School Library Month - Thoughts

The following post is a submission I sent to my Alma mater, Pratt Institute, for a request for participation for a blog series in April in honor of school library month. It was published in April 2013. Here is a link to the Pratt SILS blog post:  Enjoy! 

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