ESEA

Linda Campillo Woodrow Wilson High School Library, Portland, OR Why are School Libraries Important? According to research done in 2011 by the New York Comprehensive Center, school libraries have helped to improve teacher effectiveness through collaboration; greatly enhanced literacy skills and resulted in higher performance on standardized assessments for elementary students; increased graduation rates for … Read more

Carol Dinges Lebanon Public library Why are School Libraries Important? As a public librarian, I want to emphasize that the public library cannot replace a school library, and while public librarians do a great job of helping children find just the right book or resource, we cannot provide the in-depth information literacy instruction that a … Read more

Jane Corry Multnomah County Library Why are School Libraries Important? They not only foster a love of reading (the only place in schools that have the time to focus on that) and they are centers of not only technology but instruction in how to use and evaluate the information they come across, Navigating and evaluating … Read more

Nicole Pagowsky University of Arizona Libraries Why are School Libraries Important? School libraries introduce K-12 students to information literacy when they most need it. If students are first learning about how to find, use, and evaluate information when they are coming into college, it’s a big hurdle. With an enormous amount of info out in … Read more

Rachel Bridgewater Portland Community College How Does the Work of School Libraries Impact Your Work as a Library Professional or Person? As a teaching librarian at a community college, I am very aware of the importance of school libraries and school librarians in helping to prepare students for college-level research and, indeed, with the skills … Read more

Sally Mielke Eastern Oregon University Why are School Libraries Important? School libraries are often the first place a child has the opportunity to independently choose what they are going to read. Additionally, school libraries staffed by librarians provide the added value of teaching children and adolescents how to be independent learners. How Does the Work … Read more

Maria Zervos Fairchild-Nichols Memorial Branch in Trumbull, CT and Edith Wheeler Memorial Library in Monroe, CT Why are School Libraries Important? As a public librarian who started out as a parent volunteer coordinator in my daughter’s elementary school library, which was exclusively run by volunteers, I can personally speak to the value of school libraries. … Read more

Lydia Willoughby Sojourner Truth Library at SUNY New Paltz Why are School Libraries Important? School librarians enrich positive learning partnerships in the classroom, and are important indicators in students’ intention to complete college, as well as in college retention. In addition, school librarians have expertise in adaptive technologies and literacy practices that support learning disabilities. … Read more

Mandy Babirad Sojourner Truth Library, SUNY New Paltz Why are School Libraries Important? School libraries are critical gathering places. In my school it was generally a place where teachers sent “the bad kids” because they knew they’d be well taken care of there. And they so were. Sometimes I wish I had “acted out” more … Read more