LT130 Libraries and Social Media (Spring 2017)

Libraries and Student Success
By Lori Schafer

My fondest memories of school from elementary to middle school, and then high school to college were my experiences reading, learning and just hanging out in the library. For me the two, schools and libraries, are inseparable and I think they are both equally important in

11 Reasons Libraries are the Best Places to Hang Out:

https://www.bustle.com/articles/118607-11-reasons-
libraries-are-the-best-places-to-hang-out

shaping students academic lives. It struck a chord when I read a passage in the article Building Success beyond High School with Career– and College-Ready Literacies that “School librarians make it a priority to create an environment in which students feel safe, welcome, and supported. We can help students take that feeling of safety and security with them as they move into adult spaces, including university and public libraries” (Foote, 2016, p. 57). We naturally assume that schools are responsible for our overall education and forget that libraries have contributed so much in developing our educational skills and continue to do so throughout our lifetimes.

With the advancement in technology and the digital presence in everyday life, libraries are in a position to help students learn these technological skills and feel comfortable in the digital environment especially since this knowledge is critical at the university level. Foote also mentions in her article in addition to digital training the “school librarians can talk to students about appropriate use of social media accounts as they move into college or careers or show them how to create alternate accounts for professional work. In fact, students are already unconsciously sorting their online identities” (Foote, 2016, p. 60). Libraries are in a unique position with the complete array of technology, digital platforms, social media, etc. to teach students digital literacy and technology that will help them transition successfully into college and beyond into being life-long learners.

However, today with the budget cuts to the school library programs and positions it is difficult for libraries to achieve success under already lean circumstances. As noted in the article Promote, Lead, & Refuse: Librarianship in Tough Times, “The reason to stand up for school library programs and staffing is that, without them, there is no reliable way to communicate the multiple literacies needed by our learners for tomorrow's post-secondary education and future careers” (Martin, 2009, p. 7). Libraries have to defend their worth for budgetary reasons and continuously communicate to the public the valuable connection between libraries and student success. More then ever with the digital age and their need to redefine their roles in the 21st century, libraries need to be defended and supported by the community to ensure students are successful and are prepared for the future.

References

Foote, C. (2016). Building Success beyond High School with Career- and College-Ready Literacies. Knowledge 
     Quest, 44(5), 56-60.

Martin, A. M. (2009). Promote, Lead, & Refuse: Librarianship in Tough Times. Knowledge Quest, 37(4), 6-10.