Final Week
Programming and Food for Young People
I have spent more time thinking about programming in the school library during this course than I have throughout my MLIS program. The library at my school stays very busy with regular, garden variety “library” uses—book talks, book check out, formal and informal research projects, tutoring and study groups. I guess I took it for granted that we didn’t need to worry too much about other programs, but I think about it from a completely different perspective now.
One of my main concerns about school library programs is that the purpose of them be rooted in academics, literacy, or technology. Teacher librarians constantly have to prove that they are both teachers and experts in information; they also have to prove that this expertise is worth something! Consequently, I did not give much attention to programs I would read or hear about that consisted of “fun” events held in the library. My concern was that any event that could be held any old place would not help move forward the perception that libraries are indispensable. Now, however, I believe there are infinite ways to create “fun” events that do have library-specific foundations. Whether they involve a book club of some sort (and there are many iterations of that idea alone that could draw in library patrons), a parent, student, or community speaker (on any number of topics such as Online Etiquette/Safety), or a mock campfire around which people could share ghost stories near Halloween, there are endless ideas of events and programs that can help connect tweens with their libraries.
I extended these thoughts from two weeks ago to this final week’s discussion by considering the “library café” model. Coffee houses and reading have gone together for hundreds of years, but libraries and food or beverages are generally dismissed as incompatible. Even public libraries may be more open to the idea of allowing patrons to indulge in a treat while using the library, but it is difficult to imagine school libraries embracing this idea. However, several school libraries have done just that and with success. In today’s world where we are competing more and more for the attention of tweens, maybe this is an idea that deserves further examination.
Sources:
Whelan, D. L. (January 2008). Café society. School Library Journal. 54 (1), 36-40.
Kornman, B. (February 1998). Café middle school. School Library Journal. 44(2), 49.
