5/23/2007
Getting to Know: Alice Paterra
By Dolores E. Pike
Congratulations are in order to Alice Paterra, recently named branch manager for the Berlin Branch of the Worcester County Library. She has been with the county library system since the opening of the Ocean Pines branch in 1999 where, as branch assistant, she helped to develop the core collection. After a couple of years she moved over to Berlin as branch assistant under Manager Jan Bucciere who recently retired. Alice wants to continue in the path laid out by her predecessor, where the community is part of the library and the library is part of the community
If anyone was destined to serve, not just work in, a library it is Alice. She is a bibliophile, introduced to the love of books as a toddler. She does not recall the county library in Ellicott City, MD where she grew up with her parents, Elizabeth and Frank Paterra, having a story time. What she does remember is being taken to the library and "set loose" in the children's room.
Not only did her parents read to her and her two younger brothers, but mother Liz, a reading specialist for Prince George's County, taught Alice to read before she was three years old. "I do not ever remember not being able to read," said Alice. She also remembers serving as the guinea pig as her mother would try yet one more test or idea designed to encourage literacy in kids.
"I remember the first day of first grade we had a reading circle with four or five children gathered around the teacher who asked if anyone knew how to spell the word 'is.' I did. But I did not realize at the time that it was unusual to be able to read when you went to school. In first grade I was reading on a sixth grade level.
"We were allowed to visit the school library where I found a book about King Arthur on a shelf I could barely reach. I was told I could not check the book out because I could not read it. I had to get up in front of the class to prove I could read from it. And after I did I was allowed to read any book in the library that I wanted," said Alice, adding that she did not understand then why she was different from the other children. "It wasn't until later that I realized my mother had given me a gift and set me up for life. I can tell you the same thing did not occur with my math skills. The calculator and I are very good friends."
The books of her childhood hold such fond memories for Alice that she has made them her "collectibles," searching out some oldies but goodies such as "The Tears of the Dragon, "The Summerfolk" and "Mr. Pine's Purple House." At times she will bring in one of her own books to use for story time at the library or the daycare groups she reads to on a regular basis.
Most people who work with children on a day-to-day basis have a favorite experience with the group as a whole, or even with just one child, that made them laugh, gave them joy or quietly touched the heart. And so it was with Alice and a little boy from one daycare group.
The child is challenged and has difficulty sitting still and listening to the stories. He does not play in the games nor does he make the crafts. Instead he goes off by himself and plays while all the other children participate. Then one day this past spring Alice went to the daycare center to read as usual.
"This little boy who had never even spoken to me got up from the floor and ran over saying, 'Miss Alice, Miss Alice read us some stories. Miss Alice is here to read us a story.' Then he was able to sit down and listen to the stories and participate with the rest of the children and I was so gratified.
"And the next week when I went again he said, 'Miss Alice is here.' And this time he didn't sit with the group he sat behind me and listened. When it came time to do our craft, making "Harry the Dirty Dog" puppets, this little boy asked to do the craft, got all of his materials and finished the craft. At the end he thanked me for the story and for coming. I was almost in tears. I could not believe it. I knew it wasn't just me that got through to him. He knew me and he knew what I was doing so I had to be doing something right. I just couldn't believe that my small effort would make that much difference to this little boy," said Alice. She went on to say that even though story time ended for the season she has been in contact with the teachers and they said, "He has really come a long way and we are very proud of him."
Alice's time away from work, by her own admission, is unexciting. She likes to read for personal enjoyment and has a stack of books piled up ready to take to her favorite spot. In the backyard behind her home a comfortable swing awaits under the shade of an umbrella. And her dog Mickey is sure to accompany her and curl up contentedly nearby.
Mickey Can Read
By Alice Paterra
Mickey can read. Yes! Like other dogs Mickey barks at the delivery trucks and service vans that drive down our street or (Heaven forbid!) park in front of our house. It doesn't matter whether or not the driver actually approaches our door or a neighbor's, Mickey warns us about them all. But he never even yips when the UPS truck is near. DHL, Schwann's, Sears, even the mail truck; they all get his full range of sounds and emotions, but he accepts the UPS truck with no complaint. How can a dog possibly know the difference? It isn't the exact same truck each time, nor is it the same driver. UPS doesn't visit everyday, so it can't be mere familiarity. No, we've decided that Mickey must recognize the logo or letters. He can read!
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Uploaded: 5/23/2007
