Response to “Welcome to Your Post-Coronavirus School Library”

image created using imgflip.com/memegenerator

My AP Language and Composition class recently finished this practice exam from 2017 that prompted them to “develop a position on the role, if any, that public libraries should serve in the future.” The sources provided by CollegeBoard along with the discussion my students had in response to the prompt, drew me to Wendy Stephens’s article, “Welcome to Your Post-Coronavirus School Library.”

I was drawn to this article because I’m learning that librarians really have to adapt to the ever changing landscape of education. Obviously teachers have to adapt as well but I think it’s easier to stay a bit “old school” in the classroom whereas it seems like a librarian’s livelihood depends on their flexibility. Ultimately, I wanted to read something current and was curious about the author’s ideas for a post-coronavirus library. 

Stephen’s main point is that school librarians need to adapt to the changing educational landscape by embracing digital technologies and moving beyond traditional library roles to provide effective resources. Stephens makes it clear throughout her article that librarians must “demonstrate their worth yet again” (23). Unfortunately, this seems to be a recurring theme throughout the courses I’ve taken so far and I see it in my own school as well. This recurring theme emphasizes the urgency for librarians to showcase their skills in order to be seen as a vital part of the school community. Stephens says, “it is essential to draw a distinction between the role of the librarian who provides library services from the librarian who monitors the library space” (22). It is not enough to just manage the physical space of the library. Stephens makes it clear that it’s important for librarians to be seen as leaders and team players.

Some of my takeaways from the article:

• The role of a librarian is complex!

• The library should be a “people first” space where everyone is seen as a human being first. This means that punitive policies regarding late materials could be detrimental to the culture of the library. Instead, librarians should shift their focus to “keeping kids reading” (21).

• School librarians should be well equipped to “weave social-emotional learning and trauma informed pedagogy into their work” (22) as we continue to see an increase in mental health needs. 

• Stephens suggested that during the pandemic librarians should have some ready-to-go lessons in case they need to fill in for colleagues. I thought this was an interesting suggestion and I may have balked at this idea when I first read it. I know our school librarian is usually frustrated when she has to be the substitute teacher for a class, which I totally understand. But, I can also see how Stephens’s suggestion is another way for librarians to showcase their skills and this might even be a way to bridge a connection between the librarian and the teacher. 

• School librarians should be leading professional development on instructional technologies.

• I feel like a broken record but my biggest takeaway is that librarians must be flexible and ready to adapt. As Stephens says, “School librarians will need to stretch every day in every way…” (23). While this obviously won’t be easy, I feel excited about the possibilities and opportunities that come with being adaptable. It's a chance to constantly learn, grow, and innovate in order to better serve the school community.

Work Cited

                Stephens, Wendy. “Welcome to Your Post-Coronavirus School Library.” Teacher                 Librarian, vol. 48, no. 2, 2020, pp. 20-23.