Liz Overberg has been a librarian at Darlington since 2011, previously serving as the Middle School Librarian, and now working with students in grades ELA-8. She holds a B.A. in English Adolescence Education from the State University of New York at Fredonia and an M.S. in Library Science with a concentration in School Libraries from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Overberg is also a certified English teacher. She is currently a book reviewer for School Library Journal, the world's largest reviewer of books, multimedia, and technology for children and teens. She and her husband, Adam, live on campus, and she is a member of the Regester House duty staff.
How did you start working at Darlington?
I actually grew up in Western New York and attended public school my whole life, so I never thought I'd find myself working and living at an independent boarding school in Northwest Georgia. But I've always believed in trusting my gut to take me where I'm supposed to be, and in July of 2011 it led me here to Rome. Just a few months before that, I had been living in North Carolina, finishing up my master's degree in Library Science and frantically wondering where I was going to work after graduation. I wanted to be a middle school librarian, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to stay in North Carolina or try to move closer to my family in New York. When a job posting from Darlington came across my school's listserv, I paused. I thought, "This is amazing! This sounds like a school that really knows what a library program should be. They get it." Then I paused again. "But, Georgia? Could I really live in Georgia?" After another moment's hesitation, my persistent gut assured me that, yes, I really could. So I decided to pursue the job. On paper, it sounded like everything I wanted. When I met Mrs. Holmes and the rest of the library department and saw the [gorgeous] library in Thatcher Hall, I knew instantly that it was the perfect fit for me.
What are your roles at Darlington?
I was first hired at Darlington as the librarian for grades 5-8, but now I work with everyone in grades ELA-8. I manage the ELA-8 library collection, coordinate the circulation of library materials, and I also teach students about things like information literacy, research, copyright, and intellectual property. Plus, I get to do fun things like build a snowman sculpture out of books and host author visits. In addition to my library responsibilities, I'm also a seventh-grade advisor and a member of the Regester House duty staff.
What do you love most about Darlington?
I've spent a lot of time lately reflecting on the things that I love about Darlington. My husband and I will be moving north after this school year, and as my time here draws to a close I'm realizing just how difficult it will be to say goodbye. Above all, I love the people here. Darlington students are so creative, curious, and just fun to work with. I never know what they're going to say or do, and they impress me time after time. They also ensure that every day is very interesting! My coworkers are some of my best friends, and also the funniest people I know. I laugh at work every single day. Sometimes I have so much fun that it doesn't even feel like a job. But they are also really great teachers, and I'm lucky to be able to learn from them. Finally, my friends and neighbors on campus have been like family to my husband and me. We have loved getting to know them and being part of their community. I hope that our friendships will last for years to come.
What is your favorite memory from your entire experience at Darlington?
I can't possibly narrow it down to one favorite memory! There are dozens of hilarious anecdotes, emotional experiences, and proud moments from my time at Darlington that I will never forget. Of course, who could ever forget the great "Snowpocalypse" of 2014? I was at school for five hours after dismissal, helping to care for students whose parents were stuck in traffic trying to get here to pick them up. There were lots of nose prints left on the window that day as everyone pressed their faces against the glass to catch a glimpse the storm. The campus looked so beautiful covered in snow and ice!
What makes Darlington such a special place?
I think that the strong sense of community at Darlington is really unique. The faculty here has such care for the students, and the students in turn love their teachers. Faculty kids grow up thinking of many of their teachers as friends and neighbors before they ever even interact in a classroom setting. Teachers get to know their students outside of school as coaches and dorm duty staff. Students grow up together and sit in the same classrooms, side by side for over a decade. And these relationships don't start in August and end in May. They may last for years—even beyond graduation, as many students come back to Darlington every year to see their teachers, their coaches, their neighbors, and their classmates. I think that's really special.
