April is School Library Month

April is School Library Month

April 2017 is the 32 Annual School Library Month. How is School Library Month celebrated not only during the month of April, but all year long in SDSM school libraries?

• The school libraries provide materials for teachers and students that will encourage growth and knowledge (accessing print and digital materials through Destiny, online databases - PebbleGo, KidsInfoBits, CultureGrams, Discovery Education, and evaluating websites);
• The school libraries provide materials that will promote a reading culture through author and illustrator visits, increasing knowledge about children's book awards (Wisconsin's Golden Archer Award, Newbery Award, Caldecott Award, Coretta Scott King Award, Pura Belpre Award, Theodore Seuss Geisel Award, Sibert Award, and Schneider Family Award);
• The school libraries provide books to encourage children to read for pleasure;
• The school libraries continue to evaluate the library collection through deselection and selection of the library collection to better meet individual needs, varied interests, abilities, and diverse characters and stories for the students served in the school district;
• The school libraries are a fun place for students to go where library centers encourage students to collaborate, problem solve, communicate, and expand learning opportunities.
• The school librarian continues to develop relationships with students, teachers and staff to collaborate with teachers to teach digital literacy and information literacy.

As you read through these opportunities consider collaborating with Betsy Daniels at the high school or me at the elementary and middle schools.  Betsy and I want to continue to promote that school libraries empower students. My dream for the SDSM school libraries is to develop the energy and a culture of reading as seen in this video Traveling school librarian spreads enthusiasm for reading as John Schu does as he travels across the country sharing the message to students, teachers and parents to allow students to read what they want.