It’s hard to believe summer is coming to an end and school will start again in a few short weeks. Over the years, we have had the opportunity to meet with wonderful school and academic librarians from a variety of institutions.
We thought it would be fun to look back and to catch up with some of our friends at school libraries to learn about their plans for the 2017-18 school year.
Dr. Christina Dorr, media specialist at Hilliard Weaver Middle School, is ramping up for the school year with Cat Days, a two-day orientation that helps students explore the building, learn their schedules and pick up their school books and iPads. The library helps manage the school’s one 2 one program, offering students technical support for their iPads. Once school is in session, Dr. Dorr will provide library orientation classes to incoming middle schoolers and refresh upperclassmen on the library’s role. She provides the students with information about how to access the library’s collections, check out material and ebooks, and opportunities to volunteer and participate in library events.
In October, the school will welcome award winning author Jason Reynolds. In preparation for the event, students have been reading his books and some even met over the summer discuss his works at the local Starbucks. Dr. Dorr is working in collaboration with other teachers to engage the students in anticipation of the event and has planned a number of fun activities that will excite them make for fantastic event.
Dr. Dorr is also looking forward to working with student groups, including the book club, Books and Brownies, and the newly established Gay/Straight Alliance. Dr. Dorr is enthusiastic and energized for the new school year. Her students are sure to have a fantastic year!
Windermere Elemetary School librarian Shannon Hemmelgarn is excited to begin another school year too! Her summer activities have included efforts to keep students reading year-round with the use of social media and in-person book chats. Her summer reading included “Refugee” by Alan Gratz and “Return to Sender” by Julia Alvarez, middle grade stories that tackle issues in today’s world. Shannon shared that this reading can be used to help approach tough topics and start important conversations with youth.
The new school year promises plenty of excitement for Windermere Elementary. Shannon has been working on new curriculum for her students to help improve their information literacy skills (and avoid “fake news”), digital citizenship and responsible technology use. Shannon has partnered with the youth services librarian at Upper Arlington Public Library to provide a story hour for kindergartners and their families. She will work with students of all grades to engage them and reintroduce them to the library.
In April, the district will welcome author and storyteller Mac Barnett. Library lessons will help prepare and engage students for this exciting event. Shannon is also organizing a family reading program, inviting students and their families to read Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. The program includes activities and contests and will commence with a viewing of the movie. Shannon’s excitement for the year to come is contagious – her students are in for a fun school year!
Thank you to all that are creating learning centers of excellence–we wish everyone a fantastic year! Additionally, check out these other amazing school & academic libraries we’ve featured:
Columbus State Community College Library
Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School
Mount Carmel Health Sciences Library
The Ohio State University Fine Arts Library
Oberlin College Conservatory Library
OSU Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum
We are excited to announce that United Way of Central Ohio has funded another two little free libraries for our Libraries Everywhere program!
This year we are collaborating with the King Arts Complex to honor artist Aminah Robinson. We project to have the little free library in place at King Arts by early autumn, and we’re thrilled to be working with artist and former Robinson mentee, Bryan Christopher Moss, to paint Aminah’s portrait on the library.
Our second UWCO-funded little free library will go into Columbus’ Milo-Grogan neighborhood. We are currently in discussion with resident and Melanincholy Fest Founder Apollo Akembe to bring to life a unique library honoring a special, long-time resident of the area, his grandmother.
For both libraries, we will partner again with Rebuilding Together Central Ohio and Half Price Books. We are also excited for a new collaboration with The Conscious Connect to ensure we continue to provide diverse materials for a diverse audience.
Last July, we featured some amazing little libraries and community leaders who helped create them. Our Street Art Library was born from a partnership with Transit Columbus and Placemakes for their Cherry Street project. We are excited for our Street Art Library to be placed near The Lookout Shop starting this August.
We also started mapping little libraries beyond what is recorded at LittleFreeLibrary.org, and we encourage others to continue to add to our Little Library Google Map.
This year, we had an incredible experience at Columbus, Ohio’s Community Festival (ComFest). We are honored that our Eco Library was chosen to receive funding from ComFest among such important community peers like Camp Lionheart and others.
We had an estimated 500+ conversations with festival participants, and we reached thousands who walked by or viewed our online posts. We were touched by the stories that participants shared with us like how the book Double Fudge transformed a young man’s life and how a being born and raised (BAR) by a black single mother (BAR) inspired another man.
In addition to the grant, the Eco Library was made possible by the generosity and a ton of sweat equity by Half Price Books (Jeff Heydinger), The Lookout Shop (Justin Withrow), Lucida Dynamics (Doug Houdeshell) and Rebuilding Together Central Ohio (their entire amazing staff).
We are thrilled that the Eco Library’s permanent home is now with 934 Gallery. The gallery focuses on bringing a fresh perspective to contemporary art through exciting and thought-provoking exhibitions, installations, performances and public art projects. Come meet Cbus Libraries’ co-founder, Bryan Loar, at this year’s 934 Fest on July 22 as we dedicate the library in honor of Daniel Sebastian Loper.
We are humbled by the overwhelmingly positive response to our little libraries, and we are inspired by the creativity and personal stories of our communities. We hope to see you soon!
We are excited to participate for the first time in Columbus, Ohio’s Community Festival! ComFest is a“a free, non-corporate, yearly celebration of Columbus, Ohio’s community organizations, performers, artists and volunteers.” Meet Cbus Libraries’ founders, Andrea Dixon and Bryan Loar, and visit the Eco Library June 23-25 at Goodale Park in Columbus, Ohio.
The Eco Library is a little free library that promotes environmentalism and sustainability. The library illustrates a tale of two cities, one sustainable and the other not. The sustainable city features a green roof, natural moss exterior and a rain collection system. On the reverse, the Eco Library unites local street art, a bench encouraging discussion and space for the community to create their own art.
Our Eco Library aligns with ComFest’s purpose by
- Being a testament to collaboration for the collective good
- Promoting basic necessities like clean air, water and soil as well as access to high-quality books
- Advancing reading and libraries while giving citizens the necessary resources to conduct their lives with environmental harmony
- Informing participants that our actions have direct consequences and begin changing behaviors
Click on our flyer to learn more about features and resources
UPDATE!
We are exited to announce that the Eco Library is now permanently placed at 934 Gallery! The gallery focuses on bringing a fresh perspective to contemporary art through exciting and thought-provoking exhibitions, installations, performances and public art projects. The Eco Library is now dedicated to the life of Daniel Sebastian Loper, the gallery’s former director of operations. Visit the library and give & take a book at 934 Cleveland Ave. Columbus, OH 43201.
Our Eco Library is made possible through a generous grant from ComFest and the support of several collaborators. We are thrilled to partner with Half Price Books, The Lookout Shop, Lucida Dynamics, Michael Creath and Rebuilding Together of Central Ohio.