The library is the one place in a school where you can find just about anything you desire. Looking for a book? Try the library. Don’t know where to start your research project? Try the library. Need a place for a study hall? Try the library!

And it doesn't stop at that. Although one may think of printed materials when asked about the school library, these institutions are at an intersection of classic texts and modern-day technology — audio, visual, and digital materials — crossing academics with leisure. School libraries also have a history within American schools spanning all the way back to the colonial era, with Benjamin Franklin famously advocating for school libraries as part of the “ideal academy,” according to the American Library Association. Although Franklin may have envisioned libraries more so for the private institution rather than public, it is interesting to note his appreciation for the combination of schooling, and houses of literature and other various archives of information.  

Because of their roots in American society and various materials for student and teacher use, school libraries are at the heart of education, especially in Kentucky. While school libraries offer a spectacular selection of reading and study materials, they are also home to a wide array of student support, including offering technological services, social spaces, and even a nap during a free period. 

Julie Taylor, Librarian and Media Specialist at Boyle County High School in Danville, Kentucky, says that in addition to its book collection of over 6,000 fiction and nonfiction titles, the school’s library has more to offer than meets the eye. 

“We have non-print resources, like subscription databases that we pay for. We have a professional section of print resources for teachers. We have a section of test prep materials for students as well,” she said.

School libraries offer a more-than-sufficient archive of academic material to be utilized by students. Even if you do not consider yourself a reader, pieces such as test-prep books and presentation equipment can be of use. Boyle County High School, like many other schools in the state, falls under Title I funding. The school library can also service students who do not have the means that others do, such as a personal laptop or a printer at home. 

“We also offer television and display areas for presentations, and house the Chromebook tech desk in our library, meaning we are servicing about 900 students with their devices,” Taylor said.

Christy Causey, Librarian at duPont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky, says that the library also offers social opportunities.  

“We have a lot of stress-free activities, because a lot of our students are under a lot of pressure to do well, so we have coloring pages, activities, contests, just kind of fun things embedded in our library as well,” she said. 

Students in our day and age are put to the test with seriously difficult coursework: Honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and more.  When these students need a break in school, the library has the necessities to help. Research shows mental and physical wellbeing is critical for adolescents, meaning that resources ensuring them are indispensable. 

Even when posed with challenges, studies demonstrate that libraries in general are resilient. 

In 2020, following shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, the American Library Association, or ALA, performed a survey concluding that despite approximately 99% of respondents being unable to access the physical buildings, those who responded to the survey were still likely to access technology, online programming, and services associated with their library.

In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, Taylor recounts a time when the integrity of the library was threatened due to political discourse, possibly putting the rights of students at risk. 

“A few years ago, there was a senate bill passed in Kentucky, SB 150, that had to do with materials in schools that dealt with human sexuality and gender identity,” she said. “Our district decided that that applied to libraries, and wanted us to pull books that would fall under those categories.” 

Taylor was eventually able to resolve the issue, and the materials were put back up. However, this proves that the resources at our disposal are not to be taken for granted. The support that libraries offer can be as easily given as they can be taken away; students should be grateful for their presence and use them accordingly.

Taylor says that she believes it is important to be information-literate. "If I can teach information literacy to students, then I've done a good job, and then they can go out in the world and [...] be information literate and be better people because of it,” she stated. A wider array of books available broaden our horizons just that much.

At Manual, Causey said that she speaks with some students about her experiences as a librarian, and that there are some national organizations, like the American Libraries Association or School Library Association, that "have stances that we are here to protect reading," she explained. Libraries need to offer books that have characters that give all students and readers a perspective that's similar to their own, she said, "or that allows others to read about perspectives, not of their own, but that give them a unique and broader understanding of the world."

When one is too caught up or disengaged in their studies, overlooking what our schools provide can be easy. However, we must acknowledge that the assistance given by school libraries is nothing short of invaluable. They present worlds of knowledge in fields from linguistics to calculus, and grant students opportunities to ease the stress of an academic load. Importantly, though, these facilities are what we make of them.

This is your reminder to check out a book from — or just visit — your school’s library every once in a while.