THIS WEEK'S PERSONALITY: Jennifer Baynes, library coordinator for Loudonville-Perrysville Schools
Jennifer Baynes of Loudonville sees more than books in a library.
The new librarian and media specialist for Loudonville-Perrysville Schools says students use the area for more than reading.
Baynes said school district libraries have a role of "first, helping students with research, and second, helping them with media literacy, particularly showing them how to do research on a computer.”
She added that many STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) experiences are incorporated in educational software on school library computers, such as Makespace.
“At both Budd and McMullen (elementary schools), we have special STEM Wednesdays, where students enrolled in the program do STEM work on computers,” she said. “We are pulling more STEM programming into the library.
“But, we also have a good selection of books for students to read − fiction, non-fiction, and reference materials,” she said. “Today, they seem to enjoy graphic novels the mos. Kids love them!”
Baynes has worked in the school district's libraries for five years, the past four as a library aide at McMullen and Budd elementaries.
In her new post, Baynes replaces Julie Seboe, who was named director of innovation and technology. Baynes said she will still work closely with Seboe, because "a lot of the innovation and technology work starts at the school libraries.”
Two aides will support Baynes − Andrea Landoll, who will serve as aide at Loudonville High School, and a yet-to-be-hired aid to fill Baynes' former post for McMullen and Budd.
A Loudonville native, Baynes earned a bachelor of elementary education in 1992 from Ohio State University after graduating from Loudonville High in 1988. After spending her freshman year at OSU's main campus, she completed her degree on the Mansfield campus.
This is Baynes' second time working in libraries. She was hired after her college graduation as children's librarian at Loudonville Public Library. She worked there three and a half years before resigning to work as a stay-at-home mom.
Baynes said that while a stay-at-home mom, she did some substitute teaching. “So I kept my teaching license active, which worked out because it enabled me to take the library-media position when it became open.”
Baynes met her husband, Bryan, while they were in Mansfield, and they have two sons, Joshua and Jarryd. The Bayneses recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. Bryan Baynes works at People’s Savings and Loan in Bucyrus.
30th wedding anniversary.
She earned her degree in 1992, the same year she married husband Bryan, whom she met in Mansfield. Bryan works at People’s Savings and Loan in Bucyrus, and they just celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.
Joshua Baynes works as a Xerox copier repairman for MT Business Tech. Jarryd, who was Loudonville High School's 2018 valedictorian, recently graduated from Ohio State. He works for Rocket Coin, a Chicago-based crypto currency firm, working two days a week in Chicago and three days remotely at home.
In her free time, Baynes enjoys reading herself, especially fantasy and reality fiction. She also enjoys baking and family time.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: This week's Personality: Jennifer Baynes, library coordinator for Loudonville-Perrysville Schools
