Rohnert Park Reads: Lawrence E. Jones Middle School

For Cindy Frazer, a longtime Rohnert Park librarian, it is the love of reading that brought her back to Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified after being laid off from John Reed Elementary two years ago.

Buget cuts left Frazer, who also lives here, without a job. But as then-librarian Mary Jane Beccaria retired, an empty spot and seniority left the position open at Lawrence E. Jones Middle School to Frazer.

"Reading to kids is the best part about this job," she says. "It's different for me now — I do less reading and more of helping students find books or get on the computers."

But, Frazer says she's lucky to be able to get her job back, even though she calls her two-year unemployment period a "two-year summer vacation."

Frazer started volunteering in the district, at Monte Vista Elementary, back in 1991, and went on to serve 12 years at John Reed.

"A library is a great place for someone who loves books," she said in between breaths, as she answered plea after plea from students on a recent day.

"I think we're all out of 3-D animation books," she said to one student, while pausing to search for the 10th book "The Soldiers of Halla," in the series called Pendragon.

Nearby, Frazer's daughter, Jessika, who is 25, helped re-decorate the library. The theme? "175 Leagues Under the Sea," a spin on the original "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," by Jules Verne — but amended to the number of class days there are in a school year.

Frazer keeps busy, at times helping up to 60 kids during lunchtime, plus classes and open hours before and after school. She plucks one book, then another, and often asks students simply, did you enjoy this one?

Fluttering from bookshelf to bookshelf — packed with books ranging from civil rights, the constitution and warfare to dinosaurs, the environment and sign language, Frazer makes it look like more fun than work.

"What's not to love in a room full of books," she says.

We wondered, what's on Cindy Frazer's reading list.

"I like to stay caught up on books kids are reading," she said. "Graphic novels and the vampire stuff is really hot right now."

Looking for something to read this weekend or perhaps a gift? Check out some titles from Frazer's recommended reading list:

• "Pendragon" series by D.J. MacHale — packed with mystery and adventure.
• "Twilight" series by Stephenie Meyer. 
• "Charlie Bone" — a magician series.
• "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane," by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline.
• "Homeless Bird," by Gloria Whelan, about a girl from Inida who "dares to defy fate."
• "Dead is the New Black," which Frazer is currently reading. A story about a phychic family by Marlene Perez.

Editor's note: The library is open from 8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. The school says students can come in before school and during lunch to check out books, do schoolwork, take Accelerated Reader tests and of course read. Mrs. Frazer could also use help with lunch time supervision. If you can help out during our lunchtime (12:10-12:50), please contact volunteer coordinators at ljptsavolunteer@gmail.com.