Welcome Back!

Another summer has come and gone and I find myself prepping for my second year in the library, but first year as full time librarian. I was lucky to take over a library that was extremely well organized, so many of the changes I made were purely cosmetic. The library is not genre-fied, but I have heard from multiple sources to avoid making big changes your first year in a new space. I decided to take this advice and will ponder how I will genre-fy my library throughout the school year. ;)

A new school year means new beginnings and fresh starts. There is no better place to practice this than in the library! 'How do I want my students to feel in the library?' became the essential question that has lead my planning.

First and foremost, I want students to WANT to be here. They should feel welcomed and accepted - a space in which was designed with them in mind. I used the theme Mirrors, Windows and Doors because books should provide windows into other people's worlds, be mirror which reflects characters as diverse and unique as they are, and act as door providing escape to a fantastical adventure. More than ever it is imperative that the stories on the shelves celebrate and reflect cultural and social differences.

I also want students to recognize that the library reflects not just the love of books, but the love of learning. Our Makerspace is place for students to use books and information to help them experiment with and experience new learning. It always breaks my heart a little when I hear a child say, "I hate reading". I want those students to feel that the library is a place to find out more about whatever they love. Reading is the vehicle that makes that possible. The reluctant reader is all too often the child who struggles with the process of reading. For these students, I want them to understand that while the process of reading can be frustrating, the can still love the stories. Teaching those students that stories are accessible no matter what their reading level will be one of my first jobs. The library is for everyone, not just those who find the process of reading enjoyable.

Bearing this in mind, my first week of lessons includes time for students to just spend time becoming reacquainted with what is in our library. For my upper elementary students, I will play a game of "musical shelves", inviting students will work in pairs spending ninety seconds or so reading as many first lines on a shelf of books as they can before they have to switch. I also plan to get students fired up right away about using Seesaw by including time to tell each other what kinds of books they love to read or learn from.

I'd love it if you would tell me what you would love to read or learn more about!