I am excited to inform you that April is School Library Month. Administrators, teachers, parents, student, and community members should use school libraries and school librarians as the invaluable resources they are. I feel that, sometimes, people misunderstand what librarians do and what libraries have become.

Libraries are no longer these large, quiet rooms where silent reading takes place.  Libraries are vibrant learning spaces that allow our children a safe place to learn and access information. Libraries are still places to find amazing books to transport you to other worlds, but libraries are also now the place for MakerSpaces, new technologies, movie producing, and even sewing!

The American Library Association’s 2018 theme for School Library Month is Making Connections at your School Library. This April, let’s take a moment to consider what school librarians do and want for our children and our schools.

Libraries are the center, the heart and soul, of the school, and librarians meet with every single student in that school. While a classroom teacher may be responsible for 25 students, in any given day, a librarian may see 100 or more students. They know the students’ names, their individual challenges and quirks, and what they like to read.

Librarians are aware of every single content area.  Because librarians plan lessons, just like teachers do, they must follow national guidelines set for by the American Association of School Librarians and must also follow what standards each grade is focused on. Librarians can combine information literacy and math skills into a lesson or computer science, technology, and social studies into a lesson.

Librarians often house multiple functions within their libraries. Not only are they the curator for thousands of books, but sometimes librarians are responsible for the audio/visual equipment, computers, and even classes of online students.

The library is a center for collaboration and change in today’s schools. Everyone in the school is invited to visit the library, to use its resources, and gain new knowledge. In the library, all students have free access to technology and can hold a multitude of books in their hands. Libraries are moving to the idea of a learning commons, where collaboration and hands on experience is at the forefront.

Librarians want to collaborate with teachers. They don’t simply want to pull books for use in a classroom, although they will be more than happy to do that. They want to plan lessons, co-teach, and assist in the assessment of students.

Librarians want people to visit their library. They want volunteers, patrons to shop the book fair, parents to visit when a child’s class comes to the library, participants in book clubs, and the community to realize that the library is a place where wonderful things happen.

As previously mentioned, Making Connections at your School Library is the American Library Association’s 2018 theme for School Library Month. Take a moment and consider your school librarian and school library. They want to connect with you.

Stop by this month. See the amazing things they are doing. Help them make a connection with you. I promise, you will not regret it.

Sincerely,

Wyshona D. Lawson

Current library science student and future school librarian