ISCI 794  Include

    Inclusion is one of the most important shared foundations in the AASL National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries.  Libraries should be a place where everyone feels welcomed, wanted and should act as a safe place to explore.  I interviewed Dr. Cox ,who has served as the school librarian at Dawkins Middle School for 15 years and was an elementary school librarian for 8 years.  I felt like she would be the perfect person to talk to about inclusion in the library, because of not only her experience, but both of my children loved coming to see her and be in the library during their middle school years.

    One of the most important examples of how she practices inclusion is the books that she purchases for her library.  Middle school can be a strange time for some students, so she feels like she wants to have a diverse collection that every student can see themselves in.  She achieves this by getting to know her students and her teachers.  Dr. Cox also provides the opportunity to participate in book clubs.  She always likes to pick out books that promote conversations and different points of view to hopefully get her students to think about different perspectives.  I plan to implement this in our library program by making sure that I do have a diverse collection of books as well as use books as a way to teach a variety of perspectives.

 Some of the other resources that she uses in her library that supports inclusion are games, cozy book nooks and crafts. I think that this is such a great idea to help with collaboration and get a chance for students to get to know each other and bring them together to share ideas.  I will plan on adding more games and activities in my elementary library to help with engagement and ultimately find activities that everyone can enjoy.  

    Of course part of inclusion is making sure that all of the stewards that you have in your building can come to the library and participate.  Dr. Cox makes her library feel so welcoming, that teachers enjoy coming to the library and collaborating with her.  Since she does not really have a whole lot of time with her students, she depends on the teachers to let her know more of the needs of the students which can be a challenge.  Finding time to collaborate is hard, but by making her space welcoming to all, encourages her students to come to the library.  This is why talking and collaborating with the teachers in her building give her a better understanding of what her patrons need.  

    I learned so much from Dr. Cox and how she makes inclusion a top priority in her school.  I love that she truly listens to her students as well as her teachers to make sure that she has the resources that they need to all feel welcomed.