FEATURED PROGRAM: Libraries
Inspiring Children to Read
by Karen Berg, parent
Carol Halpern was always an avid reader—blessed with a voracious appetite for the written word. She, however, was not born with a quiet voice; a requirement for welcome attendance at most libraries. This opposition led Carol to believe that a good children’s library should be a comfortable place in which to hang out, and kids should enjoy themselves while learning without being ‘shushed’. Thus, talking is allowed at both Neil Cummins and Hall libraries: both under her direct supervision as our District Librarian for the past 22 years. Her goal is to foster, not discourage, a child’s natural enthusiasm.
Neil Cummins library serves K-5 with 17,164 book titles while Hall Middle School’s library serves grades 6-8 with 10, 080 titles. Impressive numbers for public school libraries! But this wasn’t always the case. Three years ago, the CML School Foundation (CMLSF) provided a generous donation of $30,000, targeted exclusively for book purchases. The California School Library Association is also to be credited as they encouraged the state to contribute $25,000 to our district over the past four years. Unfortunately, this year that state funding has been cut to an uncertain $5,000.
Cathy Lane, Neil Cummins Library Clerk, says CMLSF donations have made a huge impact on the quality and quantity of books offered in certain sections (space travel, animals and history, for example), and that general content is unbelievably improved. Since the state of California mandates grade level standards in curriculum for social studies, language arts, science and more, we need to adequately provide current research materials for class assignments to meet those criteria. Your donation to the CMLSF helps us to meet or exceed those standards.
At the Neil Cummins library there is hardly an unscheduled moment during the week. Carol oversees second through fifth-grade classes while kindergarteners and first graders attend the library with their teacher on the days she is at Hall. Hall’s class times are spread out during the week, but the library is most often a hub of activity. Before school, during breaks and at lunchtime one will find kids studying, reading, playing cards and quietly chatting. Kathy Lowe, Hall Library Clerk, can testify that sometimes as many as 80 to 100 middle school kids are packed in the new, large room! Both of the new facilities are so great.” Carol exclaims. “We continue to fine tune and decorate — creating fun, inspiring surroundings.”
At each library the shelves are packed with a wide variety of books. Hall’s inventory must be diverse enough to be interesting and educational for the mature eighth-grade student as well as suitable for the younger sixth graders. Carol feels strongly against censoring or even labeling books with ‘T’ for teen (as some video games and music CD’s are tagged). She believes this would naturally raise the curiosity of certain kids to only want to read those identified books. She believes that a child will get out of a book what they are intellectually able to understand, and will be most naturally drawn to books geared to their level. Neil Cummins offers material for the pre-reader up to those capable and desirous of rather sophisticated novels.
Carol is confident that she and her staff can find the right book for the right kid at the right time. Sometimes it takes a while, but eventually they will match an author’s writing style with a reader’s ability and maturity level. They believe if kids are provided a literature-rich environment, both at home and at school, they will eventually enjoy reading. Carol advises us to model our appreciation and enjoyment of reading to our kids, as we motivate them by example. They also advise parents not to worry when a child checks out the same book again and again. Repetition might be boring for the parent, but it’s natural and healthy for youngsters. Nor are they concerned for the child who only wants to ‘read’ picture books. For aren’t we adults greatly moved by beautiful illustrations ourselves?
Most students in the Larkspur School District will be life-long library users because of the exposure received here. “What more can we want for our children than that they enthusiastically continue to learn throughout their lives?”
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