Celebrating School Libraries

An investment in our future

As School Library Month draws to a close, I want to devote one more post to the importance of supporting the libraries in your local schools, even if you don’t have children attending school or children at all. The data is clear: schools with full time credentialed librarians have higher student achievement across the board, from higher test scores to higher graduation rates. Understanding the impact of a school library always hits harder if it comes from a personal experience, so I reached out to a few friends to help me with this one.

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School libraries foster a love of reading

For many students, the school library is the first library they encounter. Having a story read to you by a librarian, being able to select a book for yourself, and being trusted to take it home with you is huge for small children. It is the place where a lifelong love of reading can begin.

As Karen Gillespie of Pitch Your Novel shared:

The school library was so magical for me. It’s where my Great Books club would meet after school, and I remember checking out Little House books, Trixie Belden and Encyclopedia Brown. It was also the site of Scholastic book fair and nothing was more thrilling than pouring over the offerings, choosing which books to order.

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School libraries support a student’s education

While school curricula is regulated on a tight timeline, the school area is the place where students who experience a spark of interest can be guided to explore. The few minutes on Greek mythology during a world history class is nothing to the millions of Percy Jackson fans. They hit the library because they want to know more.

Audry Fryer of Bookish AF wrote:

It’s sad so many school budgets are cutting back on librarians because they make such a positive impact on how young people view books and reading. When I was a substitute teacher for elementary school students, library day was always something they really looked forward to. The school librarian brought the books to life by reading selections to them, and highlighting different books or genres throughout the year. When my children where school-age, I remember them being so excited about the books they checked out.

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Librarians support teachers

Contrary to popular opinion, librarians don’t live in the library. An important part of the school librarian’s job is helping teachers to plan lessons, find resources, and instructing them in new technologies.

Erin at Books May Save Us experienced that firsthand:

When I first started teaching high school English, I kept hearing that the best way to engage teen readers and get them passionate about being lifelong readers was to get them to chose their own independent reading book. I loved this idea, but I wasn’t sure where to start building a free choice reading program in our English department, so I turned to my friend Rachel, who had been hired at the same time as me to be the school librarian. She was all in on getting students to think about what genres of books they might be interested in and to come in and explore what the library had to offer. She also actively looked for books that would engage new readers and lovingly handpicked purchases for our collection.

One of the great joys of my career has been the days of taking students to the school library as a little field trip across the campus. There they shared suggestions with each other, and Rachel pointed them in the right direction, gave them tours, and made lovely displays to pique their interest. She looked for a variety of voices, authors of different genres, from different backgrounds, time periods, and world views. I loved walking around with her while the students perused the shelves and asking the kids what they were into reading. I got to know them on a more personal level, and they were thrilled when they talked me into checking out a book they recommended.

In class, we had days when we all read together and had book conferences so I could hear what they were reading. I had so many reluctant readers tell me they weren’t readers and didn’t like to read, but they really liked their library book. They would tell me about what they had read, and then I would send them back to Rachel to get the next book in the series or to try something different for the next read. People often talk about the importance of school libraries for younger kids, but I can say that they are just as important for the big kids, too!

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School libraries provide social support

The library is often a refuge for students who struggle in one way or another. Libraries are open to all, whether they are readers or not.

Katie Garcia of hello reader, love katie told me:

I fell in love with the library in college. I spent hours there. It was a place where so many things happened. I made friends, developed crushes, studied for exams, wrote poetry in the margins of my class notebook, ordered my first-ever Frappuccino! Once on a date, I led my crush through the oak grove up the steps to the library and found a quiet spot. For hours, we sat next to each other blushing, whispering, shushing each other for being too loud.

There’s something so special about sitting in a library full of people in quiet study. If you listen carefully you can hear the sound of reading, whether it’s for school or pleasure. The flip of a page, scratch of a pencil, the espresso machine ramping up in the distance. It’s comforting and offers a sense of belonging. I remember during senior final week, looking up from my book and out to the tables full of people with piles of books and paper. I took my headphones out and listened to the sweet sound one last time before I said goodbye and moved on.

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Take an interest in the libraries at your local schools. Attend public events or forums and express support. Let the district know that schools should include libraries and librarians. Vote on measures that are related to school libraries.

Do you have a favorite school library memory? Let me know in the comments.

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