COLUMBIANA Librarian moves on to next chapter

Hromiko hopes some of her children's stories will be published.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
COLUMBIANA -- Since 1983, Natalie Hromiko has energized Joshua Dixon Elementary pupils to read thousands of books.
After her retirement in April, she plans to write some of her own.
As a recent school board agenda stated, the board approved Hromiko's resignation for retirement as "media center paraprofessional," in simpler terms, the school librarian.
Hromiko said she plans to take the time to travel with her husband, Nicholas, spoil her grandchildren, and actually read the stacks of adult fiction books she has collected over the years, but set aside in favor of children's books.
She calls herself an unpublished author, and hopes to convince children's book publishers that stories she has shared with her own children and Joshua Dixon pupils over the years are worthy of publication.
Although she has classes of kindergarten through fourth-grade pupils in her library each day, Hromiko quickly pointed out she is not a teacher. She has, however, introduced pupils to numerous Ohio children's authors, illustrators, poets and storytellers.
Promoting the habit of reading
She has shared her love of books and reading and shown kindergarten pupils how to handle books with a sense of awe and respect.
She has managed -- with some good-natured arm twisting -- to persuade Principal John Scardino to have his head shaved, carry a teddy bear, or wear silly hats or a pink bunny costume as pupils' prize for meeting reading goals.
Pupils have not only met, but often well exceeded reading goals, such as reading 1 million minutes. Hromiko has also promoted family story programs designed to encourage parents to read to their children.
"The promotions are a lot of fun and it is rewarding to see pupils and their parents excited about reading," she said. "Of course, keeping them reading after a promotion ends is the real goal."
Hromiko has organized book talks during classroom sessions and worked with teachers to promote children's books such as award-winning poetry or fiction. To see the pupils reading the books she has suggested is enormously rewarding, she said.
Introduction to poetry
Introducing Joshua Dixon pupils to poetry also has been successful over the years, she said. She uses poetry to begin classroom sessions in the library.
"The kids come in all excited and I don't even say anything," she said. "I just start reading poetry and they settle down. A lot of them will check out poetry books, and I don't think they would do that otherwise."
The Hromikos live in Columbiana. They have two grown children, three grandchildren and a fourth on the way.
tullis@vindy.com