Libraries and Student Success
by Jennifer Ellis
Long gone are the days of the sterile school library. I remember when I was my daughter's age, we were shushed and shuffled out of the library as soon as we found our requisite weekly books. We did make occasional trip for research, but we had to slog through the seemingly endless card catalog, only to find that the book was missing. Honestly, I don't remember too many interactions with my school librarians, other than that one time we made Mrs. Schroeder cry.
These days, the school library is a dynamic learning arena. Yes, ARENA. One can accomplish so many different tasks at a library these days it's a wonder kids even go home for dinner. These places are set up for life-affirming success on all levels. The library at my daughter's school has a Junior Librarian program in the morning before classes start. Fifth grade students volunteer their time to help younger students find books, gain access to the computers, and sometimes help with homework. It provides a quiet, peer based experience that the students appreciate, and also helps our librarian. Our middle school has an after-school 'homework hour', which provides children with an opportunity to engage in learning without the distraction of siblings or after-school activities such as soccer or dance. Also, especially with the adoption of the Common Core Curriculum, our librarian now coordinates her lessons with state standards that are being taught in the classroom; there is more planning and teamwork among the grade-level teams and our librarian. What the kids are learning in the classroom is now being bolstered and supported by the librarian's contributions. "Overwhelmingly, studies show an
undeniable, measurable connection
between a quality school library program
and increased student academic performance
(Scholastic, 2006)."
The role of the school librarian has also shifted in recent years due to the ushering in of the digital age. When I was younger, I was sent off into the wilds of the stacks to find my own darn books; now with the push for information literacy, librarians are not just motioning toward the back of the building, they are showing us how to use an OPAC. They are leading a reference interview and teaching us how to navigate online databases and special collections. A librarian is now schooled in the ways of the digital media world, not just the Dewey Decimal System, so they are employing a whole new toolbelt of skills to ensure that students succeed.
References
Scott, K. J., & Plourde, L. A. (2007). SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND INCREASED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT: WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?. Education, 127(3), 419-429.
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