When the librarian retired last year, Knepper jumped at the opportunity to fill her shoes.

"My favorite part of the day was always reading out loud to the kids—no matter what grade," says Knepper, who has taught every elementary school grade at some point in the past 17 years. "So I'm in hog heaven."

And since she started her new position, she has implemented so many new programs the school's Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) is scrambling to help with funding.

To supplement the PTA's annual $1,200 library stipend, the organization is holding fundraisers to meet Knepper's goals. She wants to start a puppet theater and establish a book-making center. In the center, children will turn their written and illustrated stories into bound books that can be checked out at the school library.

"Betsy has such a love for literature. She has the wonderful experience of being a classroom teacher, an infectious enthusiasm and a true passion for what she does," says Willow Glen Elementary School PTA President Karen Potts. "When she reads a book she gets swept up and the kids are swept along with her."

Although the librarian position is part time, Knepper makes it a point to stay on campus full time. So on her days off at the library she serves as a resource teacher for underachieving students. Library clerk Sandy Dolen fills in on the days Knepper is working with this small group of third-, fourth- and fifth-graders.

But every lunchtime Knepper opens up the library for all the students. In the morning she posts a sign on the library door announcing the library's daily activity. And when there are no special events posted, she stays to let children read.

"I want to think of the library as a literacy center," she says.

She envisions the library being used in a multitude of ways. Some students are looking for something different to do during lunchtime, she says, and the library is a good place they can go.

She has also put her love of music to use and plays guitar while students sing "silly songs" and holiday songs.

And she initiated the "Reading Buddies" program, in which fifth-grade students read to first-graders. The older students must choose the book, rehearse reading at home and read to their buddy one on one.

One of the older students will often read a book to her younger brother first, Knepper says, testing the story to determine if her reading buddy will like it.

"The big kids think they're doing the little kids a favor, but it's really good practice for the big kids' reading skills," she says. "It's really cute to see the little kids spread out on the floor, rapt."

Another voluntary program she started is a book club. Fourth- and fifth-graders agree on a book, write out questions and talk about it during lunch. After reading the book the fifth-graders design a multimedia project, making videos, audiotapes and models based on the novel.

Knepper also established the Accelerated Reader Program at the school and "never imagined" it would become so popular, she says.

First students take a quiz on the computer to determine their reading level, because it often doesn't correspond with their grade level, Knepper says. Then students check out appropriate books, read them and take a quiz on the computer. When they pass the test, the number of words in the book are tallied and saved. Classes compete to read the most words. This year the school's goal is to read 15 million words. It's now approaching 6 million words.

"It's the most exciting thing I've ever seen," Knepper says.