Turner Masland
Portland State University Library
Why are School Libraries Important?
Lifelong learning is an essential skill as a citizen in the 21st century. Life in the information age is one of constant change. Libraries are indispensable institutions, providing citizens access to materials, services and information experts. Libraries are job incubators and a space to be introduced to new technology. Tomorrow’s business leaders are using today’s libraries.
Accessing libraries at a young age increases a child’s chances at becoming a lifelong learner exponentially. All children should have libraries in their schools and librarians to teach them how to navigate and utilize its resources. American libraries make America a great nation. American schools are not complete without it’s own library.
How has a School Librarian or Library Impacted You?
What I remember most about Mrs. Abelson, aside from her red hair and the line of faded numbers tattooed on her arm, was her kindness. She loved children, and she taught me that a library is a place of safety and comfort and a place to access thousands of stories. It was a place to escape and explore.
How Does the Work of School Libraries Impact Your Work as a Library Professional or Person?
Academic librarians are always working with incoming freshman who are using the library for the first time. I am always more than willing to work with the new students, teaching them how to use our resources. It seems that it’s becoming a more common occurrence that new students have never used a library before. While an academic library is certainly more expansive and much different than an elementary or secondary school library, simply being exposed to a library and its catalog and databases and resources will allow them to start college with a strong educational foundation.
For the first time we are seeing strong language protecting School Libraries in national education policy. ESEA is up for a vote and this bill will be CRUCIAL to the future of school libraries, a section of the profession that has been under assault for decades. An Assault on One is an Assault on ALL. Stand up for School Libraries in America TODAY!
Find your Elected Official in the House
- Contact your Representative to let them know how essential this bill is to our children’s education and futures.
- Contact absolutely everyone you know and ask them to do the same thing.
Talking points
- Vote Yes on the Every Student Succeeds Act Conference Report.
- School libraries are critical to our children’s future and the Conference Report includes critical language to support effective school library programs.
This language is historic: For the first time in half a century Congress has underscored the importance of effective school library programs by expressly including them in multiple parts of this watershed reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Join the movement to protect school libraries and call Congress today.