When Pratt SILS asked the alumni to
share thoughts on the importance of school libraries in honor of school library
month, I was excited by the opportunity to share my thoughts on why school
libraries are crucial for student learning. Students in this country have the freedom to
read and access nearly any kind of information they can imagine. In order to fulfill their potential, students
need to be able to think critically about the sources and types of information
they seek. As we learned in library
school at Pratt, one of the most important responsibilities of school
librarians like me is to teach this skill. A school library should provide a solid foundation
to prepare the next generation by fostering their curiosity in the pursuit of
information, while teaching them how to effectively find and assess that
information
I am a
librarian in a middle school near Washington, D.C. In my library, I have the opportunity every
day to teach students these crucial skills. I teach lessons on open source versus
authoritative source, advanced searching strategies, evaluating websites,
plagiarism, citing sources, and copyright. Working in collaboration with my school’s
learning community, I develop and promote a collection of materials with the
intention of pushing students out of their comfort zone so they can become better
readers and learners. I actively
recommend books and materials to students and teachers for all reading levels
and interests. I emphasize the
importance of sharing ideas and that students need to think for themselves and
develop their own opinions. I teach
students how to use technology responsibly and creatively to source information
and share new knowledge and understanding.
All of this is aimed at helping students develop their critical thinking
skills—skills that are proven to impact student achievement and are directly
correlated with my state’s curricular standards.
These are
my brief thoughts on why school libraries staffed by licensed library media
specialists are so important to help young people reach their full potential. School libraries and librarians are a
necessity for our student achievement and are vital to our nation’s future.
Lauren McBride, MSLIS
Pratt SILS Alumni 2009
Licensed Library Media Specialist
Seneca Ridge Middle School
Sterling, VA
