Find Them

"An empty, quiet, library is a useless resource."

I have worked in education for over 26 years. More than half of that has been as a school librarian. Teaching research and creating book displays matter. But relationships matter more. I'm very sure of that now. At the end of the previous school year, I had students respond to a simple prompt about what they would remember most about the library. Their feedback was very encouraging. This summer, it finally occurred to me how important school libraries are to the school community. I had to write these thoughts down since it hit me so hard. I needed to write this down. For school librarians. For administrators. For anyone that works with kids. There are kids in your buildings right now that need the library more than ever. We have to find them.

Open and Watch

For years I have opened the library before school. At every school where I've worked, it is usually a full house with games being played, computers being used, books being searched for and/ or read. At some schools I've had adult assistants that work the desk while I work the crowd. At others, it has been just me and student volunteers working the desk. I usually count how many students come in before school each day and keep a record of this. I write down names so I can remember them. I say their names. I talk to them as I can and still monitor the room. 

There are some things I've noticed over the years. Some of these kids are the "cool" crowd. Others might be awkward (especially in the middle schools and junior high schools where I've worked). Who isn't awkward in this stage of human development? Some are loners. I generally give the loaners a lot of attention and try to get them connected with others of similar interest if possible. 

I wonder what draws them to the library? In high school, I would not have wanted to hang out in the library. It was for study hall and work. That's about it. School libraries during my time as a student weren't open to such activities as my students have been used to since I've been a school librarian. So what draws them to the library?

Connect 

For years, I've tried to cultivate a culture of welcome connection. Kids pickup on this quickly. I hope they feel safe, seen, and heard in the library space. It is for everyone. Kids are welcome to sit together and talk, play games, read, create art, draw, color, and more. It doesn't take long after school starts for the library to be full moments after I open. I have to put a sign on the door "library full" since I can only hold so many students in the library spaces. Some of these have been very large spaces and others small depending on the school building. 

I talk to the kids. It doesn't take long for them to tell me what they like and what is important to them. After a few weeks, they will tell me what they are nervous or angry about. Kids need people to tell these things to. I forget too often how important this can be to students. Sometimes they share things they are gifted at doing. I've seen students that are great at art, crochet, music, singing, magic tricks, and more. Connecting to these students has created student-led programming at every school where I have worked. So in a big way, opening the library and being intentional about watching and connecting has created the core of the library program just from the before school crowd presence. If this isn't something you do, try it. It has been career changing for me since 2008 when I began work as a school librarian.

They Will Find You

Over the many years, the memory of certain students have stayed with me long after they left the library. I want to share some of these moments without names, without school titles, without details that identify. Every school librarian needs to know what this can look like. 

A parent came to the library to introduce themself to me. They told me how their child came home and talked about the library nearly everyday. The parent thanked me for opening the library before school.

A student who struggled with behavior became one of my most dedicated library workers.

One morning a student slipped in before school, quieter than usual. Over the following weeks that student came in daily. One day the student brought a parent to meet me. I understood then what the library meant to them. 

One student came in each day wanting me to hear him rap. I found him a book in verse where he could read the words with rhythm and a beat. He used beats on YouTube to do the rest. He didn't realize he was reading. He just knew someone was listening to his work.

One student loved to play the violin. When I found out, we invited her to play a show at lunch. It was well attended and led to other lunch shows. She was always coming to the library after this event. 

One student would practice magic tricks before school. I invited him to do a magic show in the library. It was a hit. He did many other magic shows for the library before graduating.

I observed a quiet student in the hall working on crochet. I invited her to lead a session on crochet during a student-led program. It was very popular and students requested more of it. She came to the library more after this. 

Realize What You Do Is Important

This is the tough part. We get tired of answering questions and managing people. School Librarianship is customer service for kids and adults in the building. It is tiring. 

But for some students, you may represent the most stable adult they see that takes time to make them feel safe, seen, and heard. 

Let that one sentence take meaning with you for a moment. Teachers often don't have time to visit with students the way school librarians can. 

The Library: Where Everybody Knows Their Name

I've been thinking about the tv show, Cheers. It was quite an eclectic group of characters that made up that show. Why did they gather at Cheers? It wasn't just to drink adult beverages. It was a community. What would happen when Norm would walk in? Everyone yelled "Norm!". He was safe at Cheers. He was seen and recognized. He was valued. He was heard. This would be the why that Norm's character came to Cheers. This is why kids come to the library when we create the culture I have described.

After all these years, I do not think I have consciously worked to do this. It has just been what I carried over from public school band directing. Building community in a band room and building community in a library turned out to be the same thing. I can think of so many kids that come to the library to feel safe. Probably many come to talk to me because I listen. Over the years, I've noticed that many of these students may have challenging home lives. The library can be their sanctuary.

Take a moment to think about the characters from Cheers and especially Norm. Who comes to the library to get books? Who comes to feel safe? Who comes to talk to you because you care? The library is more than just books isn't it? It is a vital place of safety for many. The true number that benefit from this will never be known. But I encourage you to begin thinking this way and share these concepts with your stakeholders. It matters more than you know. It might be the most essential thing you do.

Find Them Every Year

We now know there are kids that need us. Books and literacy are very important. Before learning can take place there must be a culture of safety. Kids want to be seen and heard. After this occurs, they will read because there are hundreds and thousands of interesting books in our libraries. Open the doors this year and find these kids. I want to remember this daily especially as the semester drags on and I get weary from the daily grind. 

The bottom line: they come because of you. The library is a ministry outreach. Let's treat it as such.


My table of contents for the blog is here!



Other links that may interest you:
What They Remember
AI Basic Training in the Library
Our Annual Report for 2025-2026


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