WIE media center dedicated in memory of Judge Wilson

On Friday, March 29, there was a dedication ceremony for the new media center at West Irvine Elementary in memory of Judge Billy Lisle Wilson.
Local school officials and members of Wilson’s family gathered with West Irvine students and faculty in the library for the ceremony.
A plaque made to honor Wilson spoke of his great love of learning, books and travel.
“He loved everything—people, animals, antiques and classical music. He loved to sing and play the piano.  He was an avid reader,” it read.
Before Judge Wilson became a lawyer, he was a teacher and taught school in Kentucky, Ohio, Florida and Japan.
Wanda Wilson, Judge Wilson’s sister-in-law, said she “knows Billy would be proud” of the new school, especially its library.
Assistant Superintendent Randall Christopher said because of the Wilson family’s willingness to “generously share” property, there was space to build the library so that it “looks back on the city, to connect that we are a part of the community.”
Elke Davis, retired school librarian, read “A Jack Tale” to gathered students, and said, “This is such a nice facility, truly a dream come true.”
The West Irvine Singers, led by Dianne Smith, sang “Rockin’ Robin” in honor of their current librarian, Robin Barnes, and “Anything Can Happen in a Fairy Tale.”
On the walls of the bright and spacious library, large block letters spell out the words “Believe, Dream, Imagination, Discovery, Adventure and Storytime.”
“Those words were not put there just to fill a space,” said Bert Hensley, County School Superintendent.
“Books are our greatest escape, whether we are a child or an adult,” he said. “You can get lost in a book.”
Calling the library, or media center, “a center of learning” he also said it is the school’s “crowning jewel.”
The principal of W.I.E., B.J. Martin, said the media center seeks to incorporate today’s technology with traditional books.
“We’ve just purchased 30 computers, six of which will go in the library,” she said.  “We also hope to have an iPad in every classroom.”
The new library is almost double the size of the one in the old school, so several shelves remain empty.
“We need to get more books,” said Martin. “Our PTO is helping us with that.”
Martin has a master’s degree in library science, and says the space is very special to her.