbrook. From the time I arrived in 1992, it was evident that the teachers worked together to make Hillbrook a special place for families. It was easy for me to feel like books and the library could connect the curriculum across the grades, and working with the teachers to reinforce through stories in the library what they were presenting to the students was always fun. It was always delightful to have a student exclaim, “We just learned about that in science class!”
It was a joy to work with so many volunteer parents in the library and to get to know them.
You were known for making books come alive for kids. Your story time in the Hillbrook library was magical and you always left students wanting more. What do you think is the key to helping children learn to love reading?
Reading aloud from a very early age is important. A lap and a hug is a wonderful way to be introduced to a book. If children grow up seeing other people around them reading and enjoying reading, they will become interested in reading. Sharing books together increases the possibility that they will become lifelong readers. Take your time. Enjoy the moment. Don’t push learning to read. It will come. Cracking the code can be challenging, so timing is important or some children will feel like they can’t read, and that is painful. Some young children will “read” the same book over and over again, actually memorizing it. Reading something together, both contributing, is good. Continue to read aloud to children after they are able to read independently. Paul and I still read aloud to each other and read aloud with our adult children whenever we can. Children and adults approach books individually. Some want information, some want adventure, some want humor, some want a book that will help them with a problem. If children have someone who can help them find a book to suit their needs at the time, they will learn to think of reading books as a pleasure, and worth their time and effort. “Here, you have to read this,” won’t do it. Incorporate audio books. Listening is a valuable skill, and the opportunity to listen to something without visual distractions is rare.