Libraries give learning a lift

NEA Today, Apr 1999

New Jersey schools are finding that a little library funding can inspire a lot of learning.

Brenda Thomas's library at Public School 28 in Paterson New Jersey can be a lively place, filled with energetic elementary students poring over bright material handed out during a presentation on postage stamps.

At other times, the library can have "a calming effect on students who may need some quiet time;' says Thomas. "This is a warm, non-threatening place for them."

Either way, the library is a far cry from the ragged resource it was eight years ago. "It was in bad shape, and the books were outdated," Thomas recalls.

Thanks to a infusion of dollars from the school budget and private funds, the library now boasts a "friendliness" that seems to beckon students.

Rugs, bean bag chairs. posters of comic book heroes, four computers, and 5,500 books decorate the library that serves 700 students in K4.

"Kids love coming here, says Thomas, who now views her renovated library as "an integral part of the learning process."

One corner is designated for dramatic play therapy. supervised by a member of the child study team. The "special interest corner" offers students privacy to read books on hygiene and other sensitive matters.

Another area is set aside for teachers to complete lesson plans or "just sit and read a book." says Thomas.

Thomas keeps abreast of curriculum changes "so that the ibrary can truly be a resource for teachers.

"I also try to help them get whatever they need within 24 hours," she adds, "because I know it's tough when you have just a half hour to plan a lesson."

Thomas arranges for book talks and field trips, and brings in members of the community to mentor students. Guest readers from local businesses and the city council enliven the library calendar. And parent volunteers help keep the library operating smoothly.

"Being here is making a difference," says Thomas, who was named her school's 1993 teacher of the year. "Kids and teachers can have some alone time here, and kids can feel safe. And they don't have to leave the building to get resources they need."

At Public School 15, the library is smaller-not much larger than a classroom. Yet thanks again to a bigger budget in recent years and private funds, it offers 8,000 volumes, three computers, videos, and a laptop.

"Here the kids can make choices, learn research skills, and recognize that libraries offer the opportunity for life-long learning," says Judy Finchler, the school's library media specialist.

Many of the 1,100 students at her school are doing selective reading, Finchler notes-some even "trading in pulp fiction for finer literature:'

When Finchler's not teaching reading, helping with homework, or coaching students on their oral presentations for the state standards test, she's inviting teachers to use her as a resource.

"I'll suggest ways to make a subject more pleasurable and uncomplicated," says Finchler. This can mean creating a topic outline, reassessing a child's ability to learn aspects of the subject, or recommending a relevant Web site.

"The world the kids are going out into is vast," says Finchler. "The library is a good place to shift between school and that world."

For More Information

Contact Judy Finchler at 973/2250212 or Brenda Thomas at 973/225-5044.