New DJDS English Teacher Brings Library of Over 2,800 Books to DJDS

What had once started as a simple rolling cart of books has now turned into a massive library of over 2,800 books. Now, that collection of 2,800 books is here at Denver Jewish Day School in room 106- all thanks to one teacher, Naomi Cher. 

The library, funded entirely by Cher herself, was created with a mission in mind: to ensure that everyone who walked into the library could find themselves on the shelves. 

“Being able to see themselves [the student] in the library gives them the courage to tell other people who they are,” Cher said. With representation playing the biggest role in the collection, the library has a diverse collection of books from different “time periods, races, [and] gender identities.” She explains that every good library has two good things: “window books”, and “mirror books.” 

"Mirror books show us ourselves; they make us feel like we're not alone, that there are people who share our struggles… window books give us new perspectives; they show us others and build on our empathy,” she said. 

To keep the library working well, Cher has taught the eighth graders how to check books in and out and how to navigate the library's geography and sticker system. 

“I’m not often a librarian, but when I [am], it’s an interesting experience,” said DJDS eighth grader Rachel Rojani. “I have only done it a couple of times, but I have learned a lot from the experience.”  

The library is open every day during lunch, but students may only check out one book at a time. Not only that, but Cher and the library also run programs, such as a scavenger hunt or a “genre marathon,” in which students read 12 genres

of books and go to an end-of-school party if successfully completed. 

Next year, however, Cher will leave DJDS, taking the library with her. However, she plans to leave behind a comprehensive book list for Upper Division Principal Dr. Jeremy Golubcow Teglasi (Dr. G-T) in order to keep a smaller but 

existing library. While the library won’t be here next year, the upper division book nook will still be present in the lobby. 

“Regardless of what I think about the content, I still believe that literary access is vital in a school setting,” said Cooper Coughlan, editor-in-chief of The Paw. “To some extent, students benefit from being exposed to differing ideas, even if they are sometimes controversial.”