My Educational Philosophy
By Connie Rogers
My philosophy of school library teaching is intertwined with the teaching of Siyali Ramamrita Ranganathan and his Five Laws of Library Science. While S.R.R. developed his principles for teaching in a library during the days when the library was primarily books, I believe his teachings can be applied to a 21st century school library program which includes much more than books!
Books are for use.
Library material preservation and organization is certainly important. But most important is making certain that materials are available for use for all students. Items are of little importance if they are not used. A warm, welcoming library space; helpful, knowledgeable, congenial library teachers, aides and volunteers; flexible and forgiving loan policies; hours extended beyond the school day; making as many resources as possible available 24/7; these all go towards making certain that books, and all library resources, are for use.
Every reader his/her book.
Within a school community, the variety of students is significant. Every student should be able to obtain the information and pleasurable reading that is needed by them specifically. The school librarian needs to know the students very well in order to serve their varying needs. The librarian also needs to be able to reach and respect all types of readers. SRR believed “Every reader his/her book”. I say “Every reader his/her book, magazine, database and website”.
Every book its reader.
Simple. I do not just collect for the library that which is most popular or considered most important. A variety of materials belongs in the library even if just a few students are interested in some of those materials. Making books (and databases and websites and periodicals) simple to find leads every book to its reader.
Save the time of the reader.
The library needs to be organized. Shelving needs to be open. Books displays need to be attractive and changed frequently. The library teacher needs to know her collection. Most important: students need to be instructed on how to search and evaluate the information they need. Finding what you need in one library is transferable to other libraries and will lead to a lifetime of learning with confidence.
The library is a growing organism.
Just like students and teachers and everything else in education, library programs change. Library materials, space, teaching methods, user instruction, all need to continually adapt. The library is not a storage facility — it a growing, developing, flexible, dynamic place and the library program should lead the way.
Written by Connie Rogers, 2016
Books are for use.
Library material preservation and organization is certainly important. But most important is making certain that materials are available for use for all students. Items are of little importance if they are not used. A warm, welcoming library space; helpful, knowledgeable, congenial library teachers, aides and volunteers; flexible and forgiving loan policies; hours extended beyond the school day; making as many resources as possible available 24/7; these all go towards making certain that books, and all library resources, are for use.
Every reader his/her book.
Within a school community, the variety of students is significant. Every student should be able to obtain the information and pleasurable reading that is needed by them specifically. The school librarian needs to know the students very well in order to serve their varying needs. The librarian also needs to be able to reach and respect all types of readers. SRR believed “Every reader his/her book”. I say “Every reader his/her book, magazine, database and website”.
Every book its reader.
Simple. I do not just collect for the library that which is most popular or considered most important. A variety of materials belongs in the library even if just a few students are interested in some of those materials. Making books (and databases and websites and periodicals) simple to find leads every book to its reader.
Save the time of the reader.
The library needs to be organized. Shelving needs to be open. Books displays need to be attractive and changed frequently. The library teacher needs to know her collection. Most important: students need to be instructed on how to search and evaluate the information they need. Finding what you need in one library is transferable to other libraries and will lead to a lifetime of learning with confidence.
The library is a growing organism.
Just like students and teachers and everything else in education, library programs change. Library materials, space, teaching methods, user instruction, all need to continually adapt. The library is not a storage facility — it a growing, developing, flexible, dynamic place and the library program should lead the way.
Written by Connie Rogers, 2016