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A Sept. 10 Bangor Daily News article stated that, in 1992, Maine students were fourth in the nation for reading. I was a school librarian then. The major focus of my lessons was reading; connecting kids to the right books to turn them into readers. If we didn’t have a book a student needed or wanted, one that would work for them, I’d buy it, because it’s important. I was really successful at making that connection.
When the buses rolled out of the parking lot back then, I recall 90% of the kids were reading books. Now, Maine students are 44th in the nation. Few kids read recreationally. Students on the bus are sucked into screens.
The focus at the school is technology and STEM learning. There is a full-time technology director and a full-time technology teacher, no librarian. The school population is just over half of what it used to be.
I don’t want to overemphasize the role of library media specialists, but I know the importance of this role in elementary education. It has always been clear to me that students need someone dedicated to connecting them with books in a meaningful way. Classroom teachers have too many responsibilities to provide a total focus on one area.
Schools need dedicated, certified librarians, for many reasons, but sharing the joy of reading is pivotal. You can’t be educated without being a reader! Readers succeed. Readers are leaders, and all of those cliches. It is critical.
Val Rich
Glenburn