Libraries have many uses, but they are often thought of as centers for reading, knowledge, and education. Whether it's a school library or a public library, the resources provided for students of all levels are important. Not only do libraries provide spaces for studying, but many libraries offer tutoring, workshops, computers, printers, and many other tools a student may need to complete their schoolwork.
The San Diego Public Library (SDPL) branches offer various events in relation to education. Every Tuesday, multiple branches offer "Do Your Homework at the Library" where they have tutors on site to help with kindergarten through eight grade student's assignments. The La Jolla/Riford Library also offers "math and reading buddies" for children all of ages on certain days. There are also multiple STEAM programs available including a program called "Library NExT (Network of Education x Training)". This program is in partnership with UC San Diego Extended Studies and Sally Ride Science and it provides a series of workshops for elementary, middle and high school students. The SDPL even has free SAT/ACT prep classes that you can register for.
Students relationships with their library can be really important. According to the California Department of Education, "California public schools with strong school library programs outperform those without such programs of student engagement and academic achievement. This is true regardless of the school community's parent education and poverty levels, ethnicity, and percentage of English language learners." There are many ways for a library to ensure they are providing a space for student success. One way is to make sure your library is open before, during, and after school hours. This gives students more time throughout the day to utilize the library. The more hours the library is open, the more chances students have to use the library regardless of school or extracurricular activities. Another way libraries can aid in student success is to make sure they have enough technology and a large enough collection of materials and that these resources are up to date.
Staffing is also extremely important. The SDPL utilizes teen volunteers for their tutoring. This is a great way to ensure there are enough people in the library to assist students and still assist other patrons in the library. If it is a school library, you want to be sure you have at least one full time teacher librarian and one full time paraprofessional (CA Dept of Education, 2023). Building off of this, you want to be sure not only the staff in the library is up to date on the technology and resources in your collection, but also the teachers in your school. This way everyone can work together to make sure the students know what is available to them and how to access/use these resources. These elements along with proper programming can be extremely helpful to the success of students at all levels.
Sources:
California’s school libraries make A difference. California’s School Libraries Make a Difference - School Libraries (CA Dept of Education). (2023, July 21). https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/lb/caschoollibraries.asp#:~:text=California%20public%20schools%20with%20strong,percentage%20of%20English%20language%20learners.
City of san diego official website. Library NExT | City of San Diego Official Website. (2024).
https://www.sandiego.gov/librarynext
Graef, Renée [@reneegraef]. (2024, April 4). "It's School Librarian Day! A big thank you to our school
librarians. We appreciate it!" [Photograph]. Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C5V_lnAOl0f/?
utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D
Upcoming events. Upcoming Events | San Diego Public Library. (2024).
https://sandiego.librarymarket.com/?page=3
No comments:
Post a Comment