Library A Week YLK

Kenwood Elementary School Library

2010 no. 19

Library Profile

Library Name: Kenwood Elementary School Library Location: 1001 Stratford Drive, Champaign, IL 61821 Type: School Mission: Our mission is to create a patron-friendly place for staff and students to read, learn, and search for information. Library Website: http://www.champaignschools.org/library LTLS Member Since: http://www.lincolntrail.info/yln.html   An interview with Librarian, Todd Lash.

What is unique about your library?

I think we are unique in that it is our philosophy that the library and the people that work in it are not separate entities. We really believe that the way we carry ourselves, present ourselves and our love of the reading and information services is an extension of how people see the library and feel about it. Our library is a very friendly and open place because of the relationships that we have built with our patrons. Students love coming to library because of the programming we do, and the collection we have developed, but also because they feel good when they are there.

What are the primary goals and objectives of your library?

Our library is first and foremost a place for learning and is an extension of every classroom in the school. As a former classroom teacher, I still see myself in that role first. Nothing pleases me more than when another staff member comes to me and tells me that a student bragged about learning something first in the library. That being said, I also want students to see the library as a place of discovery and amusement. Students and staff should have a stake in a school library’s programming and collection. Buy in is important. Another of our goals is to make sure that all of our students have the necessary knowledge and skills to use information technology safely. Our students all too often engage with the technology around them before they understand the risks and rewards that come with it.

What cooperative efforts are you currently doing?

We recently held a Family Poetry night that saw the schools literacy staff, classroom teachers, library and the public library work together to implement poetry based literacy activities and games. We also just finished hosting our school Scholastic Book Fair. The library staff does book to help kids make wish lists. The fair is held in the library twice a year and the school PTA, which oversees the event, generously donates profits from the fair to the library for collection development. Also, throughout the year, we have paired up with a first-year teacher to create a revolving classroom collection of student centered, high-interest themed literature that has been a huge hit. As next year rolls around, we will be partnering with the PTA to help pick books for and distribute books from our school birthday book cart.

Tell us a story about your library.

Each year, I partner with one of our Kindergarten teachers to create an elaborate drama that centers on a pirate and the color gold. As the students are learning their colors, this teacher tells her students the “secret” that if you say the word gold too loud, a pirate may appear and come looking for his treasure. Over the course of several weeks, we build this tale in the library and in the classroom.  I select books for read-alouds that have the word gold repeated several times and the kids all mock beg me not to use that word. We also tell the kids about my twin brother who happens to be a pirate and only comes home to visit once a year. Finally, one day, unannounced, I put on my pirate costume and make a big raucous outside of the kindergarten room, in a courtyard. Finally, I enter the classroom bellowing, “Where’s me gold?  I heard somebody say the word gold!” The kids run and scream and play along. The teacher calms the pirate down and convinces him to read a pirate story to the class, many of whom do not realize who I am until half way through the story. I often get kids who come back from middle school and who want to talk about the day “my brother” came to visit.

If money were no object, what services would you add?

If money were no object, I would first make our fabulous clerk a full time employee. This would increase our hours of operation and allow for more flexible scheduling. I would update all of our existing computers and purchase a new machine with a hanging flat panel monitor on the collection side of the library. I would also purchase PlayAway books to add to our A/V collection. Furthermore, I believe it would be very beneficial to expand on a program we started last year that sought to provide literacy and literature based programming aimed at the preschool age siblings of current students and their parents. In terms of physical improvements, I would add a quiet room and a separate office to our existing library space.

What is popular in your library?

Graphics are as popular as ever, especially Bone and the newer prequel and handbook. Its funny how old is new again in the world of graphics. Babysitters Club and Boxcar Children have really made a comeback in that format. Tumblebooks are very popular with the lower grade levels.

How does your library use online tools to connect to your users?

We do quite a bit of communication with our staff patrons through email, whereby they can let us know what they are looking for ahead of time and we can either deliver it or have it ready for them. Our OPAC is available district wide and most of the classrooms in the school are using it to find resources for both work and pleasure.

Request a visit to your library If you would like to set up a special date for us to visit your library contact LTLS Consultant Michelle Ralston Library of the Week is published by Lincoln Trail Libraries System, 1704 W. Interstate Dr., Champaign, IL 61822 217-352-0047  -   ltls@lincolntrail.info Executive Director: Jan Ison, Editorial and Design Team: Michelle Ralston and David Lottes