THE (BEST) LIBRARIANS

It is no secret that a lot of the Country Day campus is changing. Constructions are underway, students are graduating, and that feeling in the air is upon us: Summer (and the next school year) are almost in our grasp. I would argue, however, that the largest change on campus isn’t in infrastructure or weather, but rather in two of the most frequent faces on our campus: Mrs. Butz and Mrs. Oldham. As they gear up for retirement, I thought it only best that I have a final chat with them to discuss where they are going in the future, and what their experience on our Country Day campus has been like.

 

When did you begin working at Country Day? What were your first impressions of it?

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Mrs. Butz: I came 14 years ago, in 2003. I had wonderful impressions, it was a true community of students and faculty on a beautiful spread out campus. I have lived in Charlotte since 1970, so I’ve always been aware of Country Day.

 

Mrs. Oldham: I interviewed in April of 1998 when the former head of school called me. I had moved to Charlotte from Colorado in 1995, and I worked at an IB Middle School here,  but I missed the independent school setting. Seeing kids walking around the campus and playing on the lacrosse field made my heart soar.  Also, my faculty guide made a point of mentioning the pluses of the long lunch hour.  The faculty in those days were a social, civilized bunch and took the time to meet and talk at lunch together.

 

How has Country Day changed over the years?

 

B: I definitely think we’ve progressed through the years, we’ve tried really hard to stay current.

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O: It’s a lot more casual, I would say. The emphasis is there on academics. I’m not sure every student takes advantage of the academic program, which is sad for me because I think it is so special. There are a lot more programs – in the last few years, the travel has definitely expanded. Not to mention that both students’ and teachers’ days are becoming more and more busy.

 

What is your favorite part of the job?

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B: Working with students. I also love history and that’s tied well into how involved the history department is in the library collection.

 

O: My students, of course! I love talking with them.

 

What is your least favorite part of the job?

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B: I don’t have one – that’s why I’ve been around for so long! Sometimes it’s hard for me to get out of bed in the morning, but I’m always glad to come here. I’m very sad to be leaving, I’ll be getting out my real linen hanky the last couple of weeks.

 

O: I’m not so fond of meetings, I’m not sure a lot gets done.

 

What are your plans for retirement?

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B:  My plans right now are to make no plans that obligate me to meetings. For the summer my husband and I will cruise the water around the New England Islands – Martha’s Vineyards, New Bedford, etc. and hopefully I’ll make progress on my golf game. I will live in Charlotte three miles away. My grandchildren attend CCDS  (3rd grade and 7th grade) so I will still be around.

 

O:Well, I am going to Germany, and I am going to be immersed in Bach at a Music Festival. From there, I will probably  plan more travel and experiences.  And, I want to take my family on a trip to San Francisco or Seattle or wherever they want to go. I plan to exercise a lot and to take some courses online that maybe I need to brush up on -- Chemistry, for instance.

 

What do you hope the Country Day community knows as you leave?

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B: I feel that from 7:15 to 3:15, our US Cannon library has served as the center of the US Country Day campus. During those times, we librarians got to observe student life at its best.  After 3:15, the activity focus shifts to BSAC and Gorelick – but during the earlier hours the library was the beating heart of Country Day, and we loved that. Going forward, I hope that every student who has walked through this library remembers the importance of respect and civility. Take time to get to know as many other students and teachers as you can.  Take advantage of the wonderful experiences and invitations that come you as a student at CCDS.  Read the Daily Bulletin and get involved. 

 

O: I hope our community continues to know that personal relationships are the most important thing within the framework of learning. School is school, everybody has a job: but I think all of that is made more wonderful, effective and fruitful when the personal relationships come into play. I also think it is very important that we support each other. Our Affirmation of Community reminds us of the many ways we can interact positively with each other.  I would like to say thank you, especially to students and colleagues for making my 20 years a memorable and rich learning experience for me.

 

Everyone has a personal anecdote about Mrs. Butz and Mrs. Oldham: whether that is when they caught you eating in the library, helped you find the perfect book for a research project, or gave you words of encouragement when you most needed it. Like Mrs. Butz said, they really are the beating heart of our campus: and I know that I am not alone in my sadness to see them go. As they go, though, I need not remind us to be hopeful in this period of change; there are a lot of exciting things ahead of them and us as Country Day students, and you only need to look outside to see so.