April 27, 2024
April is School Library Month, and there’s no better time to turn a spotlight on the essential role they play in the lives of EUSD students. As of April 16, EUSD libraries have circulated more than 334,400 library books across the district this school year.
A library, especially a school library, is so much more than hushed voices and checking out a book once a week.
“Every day I watch magic happen in this space,” said Felicita Elementary’s Caraline Luft, one of our dedicated school library technicians. “Choosing a book as a child sticks with you in no other way. It is a moment of self-discovery. When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity the way no other book does for the rest of your life. A school library is an incredibly special place on campus.”
Across 24 schools, EUSD libraries make critical contributions to our families' literacy journeys. School libraries not only provide essential literacy support, they are places of social and emotional support in a school community. “There is a plethora of research that shows that school libraries and librarians are a key bridge to multilingual literacy and social-emotional wellness, especially if students have few to no books of their own at home,” said G. Trupp, school library technician at Del Dios Academy of Arts and Sciences. “Our libraries are safe spaces on campus that foster curiosity and belonging, and are so powerful because every single student is served through the library.”
EUSD librarians strive to make these hubs for literacy a gathering place, such as hosting club meetings, welcoming family engagement events, and making space for the beloved Scholastic Book Fairs. At Central Elementary, School Library Technician Marquita Sanchez has created an event that brings in the whole community. Now in its second year, the Central Elementary Library Book Festival welcomes families to browse used books for sale, visit community booths, and simply come together to celebrate a love of reading.
As the implementation of the new EUSD Framework for the Future continues, we see that school libraries are the EUSD Learner Profile in action! As Trupp shared, school librarians encourage our students to be Empowered Learners by curating focused library collections that allow students to self-select print and digital literature for scholarly and personal interest. The many different storytimes and activities facilitated by our librarians help foster the skills of Empathetic Collaborators, Effective Communicators, and Creative Problem Solvers. Conversations and activities about copyright, research, and technological literacy build Ethical Scholars and Critical Thinkers.
Trupp and Luft shared that EUSD school library technicians cultivate their space into a place where students feel welcome at any time, for any reason – whether it’s finding a new book during designated class visits, working on a puzzle during recess, or chatting about their day.
“It is my hope that students feel like our library's purpose is to be there for them,” Luft said. “A school library is definitely a place where you can know for sure that you are accepted and valued.”
