School Libraries are Cool Libraries
April is School Library Month!
Chances are, you had a library growing up. You might even have a favorite librarian from your childhood — shout out to my middle school tyrant, a woman with the thickest Bostonian accent and absolutely no time for this ‘absolute silence in the library’ nonsense. And chances are, if you had access to those things, your test scores, your technology skills, and even your ability to graduate were affected by it.
A 2015 study by the Washington Library Media Association (PDF link available here) found that “Students who attend schools with certified teacher-librarians and quality library facilities perform better on standardized tests and are more likely to graduate, even after controlling for school size and student income level.” Those gains are even stronger for the most vulnerable and at-risk learners, including students of color, low-income students, and students with disabilities. The American Library Association has noted the same gains. More information can be found on the ALA’s School Library Month page.
So if there’s a librarian in your life you can reach out to this month, let them know how much they mean to you. If there’s not, come and grab some of these books for yourself, for a little school-buddy, and for us! We enjoy seeing readers almost as much as you enjoy reading.
So in the words of my middle school librarian, “Get some books and get outta here!”
(and then come on back!)
