I remember racing across the library to get my hands on one of the coveted Judy Blume books when I was in elementary school. While these days it may be Diary of a Wimpy Kid or the graphic novels of Rania Telgemeier that the students are clamouring for, a trip to the school library and a chance to check out a favourite book is still an exciting part of the school day. School libraries strive to have a wide assortment of books to excite and interest every reader. The variety is endless: nonfiction books about favourite animals, fun craft books, or the ever-popular Guinness Book of World Records; picture books by old favorites like Robert Munsch or Eric Carle or new titles featuring Narwhal & Jelly or Elephant & Piggie; the thrilling novels of Alan Gratz; and graphic novels for all ages. And maybe even still some Judy Blume.
Are school libraries still important in the age of iPads and eBooks? According to the most recent Scholastic Kids and Family Reading Report (Canadian Edition; 2017)1, of those children that have read an eBook, 67% prefer print books and 23% have no preference; only 10% prefer eBooks. While eBooks certainly have a place and suit the reading preferences of some people, they have not taken the place of print books. However, as book prices continue to rise and access to bookstores in rural communities is limited, libraries allow readers to explore a variety of genres and authors, to delve deep into interests, and to make independent choices of what they want to read.
Monday, October 25 was Manitoba School Library Day and the theme chosen for this year was Reconciliation and the Library Learning Commons: Every Child Matters. Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop is often referenced for suggesting that children, and indeed all of us, need books that are both mirrors into their own world and windows into the world of others. We want to see our own lives and experiences represented and we need to learn to empathize and identify with those whose life experiences differ from our own. Thankfully, there has been strong growth over the past years in the publication of literature for all ages celebrating Indigenous cultures, languages, foods, and family. Additionally, picture books by authors like David A. Robertson and Phyllis Webstad have provided age-appropriate ways to begin conversations about residential schools with young children. Reconciliation begins with truth and understanding and books can be an entry point into the necessary learning. Some of the best children’s books published in recent years have been written and/or illustrated by Indigenous creators, including the 2021 Caldecott Medal winner We are Water Protectors, written by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade and the 2017 Governor General’s Award for Young People’s Literature- Illustrated When We Were Alone, written by David A. Robertson, illustrated by Julie Flett.
COVID-19 impacted many aspects of life, and school libraries were not spared. Disinfecting high-touch areas and hand-hygiene became regular parts of library use. Last year, some of Mountain View’s school libraries were repurposed as classroom spaces to accommodate the need for social distancing. Despite the disruption to the physical spaces, the school library staff adapted their programming by bringing books to the classrooms on carts, hand-delivering requested titles, and doing story times in classrooms. Despite the challenges of the 2020-21 school year, the number of books checked out was very similar to that of pre-COVID years. Perhaps the best place to escape from the stresses of the pandemic for our students was inside the pages of a good book.
Judy Blume will always have a special place in my book-loving heart, but with the depth and breadth of literature for children and teens now available in our school libraries, there are fantastic choices all around - no need to run!