Libraries Still Matter

My students began a project last week.  I've written about it before because it has changed so much over the years.  It's an 8th-grade project in which they research an element.  While this has changed from a model and a paper to a podcast to a website to a speech, one thing has not changed.  Students have to research their assigned element.

This brings us to an important place, the library.  I know you have probably heard that the internet has killed the library.  Well, The Buggles were wrong in 1979 about video killing the radio star, and people are wrong about libraries.  Like any great organization, the library has adapted in methods, but it is far from dead.  The role of the librarian is, as it has always been, to help connect you with the information and tools you need.

When I take my students to the library, the first thing that happens is that our librarian shows the kids some tools they may not realize are available to them.  He helps them narrow down potential source material because, let's face it, trying to get information from a Google search is a little like trying to take a sip of water from a fire hydrant.  He also goes through a discussion with them about the credibility of sources.  In the age of the internet, what could possibly be more important than teaching kids how to evaluate the validity of a source?

Then, he shows them the books we have on the assigned topic.  Whether that is books about elements for this speech or books about space exploration for the NASA paper, they are always surprised by how good the information is in these sources.  Some of them even want to copy pages from the book.  At that point, they learn an entirely new skill - making copies on a copy machine.  I had to giggle this year at how amazed they were by the copier.  One of them even said, "Ooooh, look at that light going back and forth."  (Note to self:  I may want to include a video on how copiers work when we get to static electricity.)

Students don't just go to the library to research.  It is also where they get help with 3D printing, come for club meetings, and check out books to read for their own enjoyment (one of my favorite things about GRACE is the high percentage of our students who do read for pleasure). 

Any time you walk by our library, you will find groups of students in a tutoring session, reading a book, playing a game, taking a test, chatting with our librarian, or filming a video.  It is not the quiet mausoleum of books you may remember; if it were, the modern age would have killed it.  It is, instead, a lively and interesting place where people gain information and share thoughts.  Libraries still matter, and I believe that they always will.