Twenty to thirty years ago, the role of a librarian was to check books in and out, and to continually "shush" the students. I personally experienced this in junior high and high school. Luckily that has changed over the years, and the expectations are now higher. I feel the most important service I provide my students is my ability to help them find reading material that suits them. I ask questions and learn things about them, and use that information to help locate books of interest for them. I also constantly remind them that if the book they check out is not one they like, that they need to come back to the library so we can find one that they DO like. There is nothing wrong with not liking a book. This helps to encourage reluctant readers especially. It helps me feel that I'm contributing to the good of the student and their current and future learning abilities. It helps the student overcome the stumbling block of reading by making it enjoyable and not a drudgery. It puts them in control of what they read.
Monday, January 12, 2015
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