1st Place essay written by Jessica Yin, Canyon Middle School, 8th Grade
Category 5 Why are librarians important to our district’s schools?
If you walk into the school library on any given morning, you will find it overflowing with students. It’s an anomaly to be able to walk through the aisles of bookshelves without stepping over a classmate’s legs, all fifteen tables are packed with kids chatting quietly while working on homework.
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Why is the library such a popular place? The students have undoubtedly recognized what a valuable resource that the library offers. Students depend on the library for books and a quiet place dedicated to reading and studying not found anywhere else.
Who makes this all possible? The librarian. A steady source of patience, discipline, and assistance, the librarian helps with homework, finds books, and brings enough authority for students to concentrate.
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Although there are an abundance of student tutors available at the library after school, kids still rely on the librarian for homework help. The librarian provides firm authority, keeping easily-distracted students focused, sometimes even undertaking the herculean task of organizing backpacks. Our librarian also manages the after-school tutoring program, keeping the sign-in sheets neat and updated daily.
As we descend into a technology-centric age, it’s more difficult to find students cuddled into chairs, deeply absorbed in books. While technology has brought many wonderful advances in education, the value of good ole paper books cannot be dismissed. Keeping libraries open with knowledgeable librarians is incredibly important to the development of the future generation. Students depend on the librarian for book recommendations and locating books. The librarian is also involved with a number of activities that encourage reading ̶ studies show that frequent readers are more intelligent and become better writers.
The importance that librarians offer to schools and, more importantly, students cannot be easily dismissed. Librarians help with homework, encourage reading, and make the library a marvelous place to be.
Editor's Note: Look for the last of the winning essays later this week.
Students in grades 4 to 12 participated in "School Matters" contest. There were 294 entries submitted.
All Contest Participants will receive a certificate of achievement, as well as one free game at Golden Tee Golfland and other prizes provided by local sponsors.
