This Year in the School Library

Lots of great things! Libraries are classrooms, makerspaces, study areas, meeting rooms, and places to relax and make new friends. Students read, write, think, create, research, and discuss books they've read. Librarians co-plan and co-teach with teachers, provide professional development, develop instructional resources, provide tech support, assist multi-lingual students, support students struggling with unmet social and emotional learning needs, facilitate student clubs, host book discussions and author visits, develop engaging extracurricular programs, and encourage students of all ability levels to pursue self-directed learning. This is just a sampling of the wonderland that school libraries provide to faculty, staff, and students. Here are some highlights from this year.

Elkton Middle School's library acts as a hub for a variety of activities. Not only are students checking out books and using the library as a safe space to learn and grow; students attend classes in the library, participate in school-based incentives, and participate in extra-curricular events. Our media center hosts AVID events including guest speakers, professional development for teachers, and interviews for prospective students. We encourage student reading with after school events and inspire students to explore through club meetings. Students regularly pop in to check out a book, take advantage of the welcoming space to complete an assignment, or just say hi!

At North East Middle School's library, sixth grade students researched renewable energy and its impact on the environment. After conducting their research, they built representative models. They worked hard to include movable parts and made sure they could explain how the energy worked. Each student presented their topic to the class. It was a great way to engage students while working on important skills such as source evaluation, note-taking, and speaking and listening.

Book fairs are a great way to bring the community together. They also provide the perfect opportunity for public librarians to invite students to participate in the engaging programs at the public library.

At Perryville Middle School's library, we collaborate with the public library frequently. About once a month we have a book club for each grade level that meets during lunch. The teen public librarians and the media specialist pick the books with student input, and we have discussions and games to reflect upon the book. Each week the teen librarians come to school to run a club during the extended Wednesday dismissal time. The librarians also come and share at Back to School Night, Open House, and other family events.

Cherry Hill Middle School's library was a busy place this year, beginning with class meetings, library orientation, and student check-outs. The year progressed with book fairs, class projects, professional development for teachers, student celebrations involving parents, and outside speakers. The library was also a place for students to visit during lunch, a work space, a quiet place to read, a meeting area for small classes, a location for large class activities, a testing location, and a calm oasis for students who needed to reset emotionally.

Rising Sun Middle School’s library is a place for everyone. Resources and opportunities abound in Rising Sun’s library for both students and staff members to investigate, create, reflect, and collaborate. From the morning bell to the end of the day, students can be found engaged in a variety of activities from arts and crafts, games, production of the morning announcements, book discussions, classwork, exploring new ideas, multimedia projects, book fairs, or quiet reading time. Classes regularly visit the library to learn about new titles, meet and talk to authors about writing and storytelling, delve deeper into content area subjects through research, and sharpen their writing, communication, technology, and critical thinking skills. While the library is not located front and center in the building, it is the heart of our school.

The North East High School library is an extension of the classroom, supporting students and staff in all content areas. Walk into the library and you may see students making ruff collars in celebration of Shakespeare, exploring French art in preparation for a field trip, conducting scientific research for Capstone projects, arguing in a mock trial for AP Government, writing personal memoirs for English 12, team building through escape rooms, and developing leadership skills for Principles of Business. You may even see them being served hot drinks and snacks by the librarian “barista” during Starbooks, a review of books from a different genre each month. There is something valuable for everyone within the school library's walls!

Rising Sun High School's library is a student-centered space that offers many options for self-directed learning and exploration. Students can play a variety of instruments, video games, and board games. Legos, puzzles, and 3D pens are also available. Several clubs are offered: chess, crochet, and book discussion. Makerspace activities are offered during lunch visits and after school. Games with Friends encourages students to make new friends, and Open Mic Night offers everyone a moment in the spotlight. Mrs. Dyar collaborates with teachers in many ways: co-planning, resource development, co-teaching, curriculum development, and National Board Certification assistance. The library is a safe space for students of all ability levels and challenges every student to become a lifelong learner.