10 Easy Ways to Collaborate With Your School Librarian

"The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library."

- Albert Einstein

Have you used your school library recently? Libraries are an essential part of a community’s education, and we celebrate this significance for National Library Lover’s Month. Mobile Ed has ten simple activities that will help you support your students academically while taking advantage of the library’s resources.

We call the library the “largest classroom” in the school because it is the heart of student learning. In a school library, students have an additional location outside the classroom that is a comfortable and safe space to learn, ask questions, talk with tutors, and use resources. Getting out of the classroom is exciting for students of all ages. Libraries might feel less stressful, seat students more comfortably, or be a quieter space for students to focus. With access to this space, students practice becoming better learners and obtaining new skills and knowledge. 

Librarians have become essential partners for teachers as well. They work closely with teachers to provide guidance for curriculum development and help in designing student programs. Librarians are well-versed in books that are age-appropriate and inclusive, helping teachers build their own classroom libraries that are appropriate, engaging, and educational. They also have wide access to information and have a strong research ability to find resources teachers may need. And some librarians might teach a class or two!

Research has found that well-run school libraries heavily influence and are tightly correlated to enhancing student achievement. Students attending schools with strong library programs tend to earn better scores on standardized tests than those that don’t. How often students visit the library and how much they borrow from the library could also affect their test scores. At-risk subgroups of students also develop better literacy skills when there is a full-time librarian in their school, and their academic performance increases when a school gains a librarian. 

More benefits of having in-school librarians include: 

• Improve literacy skills
• Promote social-emotional learning 
• Improve technical skills 
• Encourage a passion for learning
• Provide a safe environment 

Need ideas on how you can collaborate with your school librarian?

Here are ten ways you can collaborate with your librarian to bring fun and educational experiences to your students!

• Design a reading list with the help of your school librarian. Librarians are experts in knowing which books are suited for your grade level, which ones students enjoy the most, and which ones provide the most value. Ask your librarian for book recommendations for your classroom library or to make a list for an assignment, and you’ll have students excited to read. "Gamify" it by setting goals and rewarding students for reading. Ask students to write book reports to prove they read the book and to understand their takeaways better.
  

• Host a Scavenger Hunt to help students get familiar with the school library. A scavenger hunt is an exciting way to help students know where things are located in their library, so they feel more prepared to use the library effectively at a later time. This is also the perfect opportunity to introduce students to the library and the school librarian!

• Create Bookmarks with your students to use. This will get your students eager to read while also encouraging students to be creative. Each student will have a personalized bookmark(s) that reflects them and is something they can be proud of.

• Assign Research-Based Projects so students can enhance their research skills using library resources. Librarians have thorough research skills, resources, experience with databases, and knowledge of online tools. Assigning research-based projects that are appropriate for your grade level provides an opportunity for your students to experience the benefits of the library while developing their research and retention skills.
  

• Seek Feedback on lessons or assignments from the school librarian. Librarians are knowledgeable about curriculum requirements, effective resources, and student interests. Having a discussion could improve your students’ learning experience in unexpected ways.

• Host a Read-Aloud with your school librarian. Stories are powerful no matter your age, so bring in the librarian to share a relevant story with your students or visit the library for some time to enjoy a story and have a discussion. Make it fun by using fun voices, costumes, and props, or acting it out! Need some help? Check out our Young Authors Day program, and we'll do the heavy lifting for you!

• Plan an Event in the library or with the librarian. Libraries have more room than a classroom to spread out, set up tables, and host groups and events. Bring in an author, host a book fair, or plan a game night to get students excited about reading. Planning events with the librarian make the library an exciting and comfortable place for your students to learn and have fun.

• Start a Book Club for students based on their interests. This book club could be for a curriculum requirement or simply a fun way for students to become passionate readers. Host book club meetings in the library or allow students to check out books from the library for their book club.
  

• Introduce New Technologies. Your librarian is a wizard with online resources. Have your librarian teach new online resources that your students can use for the rest of their academic careers.

• Have a “Book Tasting” to help students finds new genres and books that are interesting to them. Students will “taste” or try, new books and review them so your students have more ideas on what books they might enjoy. This can be geared toward any age.

For more helpful tips for teachers, follow the Mobile Ed Productions blog.