Spreading Love to School Libraries

In schools across Ontario where they have already seen the results of the Dear School Library Project, the benefits are numerous. Student engagement in Dear School Library shines a bright light on the incredible work happening in your SLLC and brings to the forefront the myriad of ways that our spaces impact students that traditional data doesn’t easily capture.

Dear School Library told us that students value the calm, quiet and peace in our spaces:

“Thank you for providing quiet spaces to work, read, or just chill when the world is too loud.”

They told us they appreciated that our spaces were inclusive:

“I love my library because it welcomes everybody.”

And students told us about how the library was instrumental in their lives:

“You have changed my life. I remember the first time I saw you. You made me gasp in awe when I looked at you. Thank you for being a source where I could freely dream.”

The advocacy that school library professionals will capture from their own Dear School Library Projects is remarkable. Imagine using student voice from your own school community:

• to explain why you need more budget for a more diverse collection;
• to help explain to administrators why staffing the SLLC through the lunch hour is critical to the mental health and wellbeing of your student community;
• to show families the pivotal role that the school library plays in the foundational development of each student on a daily basis.

You can read more about the impact of the Dear School Library Project in the Treasure Mountain Canada 8 paper “Dear School Library: Advocacy From the Heart.”