Extra! Extra! Read All About It! Please!!

The ample size of the Resurrection Preparatory High School library reveals itself as a space where numerous good resources are eagerly waiting to be discovered, longing to be read. Ann Marie, the head librarian, told me that she purchases books and other resources based on the Common Core State Standards, upcoming ACTs, (the college readiness exam), subject matters taught at the school like Business Management, English, Religious Studies, several foreign languages--French, Italian and Latin--and more. Of course, a wealth of other fiction and non fiction items that she knows that her students like are put on the list of things to buy. Equally as important, the library has a well-thought out collection of titles that seek to empower girls from all backgrounds. Where Girls Come First by Ilana DeBare, Karen Stabiner's All Girls:  Single-Sex Education and Why It Matters, Fight Like A Girl:  50 Feminists Who Changed The World by Laura Barcella, Kate Schatz and Miriam Klein Stahl's Rad American Women A-Z...  and I Am Malala...by Malala Yousafzai are some of the highly visible titles that you can encounter as soon as you enter the library.

If you stand anywhere in the library and rotate, you will see the bold black letters on the walls high above the shelves that direct your attention to the various book genres represented. College & Career, Fiction, Non Fiction and Reference books for school-related work and personal pleasure are available to use in-house for research or to check out and take home to enjoy. In racks along the walls and on their own special shelves are magazines for readers interested in anything from health and politics to religion and celebrity gossip. Once a new edition of the magazines comes in, Ann Marie and Ellen, her assistant, check the list of teachers who want to borrow one of the past copies. Either of the women attaches a circulation tag to the front cover which informs the teachers of the next person awaiting the magazine. The last on the list returns the magazine to the library where it will be archived. 

I am so excited about all of the new books that I have learned about in Resurrection's library. Many of the titles are unfamiliar because I teach elementary-age students; of course, the high school has a completely different audience. However, I do have teen cousins and a god daughter who might be interested in some of the new literature. The books are even great for adults like me! 

Nostalgia is what I felt when I walked by the fiction section. Works that I read when I was in high school jumped out at me. Books by my favorite authors James Baldwin and Zora Neale Hurston as well as those by Tennessee Williams, William Faulker and Arthur Miller seemed to call my name and whisper, "Do you remember me?" "You know I do, "I replied with a smile.

It makes me sad to learn that despite the enormous effort Ann Marie makes to build a library of books that her students need (and want) and to expose her students to the wealth of databases the school has to offer, very few students check out books or use the free websites. I was so honored to be allowed to facilitate the book club's discussion today; it was disheartening to know that even though "I really liked the book!", most of the girls did not read. One student admitted that "I read the back of the book, though." They claimed to be extremely busy. Ann Marie was not deterred by the low preparation or participation. She had confirmation from the girls who were engaged which helped her stay positive and brainstorm with them about how to recruit new members!

Though classic books are just that which gives them staying power on the shelves, there were non fiction books that I felt should be weeded. Titles that are over 10 years old simply need to go. (Ann Marie said that she tries to weed books at the end of every year.) Unfortunately, there is such little circulation of books or magazines, I almost feel like it would be nice for students to notice that they are old and request updated ones. At least then, Ann Marie and Ellen would be certain that the girls are paying attention to what is available to them. 

One reason few ebooks are available to students, Ann Marie noted, is because it is difficult to read lengthy texts on the Chrome books. "If we had iPads with apps to accommodate the books," she told me, "maybe kids would read more. But, I doubt it. They are just not reading." Fortunately for the girls, their librarian is not giving up on them. Ann Marie told me that she has purchased over 150 books this year; she even has the new title on Alexander Hamilton on back order.

Resurrection's library is truly alive with multicultural materials that reflect countless reading genres (fiction/nonfiction, mystery, arts), formats (books, magazines, graphic novels, travel guides) and tastes ( modernized versions of classics--YOLO Juliet is written in emojis! Shakespeare's works are written as pop songs!). No matter what one is looking for, selections that were read over 500 years ago and those written less than 5 months ago grace the wide open space. Students and teachers alike should take advantage of the excellent physical and virtual resources in the library.