Libraries provide services that connect people to information and people to people. They preserve history, grant us access to worlds beyond our own, and are a refuge for students seeking help with homework or simply a quiet place for reflection. Libraries level the playing field. They provide access to services for people of every age, income level, location, ethnicity, and physical ability. Book clubs, games, classes, and activities bring the young and old together in a place where they can explore and discover a full range of resources to live, learn, and work.
At 25-years old, Benjamin Franklin founded the Library Company, America’s first library. Known as Franklin’s “society of mutual improvement” project, his goal was to benefit people who otherwise would not have access to books. The idea of developing library spaces for children’s literature began in the early 1900s, with school libraries opening to help rural families have better access to literature and help increase our nation’s literacy rate.
Our District is home to families from all over the world, with 91 unique languages spoken within our boundaries. Books in our school’s libraries serve our diverse population by providing literature in Arabic, Spanish, Vietnamese, Hindi, plus more languages. Libraries are the hub of our schools. They are an inclusive space for students to gather, create, study, and relax. Using their appreciation of literature, our librarians are passionate bibliophiles who contribute to mitigating childhood achievement gaps. They create innovative programming and activities that meet students where they are; they have expanded student access to literature by removing the traditional barriers and believe great books help students understand and help students feel understood. When our schools were operating to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions, our District librarians adjusted systems to get books in the hands of students. Students (and their families) ordered titles online, and then the librarians delivered them curbside or directly to the classroom.
Students at every reading level have access to various fiction and non-fiction literature every school day. And, using their Round Rock ISD assigned device, students can visit the online library 24/7 for digital education resources, including magazines, ebooks, research services, audio, and video materials.
April recognizes School Library Month and Diversity Month. Similarly, libraries and observances like Diversity month endeavor to help people understand and appreciate each other and their differences. A library’s diverse collection with access for ALL delivers equal access to information, inspiring individuals to speak and write freely and enabling students to see themselves and people different from them in literature, building empathy and respect for others.
Diversity drives creativity and innovation. Franklin’s innovation created our nation’s libraries and successfully demonstrated that providing access to literature improved our communities and society. Today’s library includes inclusive materials, thoughts, and ideas from every culture, nationality, and innovative and creative individuals – mutually improving our society through diversity of thought and reflection.
