Why Elementary School Libraries Matter

Two recent pieces in the Boston Herald about the state of school libraries in the Boston Public School District got me thinking.  The original article and  Sapochetti's subsequent column, "You can read trouble into lack of libraries," highlight the fact that out of 126 schools in the City of Boston, 76 do not even have a library.  Out of the few schools that have a library, even fewer have an actual, trained and qualified library teacher.  For the vast majority of Boston Public School students the first school library they encounter is when they get to high school.

So, what have they missed?  What is the big deal if students don't see or get to use a school library until high school?  I have been mulling over that question for the last week and here is what I have come up with:

If a student has never had a school library he or she will not have had an opportunity to learn...

... that a library is a place to find something good to read.

Where do you go to find something to read if there is no library?  Yes, teachers have classroom libraries, but those can be limited.  A bookstore? That can be pretty expensive.  A public library... but is there a branch nearby with hours of operation that make it possible to go?  Teachers are always talking about the importance of reading, but how important can it be if there is no opportunity to find something I really want to read?

... that a library is a place to go when you need help.

My iPad is doing something weird can you help me fix it? How do I find a book about tide pools? I need to download an ebook, but I don't know how.  Do you know how to find primary sources that are relevant to this project? I love this book can you help me find another book that is like it? I'm supposed to present both sides of the argument that is occurring on this topic can you help me find current opinion columns?

... that a library is a great place to go when you need reliable information.

Anyone can Google and read Wikipedia, but what do you do when your teachers want scholarly sources?  What is a scholarly source anyway and how do I find one?  Why does information have to be reliable anyway?  What difference does it make? Why is a database better? How do I find a website that has information I can trust?

... that a library is a place to satisfy your curiosity.

Children start life off full of curiosity about the world and how it works. A library can be a place to satisfy curiosity, a place to find out and to explore, a place to ask questions and then find out the answers. It starts with noticing the world around us, but then we have to take a moment to think and to wonder... how? why? who?  A library can be a place to answer those questions.

... that a library is full of surprises.

You might not expect to find some of the things you will find in a modern school library like audio books in digital formats, ebooks that you can download to a school or a personal device, online resources that help you find information, blogs, booklists, pop-up books, Playaways, green screens and so much more.

... that a library is a safe spot.

Sometimes we all just need a place to stop in the middle of a busy day and flip through the pages of a favorite magazine or to curl up on a soft cushion and read a beloved story.  Sometimes we need a quiet place to be still and to reflect, a place to write or to read.  These moments are an essential part of learning - they are the time when we synthesize information and turn it into real knowledge and understanding that we can use as we navigate the world around us.

For the student whose first encounter with a school library does not come until 9th grade they will not know from experience the wealth of resources and assistance that are waiting for them behind those doors. 

I believe a strong school library matters and everyday that I am at Sprague I am in in the library everyday doing my best to make sure my students move on to middle school and high school with a solid understanding of how useful and amazing a library can be.