Ranganathan believed libraries to be “an instrument of universal education” and I full heartedly agree (Rubin & Rubin, 2020, p. 708). That is why I believe the library to be the center of the school. Everything within the school is woven around the library and all it has to offer. A school library should be a place that provides equal access to information, introduce literature and other resources to patrons through engaging lessons, and have a sense of community through collaboration with the patrons.
It is extremely important that students have the ability to access unfiltered information in order to achieve academic equitability. Having unfiltered access to information within the school library allows students without internet access at home to have the same learning opportunities as the students that do have internet at home. According to Ettarh (2018) “Freedom of access is arguably the most core value of librarianship.” I believe freedom of access is definitely one of the most important core values.
A school library allows for many types of learning opportunities. The librarian should introduce literature and other resources through engaging lessons or activities. Making library lessons more engaging through things like gamification or by utilizing makerspaces should help create lifelong learners in students. It is important to also teach students how to locate, evaluate, and effectively use information, so that they may use those skills as adults too. I believe introducing literature in fun and entertaining ways will ultimately help to foster a love for reading in students and keep them reading as adults.
Having a sense of community in the school library is extremely important. It shows that you care about your patrons (students, their families, and the school staff). A sense of community makes people feel comfortable and included, like their voice will be heard. Collaboration is without a doubt a necessity as a school librarian. I believe it is necessary to work together with the teachers in the school to be in synch with their classes’ learning and help support or extend wherever possible. Coaching or guiding fellow educators on the resources the library provides would allow them to more efficiently help students when working on certain projects. It is also necessary to collaborate with the students to make sure you understand their wants and needs. Placing material in the library that will never be used can run the risk of pushing students out of the library, like with the case of the students in Snachez’s (2018) article, What Are They Doing, Like, in a Library? Making the students’ families a part of the library community is another important strand as a school librarian. There are many programs typically offered by the school library that are great for families to join.
Ranganathan believed that “libraries must be a growing organism” (Rubin & Rubin, 2020, p.709). I agree that the librarian should change and adapt the library to fit with the patrons being served, but I also believe there to be some practices that should remain constant within the school library. Providing equal access to information, introducing literature and other resources to patrons through engaging lessons, and having a sense of community through collaboration with the patrons are all necessary components a school librarian should have in their library,
References:
Ettarh, F.M. (10 January 2018). Vocational awe and librarianship: The lies we tell ourselves. In the Library with the Lead Pipe. https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2018/vocational-awe/ (Links to an external site.)
Rubin, R. E., & Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman. Sanchez, J. (2018). “What are they doing, like, in a library?”: Mexican American experiences in their high school library: Understand how school libraries can support institutional and historical racism. Young Adult Library Services, 16(4), 26-29.