Libraries and Student Success

Libraries play pivotal role in a student's success in their studies. Libraries can help students find the materials  they need. They can encourage a student to find a love of reading and knowledge. They can offer workshops and tutoring to help improve a student's skills in a particular subject. The resources at libraries seem to be endless and contribute much more to a student's success that we give them credit for. This journal focuses on the importance of the collection development and how having a quality collection can help a student be successful.

Non-fiction graphic novels provide an update resource for the student to use. While more and more libraries are increasing the amount of non-fiction books in their collection, the illustrations or photos used in non-fiction graphic novels provide a way for visually inclined learners to better absorb the information. Incorporating illustrations into non-fiction provides the ability to reach a difficult demographic and make a resource more appealing.

Biographies with photos of the subject or the subject's profession provide a visual insight into that person's life. It can make the student more aware of the real possibilities of following a similar path. Pictures of a scientist doing research in a lab or in the field with animals, or of an architect drawing a new building, or an astronaut blasting off into space, can take a curiosity and help it grow into an inspiration for continued reading and possible career choices. This can also inspire a love of reading for pleasure rather than only reading non-fiction or biographies when a report at school is due.

Fiction and fictional graphic novels based on subjects like science, or history, can provide important school curriculum subjects without the students even realizing. This may seem like some sort of trickery, but unfortunately the love of reading for pleasure is not instilled in everyone for a myriad of reasons. Finding ways to incorporate non-fictional subjects into materials that students are actually reading for pleasure, provides a solid foundation for students' success within the library.

The video above shows how important collections are at the world's largest library, The Library of Congress.

Works Cited

Fleishhacker, Joy. “Collection Development. Stocking Library Shelves for Student Success: Motivating Readers through Science-Focused Fun.” Knowledge Quest, vol. 45, no. 4, Jan. 2017, pp. 24–31. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1136314&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Social Networking and Libraries

Social media has been a staple of our every day lives for a while now. Instagram, Facebook and Twitter are more popular than ever. They are simple ways to stay connected with family and friends and now businesses are beginning to amass followers to their account and have created a whole other advertising empire. With the majority of people, especially the younger generations being on some sort of social media, it makes sense for a library to use social media platforms to their benefit.
For libraries, social media is a great way to get news our to patrons. Landscape of Social Media For Libraries offers insight into the many platforms that are used in libraries and what each one can specifically provide. Events, offers, new releases and more, can all be shared with social media followers with the click of a button. Social media platforms like Facebook have a calendar feature which enables users to add events directly from the site.

Instagram is a great way to share photos of things in the library. This can be anything from renovations, new releases, past event photos, children's club photos and many more. A photo can draw a lot more attention and capture the scene of the library much easier than a worded post on Facebook or Twitter. Instagram can also be interactive with the library patrons. Some libraries have used Instagram to promote competitions within the library for patrons. One example is a scavenger hunt within the library. The patron is instructed to find items throughout the library and post pictures of them. This can encourage exploration within the library and help the research skills of its patrons.

Twitter can be used for focused, and up-to-date news. Twitter is excellent for getting small bits of information out to the public that is short and concise. Posting on Twitter also allows for accessible links to the library's website. For a broader form of information and one that is more visually pleasing, libraries can look to YouTube. YouTube is not typically thought of as traditional social media, but with millions of viewers using the platform and the ability to subscribe to an account to keep up with the latest, it is a great way to amass followers and reach out to many people at once. The New York Public Library has a very successful YouTube account. With over 17,000 subscribers, the account boasts posts of authors, library events, free children's activities and much more.

The above video shows an in depth video of the map collection of the New York Public Library. Many videos like this exist on the account and can provide much information about the innerworkings of the library.

Works Cited

King, David Lee. “Landscape of Social Media for Libraries.” Library Technology Reports, vol. 51, no. 1, Jan. 2015, pp. 10–15. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=100279059&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Libraries and the Homeless

Libraries have become havens for many people from many different walks of life. At the Santa Monica Public Library, its has particularly become a haven for the homeless. In A Haven for the Homeless, the author dives into the homeless crisis in Santa Monica as well as the Orange/LA counties. The calm beach city of Santa Monica has been a forever growing home to the homeless. With amenities like air conditioning, comfortable chairs, drinking water, and public restrooms, the library has become a place of respite for the homeless looking for a few hours off the streets.

In order to promote a safe and healthy environment, the has hired a social worker. Social work like job aid and housing are things requested most by the homeless community. In addition, the library is hosting resource fairs for the homeless to point them in the direction of city services including veteran services and mental health care. Training library staff in social areas have increased due to library staff feeling they are ill-equipped to handle the needs of the homeless community. Training in mental health issues, and role-playing scenarios. While library staff know that they won't have all the right answers, instilling the confidence needed in order to be able to handle these difficult situations makes a world of difference. 

The library can't take care of the homeless population in Santa Monica all by itself and still heavily relies on the city's help with larger projects of homeless outreach. Training and programs will take time to make an impact on the city, but they will be a large stepping stone into helping a community that needs it the most.

Works Cited

Segal, Elizabeth. “A Haven for the Homeless.” U.S. News - The Report, May 2018, pp. C10–C13. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=129580573&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Libraries as Social Hubs

What does the general public think of when visualizing a library’s role in their community? Do they think of an aged librarian, shushing loud patrons or dusting shelves with books that are outdated? Modern libraries have a duty to squash the preconceived notion libraries of the past have been known for. Libraries can be known as the center of the community, a place for families to go and interact with their neighbors. Where teens go after school, on the weekends, or during their summer break to socialize with their peers and participate in games, activities, clubs, and so much more. 

Wayne Senville wrote the article Public Libraries: The Hub of Our Communities, in the article he states, “libraries are far from dead in today’s internet age- in fact, they are making a comeback as key anchors in our downtowns (pg. 97)”. In the age of downloading and easy access to any information via the internet, libraries have to be more than a place to check out a book. Don’t get me wrong, they are still the place to find that favorite book or series, even that DVD or magazine, for free. Libraries are the place to do extensive research with databases, acquire knowledge about current job listings, or find out how to apply for a job. Community members can post ‘Help Wanted’ ads on their library’s bulletin board. The library should be known as “the peoples place”, where it’s “the place to go to” for community members to organize events and town meetings; for clubs, homework help; the place for children to learn to read and write. Some libraries are fortunate enough to dedicate whole areas to just a “teen’s” or “children’s” section. 

As library workers, the goal is ensuring the patron has had a satisfying experience at the library. After all, the library should be a place of happy memories and lifelong learning. A library will play many roles, but there is one role that must be brought to light: Senville states, “Another valuable role that libraries play is in integrating immigrants and other newcomers into the community (pg. 102).” 

For immigrants coming to a strange new country, libraries are seen as welcome centers, providing assistants to immigrants in a number of ways. Libraries provide Non-English-speaking classes, to give those who want to learn English the opportunity to do so. Libraries will partner with other organizations that provide additional and more extensive support to immigrant families. Libraries are more than just a building that holds books, they are a social hub bringing communities together and providing opportunities. 

Works Cited

Senville, Wayne. “Public Libraries: The Hub of Our Communities.” APLIS, vol. 22, no. 3, Sept. 2009, pp. 97–103.  https://login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=44266947&site=ehost-live&scope=site 

Libraries and Student Success

Libraries play an integral role in student success. From offering a quiet study environment to accessing databases, research and librarian assistance. “Higher education data show that student parents make up 15 percent of the student body at four-year public and private institutions of higher education and 26 percent of the student body at all higher education institutions.”¹  Whether these students are young parents or older parents who have gone back to school, they need all the help they can get to graduate.  Student-parents face obstacles traditional students do not, including finding childcare, increased debt and poverty.¹  Many student parents are unaware of the resources their schools may provide to help them succeed.  Some colleges offer onsite childcare but is not promoted and many parents miss out on this resource.

“Creating spaces that are more welcoming to families is an effective way to do this and allows student parents an opportunity to spend time with their children while still completing their coursework.”¹ Some college libraries have begun creating spaces for student parents that welcome their children. I know if Palomar Library had a space for me to comfortably bring my daughter with me, I would have been more able to participate in the meeting my blog mates held. It would have been a lovely opportunity to meet and collaborate with them. Creating these spaces provides a feeling of understanding for student parents who can sometimes feel alienated from their peers. Students who feel like their needs are being met are more likely to continue their education.

Family study room at BYU

Work Cited

Godfrey, Ian, et al. "Supporting Student Retention and Success: Including Family Areas in an Academic Library." portal: Libraries and the Academy, vol. 17 no. 2, 2017, p. 375-388. Project MUSE, doi:10.1353/pla.2017.0023.

Libraries and the Homeless

While many families with children utilize their local libraries for story times, reading clubs and other engagement activities, homeless families are a growing sub-population. From offering a safe space to be during the day, free internet access, outreach programs and assistance enrolling in public services the library is a lifeline for these families. During summer families can find meals being served to their children who would otherwise go hungry without free school lunches. The Los Angeles Public Library was able to fund a summer camp for local homeless kids. This program exposed the children to the library, the resources available to them and of course, books. “The kids quickly learned that the library is filled with "treasures" and that access is free of charge.”1  Without this program, many of these children would not have had the opportunity to access the library. These kinds of programs not only help keep kids off the streets and out of bad weather. They also develop literacy skills and help kids maintain reading levels while bouncing from school to school.  Another librarian, Colbert Nembhard2 of New York has created an outreach program to bring the library to the children of a local homeless shelter. Something these children would otherwise not have access to. By bringing the library to the children he is exposing them to books, literacy a love of reading and normalcy.

Works cited:

1) Abramson, Ilene. “A Haven for Homeless Kids.” School Library Journal, vol. 49, no. 1, Jan. 2003, p. 41. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=8858901&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

2) https://highered-nbclearn-com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/portal/site/HigherEd/browse?cuecard=109581

Social Networking and Libraries

We live in the era of technology. Libraries take advantage of online social networks to help them connect with their patrons and connect with authors and other collaborators to put on library events. 

A study from 2013 predicted this important role of online social networks, and found that “The tremendous popularity of social networking sites such as Facebook, Flickrs, Myspace, Nickdl, and so forth present libraries with unique opportunities for reaching students” (Tella et. al, 275).

Libraries use social media to promote their resources and events. We are facing a difficult health crisis which has closed libraries. Luckily, librarians are able to continue offering their support and library resources online by using social media to continue with their programs. One example is Youtube, where librarians now offer their story time and book clubs. Libraries use these to keep some of their programming events that have been cancelled due to the recent stay at home order. Childrens and teen librarians also use platforms like Pinterest and blogging sites to enrich their programming, and use these to find crafts that keep young readers engaged. 

Other platforms such as Facebook and Instagram allow for live video streaming that can be used to show concerts and performances that can no longer be held in person. “Libraries can respond quickly to community needs,” (Koerber, 17). Facebook Live video is an excellent tool where librarians can use with little preparation, making them more “improvisational” (17)  than anything. for books review, give tours on the special collection and share pictures. It is interactive too. Patrons can comment about books, and give recommendations on the best ones and librarians can respond quickly to their questions.  

Before the rise of online social networks, libraries were already a place of networking, and they still are. Libraries also offer a physical space for patrons to network. My public library, the Escondido Public Library, hosted a career fair where library patrons could network with employers and get help with their resumes. Additionally, library programs can help provide a place to network too, as book clubs and other programs allow people to meet and network in person. 

Videos that are posted live, such as the children’s storytime hosted by the Escondido Public Library, are shared on the library’s Youtube page too. 

Works Cited

Koerber, Jennifer. “Facebook Live from the Library.” Library Journal, vol. 142, no. 8, May 2017, pp. 17–19. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=122836973&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Tella, Adeyinka, et al. “Use of Social Networking Sites by Academic Librarians in Six Selected States of Nigeria.” New Review of Academic Librarianship, vol. 19, no. 3, Sept. 2013, pp. 274–290. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/13614533.2013.809289.