![]() “Just on a basic level, technology has helped make the library collections much more accessible to students.”īlais pointed out that students have access to an inter-library loan system with over one million books at their fingertips. “When I first started, libraries weren’t computerized you still had to write your name on a card,” she shared during the Q&A portion of the screening. ![]() “And it worked for the 20th century, but why not make library as cool as gym class or recess? We have a rare and beautiful opportunity to empower students.”īlais, who has been a school librarian for the past 25 years, said she has seen firsthand how technology has not only changed the way she’s taught, but how students access information. “The stereotype is very 19th and 20th century,” White said on-screen. Students at schools with certified library media specialists and full-time librarians scored higher on achievement tests than students at schools without, according to the documentary. However, between 19, more than 10,000 full-time school librarian positions were eliminated nationwide. “The stereotype of a school librarian is the glasses, which I have, but also the stereotype that librarians want quiet and there’s a lot of ‘Shhhh,’” Blais said on-screen in the film.Īccording to “Overdue,” 99 percent of students surveyed said school libraries helped them become better learners. Librarians in the film share their experiences and the impact of their schedules, multiple school assignments, and the barriers they overcome to do their best work for the benefit of students, other educators, administrators and families. These librarians want to show that libraries can be safe places for student empowerment, transform libraries into learning communities, and prove that reading is fun. The goal of “Overdue” is to change the way school librarians are perceived, especially through the lens of TV and media, where librarians are often shown as tight, quiet, stoic and rigid. The film sets out to answer the question: When you think of a school librarian, what comes to mind – shushing, or a compassionate educator? “Overdue” was shown at the Warwick Public Library as part of a series of screenings at public libraries around the state. They include Kristen Almeida from Westerly Middle School, Esther Wolk from Tiogue and Hopkins Hill elementary schools in Coventry, Heidi Blais from Cranston High School East, and Tasha White, currently the librarian at Alfred Lima Elementary School in Providence. “Overdue” follows school librarians from around the state, some of who were in attendance at a recent screening. Produced by the School Librarians of Rhode Island and in collaboration with the University of Rhode Island, the short documentary-style film shows the impact of school librarians. Using a new documentary, “Overdue: The Value of School Librarians,” librarians throughout the state are trying to dispel the myth of misconceptions of a school librarian.
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