Today I visited my school’s library as I have done nearly everyday for the past 6.5 years, but I went in with a more critical view of the facility and services.
Space
The area is located on the first floor of the school building and is easily accessible through either the main double doors in the main foyer, through a single door located on the main first floor hallway which leads to the directly to the middle school side of the library, or through an adjacent computer lab/classroom. Because ADL is a 3-8 school, the library is separated into elementary and middle school sections with the circulation desk in the middle. Both areas offer comfortable, size-appropriate seating, areas to congregate with schoolmates, and access to computers as well as books and magazines. Students are able to sit on beanbags, ottomans, or chairs as they read or play games. There is a classroom area is located on the middle school side with tables, chairs, a computer for instructional use, an Epson video projector (same as found in all of the classrooms), and whiteboards.
Digital Access
Every school in my district has its own website which contains a link to a dedicated page for the school’s library which can be accessed by anyone. Here’s the link for ADL’s library: https://www.npsk12.com/Page/10615. From there, students are able to access not only the school’s catalog, but also databases, e-books, and all of the media services provided by the district. There are also links to the online catalogues for all of Norfolk Public Schools, the Norfolk Public Library, the Library of Congress, and the public libraries of other local cities in the Southside Tidewater region. Even our youngest third graders able to navigate through the catalogue to find the books and materials they desire.
Services and People
Our library library is open to all students and staff in the building. Both groups are able to use the library as a meeting space, access books and magazines, and conduct research. The shelves are organized by the Dewey Decimal system, and the books are not grouped by genre. Prior to the pandemic, students used the video recording studio to film morning announcements. Teachers have a work room wherein they are able to laminate, make color posters, and obtain audio-visual materials. Our media specialist, Ms. Scott, and our her media assistant, Ms. Pizarro, make the library and its website very accessible to students and faculty. During third and fourth grade resource blocks, elementary students come to the library for silent, sustained reading of books of their own choice or literature circles led by Ms. Scott.
Collections
Research has shown that as students progress through middle school and into high school, their use of the library for reading for pleasure decreases due the impact of assigned reading (Creel, 2015). Students do not feel that they have the time to read outside of what they are required to read for class. Our school librarian recognizes this problem, and she has created a Young Adult section in the library for our middle schoolers. The Language & Literature department has incorporated Book Share projects in our curriculum that allows students to choose books which interest them and review these books for their classmates. Invariably, the books are chosen from the YA collection. Because many YA books are part of a series, the students return to the library seeking the next book in the series.
Final Thoughts
One of the aspects of the school library that surprised me was the level of oversight that comes from the district Media Services department. Our school librarian has a decent budget ($10,000 per year) from which she can order books, pay for magazine subscriptions, and obtain audiovisual supplies. She does not have to create MARC records as this is done “downtown”. In the past, the Media Services department, which was staffed by professional librarians, provided all training for school librarians and provided them with handbooks and operational manuals. However, due to budgetary cuts, this department no longer has professional librarians on staff, nor do the schools have full-time library assistants. Despite the fact that librarians are integral to the success of students, why would school districts short change their libraries?
References
Creel, S. (2015). The impact of assigned reading on young adults. Journal of Research on Libraries & Young Adults, 6(1), n. page. http://www.yalsa.ala.org/jrlya/2015/02/the-impact-of-assigned-reading-on-reading-pleasure-in-young-adults/
Leslie, your final thoughts made me think how many schools have budget cuts and that lack of knowledge about the importance of a school library. I have friends who are school librarians, and they say the same thing that you have said about school districts short changing the libraries. There is such an emphasis on reading and picking books that help children accomplish that but then school districts do something that undermines the importance of reading. I love how your media specialist made that special Young Adult section. She saw a need and adapted to meet that need! She is encouraging that love of reading by having books that they like! It’s a good sign when students come back for more in a series. Way to go!
I enjoyed reading your observation of the school library, Leslie. I t has been several years since I had the opportunity to visit one. I used to volunteer at my children’s school library. I love the beanbags and ottomans so that students can be comfortable while reading without sitting on the floor. The YA book series is a great idea to keep students reading. I was a little surprised that a school district would eliminate professional librarians that provided training to school librarians . I can understand budget cuts, but I wonder how that affects students. It does sound like the Media Specialist offers a lot to students to enhance their learning, despite this action.
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Hi Leslie, I loved touring the library at the Academy of Discovery at Lakewood with you — what an engaging, thoughtfully curated space. I’m so glad you noted the trend of reduction of reading for pleasure among students as they progress through middle and high school, as well as the efforts of ADL’s librarian’s efforts to combat that trend. Your reflections about the impact of budgetary cuts on the success of the students via the strength of their libraries (and presence of librarians!) are important, and frustratingly thorny. Thank you for your thoughts!
Hi Leslie! I think it’s wonderful that there is such a focus to fuel reading for fun at your school library. I remember going to my middle school library and checking out books to read for fun that wasn’t related to my classes. It really fueled the love I have for reading now. It would be great to see Book Share projects pop up in more middle schools. The beanbag chairs and ottomans seem like a great way to make the library seem welcoming to the students. It is sad to hear that there are no professional librarian staff members due to budget restraints. But it seems like the staff is doing a great job nonetheless.
Leslie, one of the first things I noticed was the flexible seating options available for your students. That gaming area looks so cozy and I would’ve loved sitting on big colorful seats like that as a child. The book share projects sound like something I had wanted to create last year when I was in a school library program but for middle – high schoolers. I love the idea of students being able to share reviews of books they’ve read with their peers. I know I’m fairly influenced by what people are reading and reviewing on goodreads and storygraph, or I at least am influenced to add books they’ve shared to my TBR – reading them is another story! But I do remember liking reading what my friends read in school so I think it’s a great way to support students.
I loved the game and reading area they created for the kids. Just by looking at the picture, there are colorful chairs that are for children to sit on and kid-level bookshelves on the side for them to access. Little things like this really mean a lot for the inclusion of all ages in the library. I also thought it was great that the school librarian recognized the problem of students feeling that they do not have time to read outside of what they are required to read for class and to set up a young adult section in the library for the students.