Wyoming School Libraries Make All the Difference

Libraries have served as a primary source of information in learning environments for ages, and because of this, school librarians strive to help broaden the minds of their student communities through diverse outreach programs.

Most of us are familiar with summer reading events hosted at our local libraries, but the school libraries in Wyoming are widening their educational net much further.

Reading Clubs 

Wyoming school libraries promote a variety of educational clubs that students can attend after school, during free periods, or additional open time slots. Reader’s Theater is one such example. It’s a library club that invites students to discuss and act out scenes from novels they’re reading.

Battle of the Books is another popular club that Wyoming students participate in. This activity assigns teams of students to read a set of books together and then compete against other teams to correctly answer as many questions as possible about the book or books included in the competition.

Summer Reading

Summer reading has been a popular pastime for decades, and Wyoming libraries are keeping this practice alive by encouraging students to read during the summer. In fact, some school libraries remain open during summer intermissions in order to allow students to keep checking out books. 

Some of the librarians offer reading contests and challenges, online book club meetings, and even rewards for each student’s reading successes.

"Flex Time"

This term refers to the efforts many school librarians make to offer library-related services for students with unique scheduling demands. For example, some libraries host various STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) workshops during different times of the day or week so that more students have the opportunity to join. 

Many of these activities invite students to explore lessons they covered in class and take a deeper dive into related topics that interest them. Additionally, students have access to the whole collection of library books should they want to continue their research.

Libraries also provide a quiet, calm space for students who need to finish assignments or for those who take part in flexible school schedules. On top of having a space for concentration, Wyoming students typically also have access to digital storytelling tools, podcasting equipment, and green screens they can use to enhance the quality of the assignments they’re working on.

Finally, Wyoming students can also use flex time to simply visit the library and check out new books to read. Many of these school libraries offer cozy reading nooks where students can relax while reading in bean bags, armchairs, or benches.

Special Occasions

Throughout the school year, plenty of Wyoming libraries host engaging and educational activities. For example, some of these locations plan celebratory events to cover the release of a new book by some of the students’ favorite authors.

Author visits are also a popular event among Wyoming librarians and students. During these events, authors who have gone on book tours stop by the library to promote the latest book they’ve written. In addition, these individuals speak with the students, answer their questions, and cover what readers can reasonably expect when delving into the newest continuation of stories they love.

For kids, meeting an author is fascinating and sparks their interest in new books. Numerous authors will also conduct webcam conversations or virtual visits if they can’t attend the event in person.

Another fun event for the younger students is the evening pajama story time events. Librarians or adult volunteers sit with the children in attendance and read an age-appropriate book to the group, who arrive clad in pajamas. The goal of this activity is to create positive associations with reading during early childhood.

Before/After School Resources

Many students at Wyoming schools can take advantage of access to a myriad of technologies they can use before or after school to complete assignments. This way, students who don’t have internet access at home can still make use of devices that promote more interactive ways to absorb the content the students are learning about. 

Librarians are also prone to volunteering to assist students with the assignments or homework they’re trying to complete. This service grants students one-on-one support, which helps foster a sense of community among young people who would otherwise struggle.

School libraries have bridged the gap between students and access to information for a very long time, and the efforts that librarians make are only evolving. If your children, grandchildren, or other family members attend Wyoming schools, take some time to research the variety of offerings available through your child’s school library.

SOURCES

https://medium.com/everylibrary/school-libraries-empower-students-dee571eb5fe5