1) The school library is a place of choice. Giving students the freedom to choose books from their own specific interests is one way we know we can support their growth as readers and encourage their curiosity.

2) The school library needs to possess a wide range of materials for students’ varying interests, abilities, and maturity levels. Not every book in the library will be for every student, but every student should be able to find a wide range of materials that will speak to them.

3) Young people learn to better navigate the world by experiencing new places and things through books. Books help children frame their place in the world by showing other viewpoints and perspectives, places and situations. This is a safe place to “experience” things that will help them navigate their own physical spaces and the relationships they form in those spaces.

4) The school library has a responsibility to make sure that materials are accessible to all learners regardless of their primary language, reading level, or disability. The district-wide library collection has been expanded to include more titles to support our Spanish speakers and readers. We also provide access to the Wisconsin Schools Digital Library Consortium for ebooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines through the Sora App. 

5) Student recommendations are ALWAYS valued. My interests are not the same as our students’ interests, so I never turn down a good book recommendation. Every book that enters the library is vetted with an array of professional standards, but I try not to judge too harshly a book our young people feel empowered to read.