Fostering Reading Skills through Electronic Books and Resources
Melissa Jacobs, the Director of Library Services for New York City's Department of Education, is revolutionizing the city's school libraries. Jacobs believes that libraries are not just repositories of books, but places for ideas and thinking.
In the midst of the COVID-19 shutdown, Jacobs led a program that provided 24/7 access to digital materials, resulting in over 2 million digital books being delivered. This digital collection, accessible to any DOE student, is serving over a million students across more than 1,600 schools. The extensive collection includes books in multiple languages and distinctive cultural content, catering to the diverse student population of New York City.
Jacobs emphasizes the importance of using the skill sets of school librarians to curate collections and procure titles. She advises having policies and procedures in place for selection and being transparent about the process with the community. School librarians, who are teachers within the education system, should purchase books that students want to read, in addition to required titles.
School librarians are also encouraged to actively promote equity by taking advantage of grants, programs, conferences, and opportunities to encourage user access. They should help students individualize their reading experiences using digital tools and promote audiobooks and read-alongs, which, according to Jacobs, have a higher comprehension level than just print.
Jacobs' efforts have not gone unnoticed. She was honoured with the Best Overall Implementation of Technology at the Tech & Learning Innovative Leadership Awards. However, the search results do not provide information about which specific school library director in New York City received this recognition.
Despite the advancements in digital resources, there are communities in the U.S. without public libraries, which can lead to underserved students struggling with the transition to post-secondary institutions. Jacobs believes that books can be life-changing for a young person, opening up the world and providing opportunities for learning.
Through her leadership, Jacobs is ensuring that New York City's school libraries are not just places for books, but hubs for learning, critical thinking, and the development of a passion for different subjects.
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