Guest Blogger - Tracy Huffman

Summer Library Program Cultivates Community

Tracy Huffman, Teacher Librarian | Superior Elementary 

"...libraries are no longer the sole source of literary nutrition"

Hello, I’m the new Teacher Librarian at Superior Elementary where I have been a classroom teacher for many years. The Summer Library Program has been a fixture of Superior Elementary for the last twenty years.Throughout much of that time, it remained constant with the same goals to incentivize reading and minimize the “summer slide” in a community that doesn’t have a local library. This summer my 16-year-old son and I ran the summer library program, and it was a valuable introduction into the ongoing changes of the school library for me! Our students live in an age of plentiful and readily available information, and libraries are no longer the sole source of literary nutrition for growing readers. In looking at ways to revitalize the Summer Library Program, we knew we wanted to make sure that the library was not only a place to check out books, but also a place for community interaction.  

“Read for the Stars”

As is tradition, a theme was implemented to tie together activities and incentives to foster excitement for the Summer Library Program. This summer’s theme was “Read for the Stars” to capitalize on the upcoming solar eclipse. Various structured and unstructured activities provided the foundation for increasing engagement time at the library. Over the course of the summer, families spread out throughout the library and worked together to build spaceships, telescopes, space stations, 2-D and 3-D stars, planetariums, and even more using Legos, blocks, magnets, and geoboards. They also gathered at tables to create constellation tubes, pinhole projectors for the eclipse, space bookmarks, aliens, and astronauts. And, students still checked out books and snuggled up on couches to read. I believe that activities increased engagement time and provided an incentive to come to the library each week. 

"...capitalizing on the curiosity to learn and collaborate"

Activities increased checkout because summer book circulation was up. Reflecting on the Summer Library Program, I know that adapting the library to meet the needs of students, families, and staff is and will continue to be a crucial part of my job as Teacher Librarian. Yes, I want to promote literature and foster a love of reading and want to continue to cultivate community by capitalizing on the curiosity to learn and collaborate in the heart of the school, the library. In fact, maybe the most successful libraries are happening where those two mutually beneficial ideas are occurring. 

After Pam Sandlian Smith’s presentation during Day 1 of the Future Ready Librarians Professional Pathway, I am inspired to create meaningful and plentiful experiences in the library that cultivate community.