2018 School Spending Survey Report
“The People Who Helped Me the Most Were the Librarians” — Rep. Elijah Cummings
Speaking about the librarians who stayed past their regular hours at the Enoch Pratt Free Library to help him with schoolwork, the longtime Baltimore congressman got emotional. “There are a lot of good people who really care,” he said.
Congressman Elijah Cummings, in this brief clip, recalls the time he spent as a child at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore.
“The people who helped me the most were the librarians,” Cummings told Steve Kroft in a 60 Minutes interview broadcast in January of this year, adding that the public library was the only integrated institution in his neighborhood.
Speaking about the librarians, whom he credited with staying past their regular working hours to help him with his schoolwork, enabling him to get out of special ed, the longtime Baltimore congressman and chair of the House Oversight Committee got emotional.
“There are a lot of good people who really care,” he said.
The complete interview with Cummings, who died Thursday, is available from CBS News.
Mary Colucci says
I missed that interview but it truly warms my heart. Librarians are wonderful educators in every setting- schools, public libraries, corporate libraries, and public libraries. We really care and try to help every age under all circumstances. Just see what Cummings became thanks to a bit of help! Cummings and so many more. Support libraries!!!
Helen Mulcahy says
A children's librarian showed me the way to an avenue of reading when I was 10, and when I became a Children's Librarian, then a School Librarian, my experiences with her were my inspiration as I worked with the children. The children's literature prof - and also my storytelling prof -- came from Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore. I bet Elijah knew her; she passed away about 10 years ago. She was priceless.
Carol Knych says
As a teacher of English in DoDDs schools Germany I saw librarians and teachers step up for kids who struggled. They also helped teachers who struggled by clueing them in about a child they might find troublesome. They used their training and special position well. I remember Martha Zerico?? especially. What memories we share. Mrs K.
Jenny Lyn Senter says
Beautiful! Elijah Cummings was a true hero. I was lucky enough to work in a high school library with such a librarian. Susan Jones of Willits High School would meet students after hours to help them succeed. She truly made a difference.
Tom Hipple says
Growing up in a very small town in rural Indiana the local Carnegie library was my window on the world. At the time I was growing up magazines were the purveyors of information from the wider world, and they were available at the library. I am the person I am today because that small library in that small town sparked my imagination and allowed me to wonder of the wider world, and eventually to go out and be part of that wider world. Thank you to all those who are responsible for the continuing benefits the libraries afford little boys in big cities like Baltimore small towns like Liberty.
Marge Phelps says
I worked in public and private libraries. Wonderful experiences, loved my brief time asa school librarian.
Mary York says
Most everywhere I've ever lived the library was my grounding. Have you noticed that librarians are usually very smart? Elijah and I were lucky in having libraries in the small backtown where he lived in Alabama and me in Kentucky back in 60's. There is fairness in some places where people are thinking individual and read for on-going education.
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