School libraries are a classic fixture of every child's school experience. In fact, school libraries and their keepers of knowledge, the school librarian, are so ubiquitous to American culture, they've made their way into popular culture. Whether we're talking about the library from The Breakfast Club or Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or Hermione's favorite Hogwarts hangout in Harry Potter, we've all seen some version of the school library at least once in our lives.
While remembering school libraries may give us all the warm-and-fuzzies, they're actually integral to a school's success and its students. Studies show that school libraries actually improve student achievement and reading scores. Schools that have added a qualified school librarian to their staff have seen more academic achievement than those who eliminated the role (Lance and Hofschire, 2011).
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When the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered schools to in-person learning, school librarians stepped up to help support the distance education process and provide invaluable resources and services to students who were forced to study from home and teachers who had to adapt their lesson plans to a new virtual environment. Though operating from a great distance, school libraries continue to support students' academic, social, and emotional growth through virtual homework help, digital literacy support, and tools that support emotional well-being. During this time of chaos and upheaval, school libraries have demonstrated their value in children's lives.
However, as COVID-19 shutdowns have forced many schools to introduce drastic budgetary cuts, school library programs across the country are facing near elimination. While school librarians are well-positioned to support their schools and students in the wake of COVID-19, many believe that these seemingly brick-and-mortar reliant services to be irrelevant to distance education.
At EveryLibrary, we are committed to supporting libraries of all shapes and sizes, but what do you think? Take our poll now to voice your opinion and join our growing community of library supporters.