Aldine ISD links libraries to literacy

Aldine Independent School District named Lucille Barnes and Ninfa Jiménez Segura its 2025–2026 Information Literacy Specialists of the Year on April 26. (aldineisd.org) Barnes is the elementary honoree from Goodman Elementary School. Jiménez Segura is the secondary honoree from Aldine High School. (aldineisd.org) The district said the awards recognize librarians who turn school libraries into “high-impact learning hubs” for students, staff and families. Aldine described reading as “the foundation for all learning.” (aldineisd.org) At Goodman Elementary, Aldine said Barnes built family engagement nights, reading contests, curated book displays and campuswide reading challenges. The district said she also works with teachers to match library materials to classroom instruction. (aldineisd.org) At Aldine High, the district said Jiménez Segura reshaped the library into a “cozy, inclusive, and nurturing sanctuary.” Aldine said she received 30 nominations from 30 coworkers. (aldineisd.org) The district said students in her library are greeted by name, see collections that reflect their lives and join lunch book clubs. It also said she co-plans lessons with teachers and ties library resources to campus curriculum. (aldineisd.org) Aldine published a separate photo gallery from April 24 showing both women being surprised with their awards on campus. That post identified Barnes as the primary winner and Jiménez Segura as the secondary winner. (aldineisd.org) The district’s framing is narrower than a general celebration of books. It presented the library as a place tied to instruction, campus culture and daily reading habits across every subject. (aldineisd.org) In Aldine’s telling, the award is really about who makes reading visible and routine on a campus. The district said both winners turned the library into a place students want to enter and teachers can use. (aldineisd.org)