0
0
by Brandt Lund
Staff Reporter
The library has always been a place where all students can feel welcome, whether it’s used as a gathering place to study for a test, or to strengthen friendships over a good game or book. Sadly, when students returned to school in fall 2020, students were unable to check out books or be in the library during flex. This dramatically changed the flow of students coming into the library.
Recently, they started doing competitions to get the attention of students.
“At the end of each month, we’ll have a drawing for a $10 gift card to a local restaurant,” said Librarian Kandy Beebe. “At the end of the year, we’ll put the tickets together and have a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card.”
It’s been a real struggle to get kids back in the library after last year’s COVID restrictions. The librarians have been pushing to have students come to the library.
“I feel like the library should be a place for students to be included,” said Beebe, “I want them to have a safe place to come play a game, read a book or just a place where they can feel less alone.”
Both Beebe and fellow librarian Robyn Hansen are friendly to all students who pass through the doors into the library. They have made it a refuge where students can get away from the stresses of teenage life. Beebe and Hansen are always actively interacting with students, making everyone feel welcome.
“The library used to be a place where kids could just come and hang out,” Hansen said. “When I first started working here, the library was open until 5 o’clock at night and students would be able to come and stay for however long they wanted, anytime.”
Over time, changes have been made in the library due to lack of interest and students losing their reading habits.
“I used to read a lot more, but Covid actually really threw me off my reading game (if you will),” said junior Vanessa Jimenez. “So I stopped reading for quite a while and kind of just forgot about that desire I used to have for it. I’ve slowly started getting back into it recently though.”
The measures taken during the pandemic stunted many students’ reading habits. Beebe and Hansen have worked to get students more involved in the library through games and competitions.
“When I first started working in the library, I was trying to figure out my purpose here,” Beebe said. “I realized really quickly that my best skill was that I was a good listener. I noticed kids just needed someone to talk to. But when COVID came, kids weren’t able to come in and that has kind of continued.”
According to an NS Times survey, 73% of NS students enjoy reading, but only 25% of them check books out. Due to the library being closed, students had to make an effort to be able to get books. Sometimes kids could quickly grab a book and leave but some kids didn’t get that opportunity. Students who normally grab books during lunch or flex were unable to even enter the library without permission.
“It’s so upsetting to see how some of these wonderful books are taken for granted,” Jimenez said. “As well as the librarians. Man, those ladies are always so kind, and always so willing to give a friendly smile. I genuinely believe that part of the ‘experience’ of being in the library, is their friendliness.”
Many students who go into the library just need social interaction with others or someone to be with. Beebe has strived to be that person.
“I want the library to be a place for students again. It isn’t just another classroom, it’s for everyone,” Beebe said. “Kids feel that they can’t come in as much as they used to and this has led to less books being checked out.”
Amongst all the active readers, the favorite genre of books is Fiction/Fantasy. Students use this as a way to get away from the boring and draining homework and into a world they can only dream of.
“Students are in here enough to start to look at books which leads to them checking out the ones that are interesting to them,” said Beebe. “I try to make a connection with students that come in and ask them if they’re interested in looking at books. They have a positive impact on me and it’s my goal to have the same impact on them.”
