Vision and Mission Statement
The Westlawn Middle School Library is a welcoming and inclusive space that empowers students in grades 6–8 to become curious, confident, and compassionate learners. By fostering a love of reading, inspiring critical thinking, and nurturing strong research and literacy skills, the library supports students as they explore ideas, discover new interests, and grow into thoughtful, informed members of their school community. Through collaboration with teachers, the library enriches learning experiences and encourages lifelong curiosity and learning.
Georgia Tidwell is proud to serve as the Library Media Specialist at Westlawn. She grew up in Fayette, Alabama, and attended Bevill State Community College. She earned her B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from the University of North Alabama and her M.Ed. in Library Media from the University of West Alabama.
Ms. Tidwell has been teaching since 1994 and has worked with students from Pre-K through 12th grade. She is passionate about helping students succeed and enjoys collaborating with teachers to support student growth. She is dedicated to motivating students to read widely and to learn something new every day.
Outside of work, Ms. Tidwell enjoys spending time with her family, watching superhero movies and sports, exploring the outdoors, and traveling to new places. She loves to laugh and embraces Voltaire’s philosophy: “I have chosen to be happy because it is good for my health.”
April was a creative and exciting month in the Westlawn Library! In celebration of National Poetry Month, our Falcon Stars explored their artistic side by creating blackout poetry using weeded books. Students transformed pages into powerful, original pieces—turning old texts into new masterpieces.
A major highlight this month was our Battle of the Books team competing at the district-wide competition hosted at TCTA. Students read five pre-selected books and competed head-to-head with peers from across the district. Our Falcon Stars represented Westlawn with excellence, teamwork, and determination. Congratulations to our top scorers—Austin, Gaby, and Shaniya—for earning medal recognition!
The library also continued to support school-wide literacy initiatives through activities like Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) and House Birthday Books, helping to build a culture of reading and celebration across campus. Students also had the opportunity to participate in a House Tuscaloosa trip, further extending learning beyond the library walls.
Reading engagement remained steady across platforms. During April, students checked out 352 print books, logged 259 reads on myON, and accessed 85 books through Sora, showing continued growth in both traditional and digital reading habits.
Looking ahead, students are encouraged to participate in the May Reading Challenge, where reading on myON and Sora will determine winners. The more our Falcon Stars read, the greater their chances of earning exciting prizes!
As always, the Westlawn Middle School Library remains a vibrant, welcoming space dedicated to fostering creativity, supporting instruction, and empowering every Falcon Star to explore, read, and grow.
