A conversation with Julie Vignoul about the many incredible things South’s library has to offer.

Have you ever opened a book and thought, “Darn, I wish I could read this in a room filled with other literature, surrounded by so many plants that I’m basically in a forest with a ghost hovering over my shoulder?” If so, the SEHS library may be for you. The space is stunning, peaceful, and a perfect environment for staff and students alike to relax and find a creative outlet during the school day. Much of this is facilitated by one person: our teacher-librarian, Julie Vignoul. Students, additionally, contribute in equal measure.

The library features literature of all kinds, with non-fiction books on the shelves around the outer wall and fiction on the inside, any genre one can imagine. Cozy chairs available for students are scattered throughout the room and the air is always fresh thanks to the live plants all around. Even the round tables towards the center will soon be an area for one of the best stress relieving activities – art.

“I’ve got a ton of pony beads coming so you can make necklaces and keychains and bracelets,” Vignoul said. “[In addition to] friendship bracelet stuff, some découpage stuff for painting, and I thought I’d bring in a bunch of glass jars so people can make little vases. I have so many clippings of plants, so I thought I’d make a potting station so people can pot some plants for themselves.”

The library is a space that can be used for far more than just reading.

“Your brain needs downtime to do something creative. Class and schoolwork is creative, you’re being asked to be creative throughout the day, but you also need to shift and activate other parts of your brain as well,” Vignoul said.

Free periods, lunch, and the half an hour before and after school can be spent in no better place. Many students enjoy using the quiet tables for homework and study time.

And what about the actual books? Many have faced a dilemma when they’ve searched for a book around their public libraries and been unable to find what they’re seeking – at the SEHS library, however, students can easily see whatever they’re looking for added.

“I do student [book] requests and staff requests all the time. [There are constantly] small little orders of books trickling in. . . Like, every other week.” Vignoul said.

If you request a book, it’ll be ordered and put on the shelves promptly. Sometimes, Vignoul will even make larger orders, over a thousand dollars. She largely handles everything around the library on her own, making the area all the more impressive.

“I am a teacher. My job is to teach, and do lots of digital citizenship and information literacy, research, that sort of thing. That’s my job. That’s my passion,” Vignoul said. She has been working here at South for 14 years and has been in education for 25. She emphasizes that the library is not hers, but it belongs to the students and the staff. 

“I’m just a caretaker, so I try to make it a place for you guys to come and feel comfortable.”

The library belongs to life aside from the humans milling about as well, namely the dozens of potted plants scattered around the shelves.

“They’re all real, and I take care of all of them.” Vignoul said.

The large palm trees, in particular, have a long, interesting history.

“There are two big palm trees in the library. There used to be six of them, and they were all in the cafeteria. Royal Caribbean Cruiselines donated [the] palm trees to South. Four of them died . . . the two that survived got sent here. When I [started working] here, there were the two palm trees and, like, three ferns. Everything else got slowly added. People donated plants to me, I brought my own plants in, and it has since grown insanely.”

Between all the life in the library, there may be the occasional unexpected visitor from the dead…

“There was a custodian when I got here that swore there was a ghost portal here in the library.” Vignoul said. “I don’t want to be starting rumors, but I can tell you that it’s [supposedly] around the round tables.”

There is evidence of the ghost’s existence beyond one simple statement.

“I found the craziest, creepiest, rusty candleholder stashed behind a bunch of old, old books once.” Vignoul recalled. “That freaked me out.”

“I’m agnostic [about the existence of the ghost]. I can’t say yes, I can’t say no.”

And so, while you’re sitting and doing some art at the round tables in the future, watch out for any strange occurrences that may point to supernatural influence upon the library.

As a final note, Vignoul gave her own book recommendation, Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki. This life-changing novel features a healthy combination of tragedy, queer representation, aliens, donuts, and gorgeous, tear-jerking imagery.

The SEHS library is a space where staff and students alike can take time to unwind, try something new, and utilize creativity, all while being surrounded by a plethora of worlds to explore within each book.

By Ayla Cem