Earlier this week, we announced that James Patterson will increase his contribution of $1.25 million to save school libraries to now $1.5 million. As a recap, he's partnering with Scholastic Reading Club, and we'll be matching each dollar with Reading Club “Bonus Points,” which teachers can use to acquire books and other materials for their classrooms, at every school that receives an award. School libraries can be nominated for a donation here: www.scholastic.com/pattersonpartnership.
In the two weeks following the initial donation announcement, James Patterson and Scholastic Reading Club received more than 10,000 applications for school library grants. It’s apparent school libraries need critical help.
In celebration of school libraries, we went straight to the source and asked top librarians and academics about why saving school libraries is so important.
Today, we speak with speak with Busy Librarian blogger and library media specialist Matthew Winner.
Q: What makes school libraries so important for kids?
Matthew Winner: A school library is often the first time a child gets to select a book completely of his or her own choosing. To be surrounded by thousands of books and have the power of choice is something very memorable. What's more, the school librarian works tirelessly playing matchmaker to pair growing readers with exceptional children's literature. Given this unprecedented access to information at a time when you are developing the ability to read, which is arguably the most important skill a child in this country can attain, is something altogether incredible.
Q: Is there a favorite memory you can share about your own school library growing up?
MW: I never made the transition from picture books to chapter books. Perhaps that's because my parents stopped reading aloud to me after I could read myself. As a result, reading for pleasure was not a habit I developed for many years after. However, there were a couple of key books from my childhood that I would read regularly, even if just to lose myself in the pictures and illustrations. Specifically, Seymour Simon's planet books were a gateway for me into wonder and curiosity. I returned to those full page photos of worlds beyond Earth over and over throughout my time in elementary school.
Q: If you could say one thing to the school librarians of the world, what would it be?
MW: Be visible. You are doing great things, but doing great things is not enough. Our libraries need to extend beyond the walls that house them and our doors must be open to invite the world beyond our program in at all times. If the teachers in your building, the students, the administration, your supervisors, and the parents and community of your school cannot share a specific example of how your library is serving them, work must be done to increase the visibility of your library. A library that is not seen will quickly be forgotten.
Q: You write a ton! Do you have time to read for pleasure and if so, what sorts of books do you read?
MW: Most of my recreational reading is children's literature. I read lots and lots of books on account of Let's Get Busy, a weekly kidlit podcast that I host. I would say the books that take up the most space on my To-Be-Read pile are graphic novels.
Thanks, Matthew!
Matthew Winner
