Why do we need libraries? This is a question frequently raised. As stated by Barbara Stripling in the Declaration for the Rights to Libraries, libraries protect our right to know.
The modern world is a world of information. Those with information have the power. However, access to this information is not shared. This is where libraries come in. Libraries are the great equaliser; they provide access for all. They cross the digital divide, they provide access to resources and they promote books and reading.
We know from research that students become readers by reading. We know that ‘good’ readers become better readers by reading more; and the more you read, the more you want to read. We also know that students who read for pleasure perform better at school, building skills to better access information (which the modern world is all about!).
So why do we need to have a rich and diverse fiction collection in our school library? To provide our student population – which has no two identical students – with a depth and breadth of choice that provides books for everyone. Doug Johnson (2018) states that school libraries encourage the love of reading and give all students a voice, and it is because of this we need to provide books that all students can connect with.
I am fortunate; my school library has an amazing and diverse collection. However, as with all things in life, there is room for improvement. A small number of students have indicated an interest in graphic novels and anime books but our library doesn’t hold a lot of these (we have the Wimpy Kid series but not the less well known ones), so this is something we should look into. A number of older students have requested romance stories so this is another area we can explore and see if we can find suitable titles. We also need to look at what information we are putting in our searchable catalogue, to help students find books they are interested in.
I see a big part of my role as being the person who can put the right book in the right hands. To do this I need to keep up-to-date with new offerings and know my current collection really well. Reading is fun, it is my (lucky) job to share that fun!
