Like most libraries, Lancaster Mennonite's elementary school library is an inviting place where kids can explore the topics that they are interested in. From the exterior, it might seem that Sarah Fichtner serves as the hostess of the space.

But Fichtner is also a child advocate, a reading proponent and an igniter of imaginations. She has personalized her position as Lancaster Mennonite's elementary school librarian and firmly placed her own stamp upon it.

"I've always had a love of reading," said Fichtner. "I was always the person with her nose in a book. Maybe I've been destined for this. Today's society has so many distractions of screens. I like to spark the interest in books. Once (students) catch that fire, it's fun to see them want to check out the next book in the series."

Fichtner has been the Lancaster Mennonite elementary school librarian for 15 years. Some of her duties include checking books in and out, teaching reading skills and managing the library's collection of books.

Fichtner plays a key role in the elementary education process at Lancaster Mennonite, both serving as an educator and providing support for classroom teachers.

"A librarian is an educator who helps students find books to read that they're interested in," said Fichtner, a resident of Millersville. "It has to interest them, or it will stay in their backpacks. I teach them basic library skills, the difference between fiction and nonfiction, how to look up a book and what the Dewey Decimal System is. I do consider myself an educator, but I also support what's going on in the classroom."

Fichtner hosts Lancaster Mennonite's entire elementary school population - 185 prekindergarten to fourth-grade students - in the library, by grade and by class, for 30 minutes once a week. These days, children are beginning to learn how to read in kindergarten or before.

"Something I specifically do is make boxes of themed books available so students can look through the whole box," said Fichtner. "Kids will often come with specific requests, and they're all at different levels. (The boxes) can be good starting places for reluctant readers. If a kid comes to the library with a specific idea about a subject and can't find it, it can be frustrating. They want to find what they're interested in. My knowledge of our collection allows me to point kids in whatever direction they want to go."

"Reading helps kids use their imagination," she added. "It allows them to explore different topics. It builds confidence so they can possibly expand their experiences."

"My favorite thing to do at school is reading in the library," said second-grade student Miriam Charles.

The Lancaster Mennonite elementary school library is an all-print, all-book facility; it does not offer online resources. The library averages a total of about 1,200 check-ins, checkouts and renewals each month.

"At the elementary level, we try to limit how much students are on screens," said Fichtner. "We're emphasizing print at the elementary level. Screens aren't inherently bad, but there's just something about holding a book in your hands. When kids see adults reading, it opens kids' eyes to the possibility for a book and for fun."

"I like to read at school in my classroom and the library," said prekindergarten student Gavin Curtis.

Before becoming Lancaster Mennonite elementary school's part-time librarian in 2010, Fichtner taught fourth- and fifth-grade classes and kindergartners at various times at Lancaster Mennonite between 2003 and 2009. A native of Chester County, she earned a degree in elementary and early childhood education at Millersville University.

"I love working for a Christian school and having books in the library that reflect the school's mission," said Fichtner. "For me, as the person who is curating our collection, I can get kids to realize books can be fun."

For additional information, go to http://www.lancastermennonite.org.