In this episode of Longwood GradCast: Beyond the Degree, host Dr. Sarah Tanner-Anderson sits down with Janine Cervantes (M.Ed.’05), a seasoned school librarian whose career has spanned continents and cultures. From her early years in Honduras to her current mission of building a children’s library in her home country, Janine’s story weaves together themes of resilience, cultural curiosity, and the transformative power of education.
Janine reflects on her upbringing in Honduras, where a family steeped in history, music, and multicultural values sparked her passion for learning. That foundation guided her toward special education and eventually librarianship—a path she formalized at Longwood University. She recalls finding the visits across Virginia libraries very special and insightful. Along the way, mentorship from faculty like Dr. Church became pivotal in shaping both her skills and her confidence as an educator.
The conversation explores Janine’s wide-ranging international career, which has taken her to Morocco, Thailand, Qatar, Egypt, and beyond. Each stop presented unique challenges and opportunities—from overcoming language barriers to honoring cultural traditions and climate extremes. One of her most memorable projects came in Morocco, where she transformed a neglected basement into a thriving school library that engaged students, parents, and the wider community.
Her six-year tenure in Qatar proved especially formative, offering her the chance to publish children’s books and to rethink what makes a library collection truly valuable. Janine shares the lesson that numbers alone don’t matter; instead, relevance to a community’s interests—whether cars, fashion, or history—creates meaningful connections between readers and books. In Egypt, she found endless inspiration in the country’s historic richness, fueling her belief that libraries can be both vessels of heritage and engines for future growth.
Now, Janine is channeling her experiences back into her roots. She is launching a children’s library and storytelling center in Honduras, designed to bring books, imagination, and a sense of possibility to children who have never had access to such resources. Her vision is to open doors to the wider world through the simple yet profound act of reading.
As she shares advice for future librarians, Janine underscores the importance of preparation, cultural openness, and language learning. She encourages aspiring professionals to embrace discomfort, immerse themselves in diverse communities, and focus on the positive discoveries each experience brings.
The episode closes on a note of gratitude: Janine’s appreciation for the mentors, opportunities, and global experiences that shaped her journey, and her determination to give back through the transformative power of libraries. Her story is a moving reminder that education and cultural respect ripple outward, shaping not only careers but also communities across the world.
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