by Valerie Tagoe and Julia E. Torres
3 stars
Well written. I do feel this book would work well for those just starting out in a library career, specifically in school libraries.
The content is very school focused. I didn’t really find it that helpful as a public librarian. Much of the focus is on meeting academic and literacy goals. There is also the assumption librarians have a captive audience in students visiting as a class or for specific projects, which is only relevant to school libraries. As a public librarian, I was hoping for more content on how to make the library a more welcoming place and how to create programs of interest for teens/tweens.
Gives a nice overview. The format was well put together. There are QR codes throughout which worked well for sharing resources. There is a good focus on culturally relevant pedagogy and providing students with active and meaningful roles in the library. There are also Librarian Spotlight sections throughout with blurbs from different school librarians about their work and programs. At the end of each chapter is a list of key points and reflection questions.
Personally, I don’t feel that the book lived up to the catchy title. It didn’t really give specifics, though it does provide good reminders to make the library an inclusive place. Does not include specific programming ideas.
Good focus on diversity and inclusion. Would work well for someone perusing their MLIS or just starting out in a school library career. Nice tips on securing funding and evaluating programs.