Reach out to your local public library

Washington is fortunate to have great public library systems serving almost every community statewide. Get to know your local reference and young adult librarian(s). Your students are their patrons. Working together as a team, you can both serve them better. Students should view their local public and school libraries as a seamless set of resources.

Partnering with local public libraries is even more important in schools that do not have full-time school librarians.

Let them know the range of online library resources your school offers. They can point students to these resources when they visit the public library. Ask if your local library will link to the DLC Library from its website.

Focus the collaboration on a specific literacy goal: grade 1 for love of story time; grade 3 for independent reading; grade 6 for research resources for their first five-paragraph essay; grade 9 for research resources, print and electronic, for their first major paper; grades 11/12 for advanced research skills database training.

Use the DLC's Local Library Resources page to point your students to their nearest public library. Let them know what is available.

Browse this outstanding list of school/public library cooperative programs for additional collaboration ideas.

What Works

It is important to respect the differences between school and public libraries. School libraries are essentially academic libraries designed to serve students and teachers. Public libraries develop their collections and services for the entire community. Find ways to make public libraries' jobs easier: alert them to upcoming research projects at your school, let them know what databases students have available at your school, etc. Eventually, your public library will identify you as an extension of its young adult staff and begin to refer your students back to your resources.

— Eve Datisman, Port Angeles High School

I've incorporated the public library resources and services into my school library orientation for students by facilitating the students getting a library card.

— Paul Christensen, North Kitsap High School

I have developed a professional and personal relationship with the young adult librarian in my local public library. I've had her come into the school and run workshops on how the public library collection can be used by teachers and how it interfaces with our curriculum. Getting to know your local young adult librarian is a vitally important first step toward collaboration.

— Janet Woodard, Garfield High School

Articles & Resources

"The Student, the School and the Public Library"
Dian Borek. School Libraries in Canada. Ontario: 2001.Vol.21, Iss. 2; pg. 30 (Proquest)