In response to Rabbi Dr. Greene’s comments on the issue of the need for a library in today’s digital world, a few librarians have joined together to offer the following comments. In addition, we have added links to an AJL power point presentation [
drive.google.com]
on this subject as well as a research paper.
[
drive.google.com]
Rabbi Dr. Greene asks about the "the utility and functionality of a traditional library." A new library would not be "traditional", especially in a school that would be incorporating digital technologies in the classrooms, as he suggests in his comments.
Just as libraries changed their space allocations to accommodate the expanded use of non-print materials in the schools (audio and videocassettes, then DVDs, etc ), so too, today, the new library would need less shelf space for books and more room and outlets for laptops, printers, and chargers, and rooms for cooperative learning. School libraries continue to change, and must continue to change to reflect the needs of the communities that they service. See this article from Independent School Magazine: [
www.nais.org]
While the internet is a very important resource for all our students, all students, especially but not limited to, the younger ones, must be guided as to what is reliable information appropriate for their age. Even older students do not realize that a website can be put up by any one or any organization. Learning what is valid is crucial, or we will have high school students quoting a fifth grader’s paper that has been posted online... or worse, they will use information from ihr.org as fact. Moreover, the students willingly use a website, but have no concept of what a database is and how to access one, or which one to use. These are skills that are crucial for their educational growth.
As for seforim in a Bet Midrash-- it must be noted a Bet Midrash is not a lending library. Moreover, it usually does not have the scope of seforim that are in a school library. Students must be guided and encouraged to be familiar with different types of Torah resources and that is the job of both the librarian and members of the Torah Studies faculty. When a Talmud or Chumash research project is assigned, all types of seforim are utilized under the guidance of the librarian.
Elementary grades have other needs. Rabbi Dr. Greene says classroom libraries are for "fun" reading; they are not full libraries. Elementary school students are learning to read. They are excited about new books in a series. They need fiction books as well as non-fiction. The non-fiction books in a library would not be found in a classroom -- there is no way classrooms can meet the needs of these young readers who love to explore new books. Additionally, classroom libraries are geared to their grades. The ability and interests of these children cover a huge range. A classroom library cannot possibly meet the low, average and above-average child in the grade. Who would select books for these classroom libraries?? Additionally, the library is crucial to the younger students. Picture books, including many wonderful Jewish picture books, should be a part of every Jewish child's educational experience. They are a valuable teaching tool, not only for the K and first grade but right up through middle school. In addition we have many fine "easy chapter books" that serve to encourage and enrich our beginning readers, and a wealth of easy non-fiction material that provide information to the students in the elementary grades. How many times has a school librarian been asked, "Do you have a story about ____? I am teaching a unit about it today." Have you seen the pride and joy on a young child's face when he or she has chosen a special book to read?
Even as students make use of online resources, the librarian is still the best person to select those resources that meet the needs of the students and is the one who can instruct the students and faculty on how to use those resources. A student may find a snippet of a google book online, but it is the librarian who either has the book or borrows it for the student on interlibrary loan. Moreover, the joy of serendipitously finding the right book on the shelf when one is looking for another book cannot be replaced.
The professional librarian is a valuable resource to students and faculty alike. Using all forms of material (books, as well as digital sources) is second nature to the professional who will find the correct material for each need.
Sincerely yours,
Beverly Geller, Librarian The Frisch School
Joyce Levine, Librarian North Shore Hebrew Academy (retired)
Leslie Monchar, Librarian Yeshiva Ketana of Manhattan
Leah Moskovits, Librarian Torah Academy of Bergen County
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2016 08:56PM by mlb.
