June 06, 2025 – In an age when it’s easy to assume that young people switched books for screens, one school in particular at Columbus City Schools (CCS) is proving that wrong: 6,480 times over.

Woodward Park at Walden, the only sixth-grade building in the District, has achieved an extraordinary feat: the highest library circulation of all middle and high schools across the entire District for the 2024-2025 school year. A total of 6,480 books were checked out by the building’s students, an undeniable testament to a powerful culture of reading.

“They are doing some serious reading over there!” exclaimed Multiple Literacy Specialist Lynda Ray. “I often hear that our students don't read, but this is far from the truth. Many of our students are avid readers for pleasure, and these circulation numbers show this.”

Check out statistics for this school year from CCS Library Services:

Top Middle School Circulating Sites

• 6,480 - Woodward Park at Walden (6)

• 4,305 - Dominion Middle School

• 3,875 - Woodward Park Middle School (7-8)

• 3,733 - Westmoor Middle School

• 2,041 - World Language Middle School

Top CCS High School Circulating Sites

• 4,657 - Fort Hayes Arts & Academic High School

• 2,891 - Columbus International High School

• 2,033 - Linden-McKinley STEM Academy

• 1,895 - Centennial High School

• 1,739 - Whetstone High School

At the heart of this reading renaissance is Library Media Specialist Kathy McInerney, whose passion and care have transformed the library into something far more than just a room full of books at both of the Woodward buildings. 

“We’re trying to create a safe, fun, and inviting space that gives students the opportunity to grow as readers and people,” McInerney explained.

Principal Paul Bailey, who leads the sixth graders at Woodward Park at Walden and the seventh and eighth graders at its sister building Woodward Park Middle School, says McInerney’s impact is hard to overstate. 

“We are so proud of Mrs. McInerney and all the hard work she does on behalf of our students and to support reading,” Bailey said. “She has engaging lessons and she does an awesome job selecting new books for our library.”

If you combine the totals from both buildings, Woodward Park checked out 10,355 books during the 2024-2025 school year.

McInerney’s library isn’t just a place to check out books. It’s a place where young people are seen, heard, and celebrated. 

“I tell the kids: this is your library. If you’re looking for something, ask. If you want something we don’t have, I’ll get it for you,” she said. “We want students to see themselves in books and also to learn about lives very different from their own.”

Principal Bailey believes McInerney accomplishes just that.

“[McInerney] selects diverse books and authors that mirror and reflect our students,” Bailey said. “It is so important for our students to be able to see themselves in the stories and in the authors so that our library reflects the inclusiveness of our school community.”

The power of the library has clearly resonated with students, including Anjolaoluwa “A.J.” Oladeji, a sixth-grader whose love of reading blossomed in McInerney’s library. 

“I like coming to the library because it gives me a chance to look at other perspectives of life,” Oladeji said. “I like being transformed into a new world where I get to experience everything.”

Oladeji’s enthusiasm was as moving as it was sincere. 

“Is there anything not special about this library?” he asked. “It's the amazing library and Mrs. McInerney. It's the countless, almost limitless array of books here. I couldn't ask for a better library.”

That connection between librarian and student is at the core of the school’s success. 

“Middle schoolers are finding themselves,” McInerney said. “If we can offer them stories that make them feel seen and valued, we’ve done our job.”

McInerney’s mission prepares students for the next step of their educational path - high school.

“There's power in handing a student a book they connect with and seeing their eyes light up,” McInerney said. “That’s why I love what I do.”

At Woodward Park at Walden, those eager eyes and enthusiastic hands flipping through pages have sparked a movement–one that’s rewriting the narrative about what young readers are capable of.