St. Francis Xavier School

Mrs. Kathleen Finn - Librarian and Digital Learning Specialist

Arriving at SFX in 2007, I  currently teach library classes for grades PreK-5 and Digital Learning classes for Grades 3-5.  These classes enable students to find, evaluate and use high-quality literature and information in all its forms for personal or academic use, and to develop the technical skills to create new knowledge and share that knowledge with others.   A big part of the job is fostering good digital citizenship in students.

Born and raised in Ottawa, Illinois (site of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate), I attended  Catholic grade school and public high school there. After graduating from Vanderbilt University (B.A.  English), I worked in New York City for a decade in editorial and marketing positions at several children’s book publishers.  Inspired by the many librarians I met during those years, I later completed a Master’s in Library Science at Long Island University. 

In 1995, my husband and I moved from the NYC suburbs to Chittenden County with our three young  children. For several years I was the publicist for the VT Folklife Center Children’s Book Series. After completing coursework at UVM to gain state school library media specialist certification, I worked as the children’s librarian at the Winooski Memorial Library and, happily, got to know SFX in the process. I have reviewed many books for School Library Journal and the State of VT Dept. of Libraries and served as an advisory board member of the Vermont-based Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF).  Now empty-nesters, my husband and I enjoy boating on Lake Champlain, gardening, long walks, traveling and, of course, reading!

I am a school library media specialist because I love helping students, faculty and parents find resources that speak precisely to their needs at just the right moment, whether it’s a picture book about lizards, a chapter book about best friends or a database article about DNA.   To do this work at St. Francis Xavier brings the added privilege of helping students grow in their faith--and helps me grow in mine from everyday interactions with those in this wonderful community.