During my freshman year, I spent a lot of time after school in our school’s library. I would come by at least once a week until 3:30 p.m. (or 3 p.m. on Fridays) to catch up on work and spend time alone. Nowadays, my lunches, advisory periods and after-school times are often filled with club meetings or other school errands, so my visits to the Media Center have been sparse.
At the beginning of the school day, students hang out at the library before the first bell rings, as well as during advisory and lunch. The library is incredibly resourceful and an essential part of the school. With my visits being few and far between, I see even more now why our library is so important to this school.
In modern times, with technology and social media at our fingertips, reading for pleasure has plummeted. According to the National Endowment for the Arts, in 2012, 27 percent of 13-year-olds read for fun but that number dropped significantly, with only 17 percent of 13-year-olds reading for fun in 2020. Recreational reading has benefits, and if it’s been a while since you last picked up a book, now may be a good time to get back into it.
The library has books, of course, but it can be easy to underestimate the sheer number of books that the library offers. Everyone knows about the nonfiction and fiction sections of the library, but navigating toward the back of the library will lead you to a section of cookbooks, encyclopedias and non-English language literature. Right behind the specialists’ desk are textbooks too, all for easy access.
In addition to books, the library also has technology. A black and white and color printer is available for staff and students and Media Assistant Mao-Ling Liao helps issue chromebooks for students who have forgotten them at home and assists with technological problems. Online book databases and catalogs can also be found on the computers near the printers for students who prefer online versions of books.
Even more importantly, the library offers a safe space for all students. When Media Specialist Tammie Burk was still in school, she said that her school library was quite the opposite of a safe space. Burk said that the library was simply a place to get books and then leave, and that there was no talking allowed. Here, at this school, she strives for our library to be an “equitable place for all.”
Burk does this quite literally by decorating the library with pops of color and hanging fairy lights around the shelves. Bean bags and comfortable chairs can be found in nooks and crannies of the library too. People are allowed to chatter and mingle and participate in activities. Liao and Burk, along with the school’s Library Advisory Committee, host activities such as Digital Citizenship Week and the popular “You’ve Been BOO’D” event, both from this past October.
Club meetings are held often in the Media Center, sometimes with more than one meeting at the same time. Students who may have abbreviated schedules or participate in Dual Enrollment courses come to the Media Center during the times they don’t have classes. The Media Center even provides a space for students who need to pray during the school day.
In times where uncertainty and fear can take over, it’s important to find a space to relax and take care of your mental health. School can get overwhelming and finding a sound place within the building to take a break from the hustle and bustle can be beneficial.
So, the next time you have some downtime and pass by the Media Center, stop by and wander around for a bit. You may find something or someone interesting and learn to appreciate the down-to-earth, more mundane aspects of this school.
Follow @woottonmediacenter on Instagram and keep track of the Media Center Canvas tile to stay updated on events going on in the library.
