Beth Marshall’s drive to complete a degree in library science and media at age 59 stems from the love she has for her job and wanting to stay on top of digital changes.
The times are ever changing, especially in high school libraries.
Many operations are moving to computers and the internet as students continue to become more technologically savvy than their predecessors. In an effort to keep pace with digital evolution, La Center High School librarian Beth Marshall recently completed a college degree at the age of 59.
Marshall’s achievement is a bachelor’s degree in library science and media. She earned it through Ashford University’s online program by taking one course at a time for six years.
“I enjoy working here (LCHS), so I wanted to make sure I can keep doing it proficiently,” Marshall said.
Her new degree is not her first. After high school, Marshall attended Montana State University and was educated as a medical secretary. She got her start in the working world as an emergency room admissions clerk at a hospital. After just a couple years though, Marshall and her family moved further west to the Clark County area. She was a stay-at-home mom for a few years before deciding to start doing volunteer work for the La Center School District. Kitchen duties and recess were a couple areas she assisted before eventually being put in the library one day. When her current position eventually opened up, colleagues suggested she should apply, and of course, she was later hired.
“I was pretty much taught on the spot,” said Marshall.
For 21 years now, she has been the librarian at the high school and learned everything largely on her own. She hopes to go for another 10 years or more, and that’s primarily why she sought the degree. Knowing more about the position and having job security are very important to her.
“I enjoy working here so I wanted to make sure I can keep my spot,” she said half jokingly. “There are great kids here, and great people.”
Marshall’s progress toward completing her degree was methodical and constant. She never took time off work or anything else to get it done.
“I’m pretty proud of it after all that,” she said with a smile.
In the end, she says it was also completely worth it, but in the beginning admits she was “very nervous.”
Classes consisted of webcam lectures and discussions most of the time, which was obviously a very unique school setting for her. She learned how to keep a book collection digitally, communicate better with diverse students, and use technology more effectively.
“I’m way more proficient with tech devices,” she said.
Inside her own library, that knowledge can be seen at work. One-third of LCHS library’s fiction books are offered digitally, for example. Students wishing to read electronically have the ability to download library books from an app. Marshall herself even has 25 Kindles she can check out to students for use.
“It’s the way young people learn today,” said Marshall. “Times change.”
And as it has changed, Marshall made sure she adapted with it.
Feeling more equipped now than six years ago, she looks forward to continuing her quest to educate and inspire students through the library.
“They are the ones that inspire me,” she said.
