I see school as one of the safe places to explore content. It provides a space and time to talk about troublesome topics. And if you view the TV line up, I think the content there is not something I’d like my own kids to view. Being a child of the 70s there were lots of sitcoms and family fun-coms but not the level of reality tv and violence. My thoughts are along the vein of explore where you can accept, reject, question character motives and decisions that are certainly based in reality. 

I have a section of transition to adult titles that are dealing with topics that are delicate. I have used an independent reading permission form adapted from an English teacher. We give the form out, but in HS in the library it doesn’t generally come back. It provokes a conversation at check out. English teachers have more success collecting it. 

It seems that sex, drugs and rock n roll are everywhere. If a community doesn’t think so,there is probably an ostrich in the room. In my fantasy thinking, a student will read a book and say, geez, I don’t want that to happen to me, and maybe talk with anyone about it. There are lots of cautionary tales. I worry about students who have been in a bubble of protection who then go to college where the safety nets generally are not there or have huge gaps. Gaps being no parents, librarians or teachers. I grew up in the age 18 for drinking. I remember disastrous choices made by peers. It was instructive. Place our hs grads on campus with little experience and peer or frat pressure to drink, say 21 shots starting at midnight when they turn 21 and it’s a recipe for poisoning and a trip to the ER.

I like to talk with students about content, when the make a choice. If my mom hairs stand up on my neck, we have a longer chat. 

Papers to sign and regulations and no-ness turn kids away. It’s early in the year. Maybe stay attentive, see what’s happening at your HS and if you feel the need, shift the question up to leadership. It’s part of their job description. It’s such a local organic issue, and if a concern, don’t assume you need to handle it solo. 

Stephanie Patterson

Southington High 

Hi Loretta,

Congrats on your transfer. Working in a new library definitely brings new challenges and opportunities. 

Based on 12 years of experience as a middle school library media specialist, unless there is a specific school district policy regarding the goals and philosophy of library services in your new school that require parent permission to access materials, I'd reconsider requiring parent permission for students to check out YA books. 

As you know, one of our jobs as library media specialists is creating collections that meet the instructional and reading needs of our students -- all of our students. At the middle level, the diversity in reading and interest levels is extremely varied. I had books at the primary reading level and books at the high school reading level. In addition, materials also varied widely in interest level and maturity. I found that some YA topics were more appropriate, and more acceptable in my school community, to have in a middle school YA collection vs. a high school YA collection.  For example, my school community was more accepting of some violence and some language rather than heavy sexual content and the f-bomb. 

At the same time, middle school students have questions and are curious. They might have an interest in learning more about topics that they might not be comfortable discussing with family at home.

I felt that one of my missions as a library media specialist was to not only stock my collection with high quality materials to meet the instructional needs of my students but to also meet the reading needs of my students -- regardless of where they are at as readers and as young people. Middle school students are too young to drive, so one place where they had the freedom to make their own choices was in my school library. My goal was to have high quality reading material for each of my students -- but not always the same reading materials.  As you know, the "right book" for one student is not necessarily "the right book" for another student. 

In my time, I did have a few parents who asked why I let their child take out that book. My response is that I have 1100 student in this school and I have books for all types of readers. The right book for your student is not the right book for another student. It is up to parents to inform their students of their expectations regarding the check-out of library materials. I have no tool to ensure that students only take out materials approved by their parents. What I can control is the quality of the materials that students have to choose from.  I used my professional judgment to purchase high quality materials for my students. 

I hope this point of view is helpful.

Katrina

On Sat, Sep 7, 2019 at 2:06 PM Loretta Sullivan <b59lgian@mpspride.org> wrote:

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone has a parental permission slip to give to my grade 5/6 kids to take out YA books?  I recently have been transferred to one of our middle schools and I would like to use one for obvious reasons.  I would really appreciate it if anyone was willing to share a copy with me.  Thank you so much!

Also, I am looking for some great ideas to make my library more grade 5/6 friendly (my experience is at the high school level which looks so much different than an upper elementary library).  If anyone is willing to take pics of their libraries and/or share ideas regarding set up of displays, areas, etc. that would be great!  What do you think are "must haves" (definitely Nutmeg displays -but what else?)?

Thanks in advance for your help.  I am looking forward to hearing from you!

Respectfully,

Loretta Sullivan

Library Media Specialist

Elisabeth M. Bennet Academy

"I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library."

                                                       - Jorge Luis Borges

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