Another Thought on Value of School Libraries

By: Carol VanHook, SE Polk High School Library Media Specialist, Runnells, IA 50237 Ph. 515-967-6631 vanhookc@se-polk.k12.ia.us.

I was recently inspired to speak up for our libraries...here's a little pep talk to the Home Team. Of course, I have shared these thoughts with some other educators, administrators, and business folks, as well.

In a library brochure for incoming high school freshman and new students, I share...

The mission of the Media Center is:

• To provide quality materials and an environment that supports the individual, educational, and recreational reading needs of the students and staff;
• To offer services and instruction which implement, support, and enrich the high school curriculum;
• To develop life-long learners and to encourage library users to explore all other types of libraries in their communities

With the above mission statement in mind, I believe strongly in locating the ever-so-popular computer labs in the media center. Within a lab setting, a student can also conveniently access books, reference materials, and periodicals. A student can take advantage of having more helping hands from a complete instructional team: the classroom teacher as well as the media specialist / teacher librarian. Additionally, the media staff is dedicated to maintaining and supervising these labs including the equipment, printers, programs, etc. contained within.

Why focus on the instructional component in the library? Typing, creating portfolios, and developing project work on computers is important; however, a college sophomore recently urged me to place a stronger emphasis on teaching students how to navigate online resources, how to do a better search, and how to do works citation. This student felt the need to seek remedial training at the college level in using online sources.

I heard a similar concern from a college librarian while networking at the American Library Association Conference recently in Chicago. Our conversation regarded academic integrity. Students ignoring copyright laws and submitting work that is not theirs will be expelled throughout American university systems, she warned. These are learning skills librarians and classroom teachers must emphasize and practice in today's schools and libraries.

As I hear talk of downsizing libraries, I believe today libraries are more important than ever. Coffee shops and snack bars are moving into libraries. I see the 21st century library as a hot spot for people to join together and share intellectual thoughts, conversations, and ideas as well as a place to gather and talk about what they are reading. I view the school media center as more than a computer lab, but also as a "help" and "welcome" center encouraging students to:

• spread out with an abundance of materials (books, pamphlets, magazines, online resources, a wireless computer right in the middle of the library, and perhaps a fellow workmate);
• seek help from a variety of teachers and librarians;
• spend some time browsing the stacks for a great read (a book, magazine, or newspaper)

In the school library of tomorrow, there's an alive, refreshing atmosphere which includes natural lighting, invigorating new book displays, more magazines attractively showcased, retro cafe drive-in seats, a neon light calling all ages, and scatterings of furniture designed from combinations of shiny metal and light-colored wood. There are all ages working together, helping one another, and exploring new ideas.

Best of all, what could be better than seeing a library user cuddled up with a good book or other reading material in a soft seating area near a picture window that overlooks a courtyard or natural setting? Perhaps, throw in refreshing bottled water or cappuccino and the soft sounds of a classical piece of music. Paradise on earth!