Growing a School Library Garden
What is needed to grow and maintain the
school library collection?
Soil- The books on the shelves lay the foundation for all school library gardens.
Seed- The money the school board allots for library book purchasing.
Fertilizer- The curriculum which serves as a primary growth catalyst.
Earthworms- The students who "aerate" the shelves and turn over the collection.
Water and Sunshine- Teachers whose instructional needs permeate every nook and cranny of the collection, shine on the areas rich in materials, and spotlight areas of need.
Gardners- One certified school librarian and an assistant to plant and weed:
select new books and remove the old.
Tools- School Library Journal; Horn Book Magazine; Booklist; various children's literature blogs; recommendations from teachers, students, and other librarians.
Planting and Tending- Constant attention to ensure steady and continual growth across the entire spectrum of the school library garden. Balancing fiction, nonfiction, picture books, easy readers, popular titles, necessary curricular titles, graphic novels, magazines, DVDs, and more is critical and takes time. The school library garden is terraced, so materials on the same subject matter must be available at a variety of reading levels to ensure equitable access. Every tool is employed to meet these goals.
Weeding and Pruning- The identification and removal of outdated, inaccurate, and unused materials with an eye toward areas of overgrowth.
Optimal Planting, Weeding, and Pruning Time- The last two weeks of school when most of the books have been returned to their shelves and are finally in order (albeit briefly). The Gardeners examine each book to determine the proper application of Seed, Fertilizer, Sunshine, and water to endure a garden in full bloom when August arrives.
Credit: Diane Mazzioti, LMS
Arlington, Virginia
Library Sparks Vol. 8, No. 8
Margaret Gillogly
Media Specialist~Primary Campus
404-802-3862