When I began my journey in education, I always thought I would end up teaching history at the high school level.  I started working in a library while completing my degree and fell in love with the atmosphere and all that the library has to offer.  Rudi (2008) shared a quote that inspired me to take the next step towards librarianship.  She shared that “the library is the beating heart of campus, by which I mean that at its most perfect, the library is the nexus of student learning and research, of faculty research for scholarship and teaching”.   The library should be a place where students can gather to study together but also to find books that will take them on an adventure outside of the school walls.  As a librarian, I will strive to offer books that will not only be appealing to my students but will engage them in the literature and make them want to return for another adventure. 

I believe that the library should be a place where people can go to learn, study and dream in a safe and inspiring environment.  The library should remain an organization that offers many free resources to not only children but to adults who come from many different backgrounds and economic statuses.  It is important to put one’s own bias aside and offer literature and programming that will encompass the needs and interests of all patrons entering the library.  Rubin states that, “Our professional behavior follows the fundamental principles of respect for individuals and the desire to benefit both the organization and the society” (Rubin, 2020).   I want my library to be a shared space where teachers and parents can engage with the students in a unique and inspiring way.  Books and technology are a great way to support curriculums across subject units and grade levels.  Librarians should be information seekers and strive to stay current with new forms of technology, trends happening in the industry and diversity within the student body. 

The library should offer students a place to study quietly, meet as a small group and allow for browsing in an organized and welcoming manner.  It is important to offer media in different forms and keep it relevant to the students in which you serve.  Allowing the children to find themselves in the books that they are reading will help to instills a lifetime love of reading and engagement with their school library.

I am now a Youth Services Librarian and I see the importance of what I do and the difference that I can make in the lives of the children that I work with.  Not only can I introduce them to the many resources that are available at their community library but I can instill a lifelong love of reading in them. 

References

Rubin, R. E. and Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed.).  ALA Neal-Schuman

Rudi, L. (2008, February 11). Deepening the conversation. Retrieved July 30, 2022, from https://deepening.wordpress.com/2008/02/11/my-philosophy-of-academic-librarianship/