Last week in this space I
wrote about two uncomfortable experiences I had while visiting libraries.
But I’ve presented in dozens of school and public libraries over the last six
months, and the vast majority of those visits have been wonderful. So this week
I’d like to talk about the value of libraries. I’ll illustrate my point with a
story about a typical library visit.
On December 9th I spent the day with Sherry Gick at
Rossville Middle/High School. The library wasn’t the biggest one I’d seen, or
the newest, or the fanciest. If anything, it looked a little tired. Until the
students came in, that is. I’ve never seen a group of teens more excited about
reading, their library, or their librarian.
The book discussions over lunch were non-stop and so varied
as to be dizzying. We didn’t just talk about my book, ASHFALL—we covered
Cashore, Collins, Shusterman and a host of paranormal romance authors I haven’t
read. I finally wolfed my cold slice of pizza during the passing period after
lunch.
This is what a great library does: It develops passionate
readers. How does Mrs. Gick achieve this? Even in my brief time there, I
noticed a few things. First, the library is laid out like a bookstore. Fiction
is separated by genre—science fiction, paranormal romance, realistic fiction,
etc. Big, inviting signs hang over each section. The books all have their
original covers, and some of them are faced out. There are paperbacks available
for those who prefer them. And the first thing you see as you walk in isn’t a
row of computers; it’s a book display on the counter of the library desk. (The
computers are around the corner to your right.)
But even more important than the physical layout of the
library is its emotional tone. The first question students hear isn’t, “Do you
have a pass?” it’s something more like, “How are you doing today, Todd?” One
girl told me she volunteered to work in the library during 7th
period because it helped her wind down after a stressful day of classes. That
she loved the library because it felt “safe”—her word, not mine. Another
student told me about coming to Mrs. Gick for assistance with a disturbing and
thorny issue with another teacher, and how Mrs. Gick had helped her resolve it.
These teens have so much trust in their library and librarian that they feel
comfortable asking anything. During our discussion of ASHFALL, one student
wanted to know about my use of the term “spooning”—did that mean Alex and Darla
were having sex? As I listened to the question, I expected raucous laughter and
teasing. Instead, her question was met with nods and some embarrassed glances.
What followed was a thoughtful discussion about the definition of spooning and
the role of sex in ASHFALL—why it wouldn’t have been appropriate for Alex and
Darla to have sex in the scene under discussion, and whether it was appropriate
at all.
By all measures—books circulated, computers used, and
classes taught—Mrs. Gick’s library and thousands like it are excelling. But
both school and public libraries across the country are facing devastating
budget cuts. Between 2000 and 2008, the per-student funding available for
school library materials fell
31% in the U.S. It’s not that we lack money for education. Between 2002 and
2008 we increased spending on standardized testing by 160%. Overall education
spending increased
21% between 2000 and 2005. Why do we starve libraries while throwing bushel
baskets of money at testing companies like McGraw-Hill? The short answer is
that McGraw-Hill has better lobbyists than the American Library Association.
(Which industry do you think spent more on lobbying in 2011—defense or
education? If you guessed defense, you’re
wrong.)
Library funding is being cut despite a long and rich history of
studies linking school libraries to student achievement. But the most
important way libraries matter isn’t measurable in studies. It’s the things
librarians like Mrs. Gick do—creating passionate readers and providing students
a safe place to reflect and learn.
Let’s spend more time and money on what
works—reading, libraries, and librarians—and reduce the amount of time and
money wasted on standardized tests. Every student deserves a library like Mrs.
Gick’s.
p.s. If you’re interested in having a day of presentations at
your school or library like the one I did at Mrs. Gick’s school, I’m offering
them at no charge in 2012 and for a nominal fee in 2013. There’s more information here.
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| Mrs. Gick and me |
