Melissa A. King (formerly McDonald) earned her Master of Library degree at University of Maryland, College of Information Studies (Maryland’s iSchool) in December 2012.  She specialized in School Library Media, and added the Information for Diverse Populations specialization to her graduate work after she realized that she hoped to work in a school with underserved populations.   Melissa was a half-time media specialist at two Title 1 schools the first two years of her career, and for ten years has been happily the full-time media specialist at one elementary school in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Melissa is the mother of four amazing adult children, three fur babies, and ‘volunteer extraordinaire’ as she finds great intrinsic satisfaction from serving others.  A strong supporter of librarianship, she has served on the boards of Maryland Association of School Librarians,  Maryland iSchool’s Alumni Chapter and the local school librarian professional organization MCEMSA.  She is a long-time member of the Gaithersburg Book Festival Committee,  and also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Friends of the Library, Montgomery County. During the summer, she is a co-chair at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair’s Arts and Crafts, Hobbies and Photography building.  She is also active member of Seneca Creek Community Church, and serves in a variety of ways, including host team, workship team, and ESOL program for adult learners.

As a school library media specialist, Melissa enjoys a fruitful career helping students reach their goals through 21st Century information literacy, technology, and nurturing their love of reading.  Her diverse library program includes environmental science, computer science, social-emotional learning, history, creativity, among many other topics. Everyday she lives, works, and breathes the five roles of the school librarian – teacher, instructional partner, information specialist, program administrator, and leader.

She lives by the words of Helen Keller, “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”

Follow Melissa on Twitter/X @Cre8tiveLib and Instagram @Cre8tiveLibrarian