Ten Literacy Limitations

I love the library. I remember going to the public library with my parents growing up. I visited libraries in my college town, and later when I moved out of state. I loved being able to request a book and have someone deliver it to my library from a faraway library for me!  In adulthood, I visited libraries as I discovered more authors that I loved. I devoured all of their titles. As a teacher, if our school library was limited, I would pull titles from the city library, all in the name of getting literature in the hands of students. As a mom, I bring my children to the library, even though there are hundreds of books in my children's bookcases. Basically, I'm a fan.

The one thing I really did not care for was due dates. I was a chronic renewer. Even if I finished the book, I renewed just in case I wanted to read again. Or, I was reading so many books at once that it was impossible to finish before the due date.

I'm not against due dates, per se. I understand that a due date makes the book available for the next person to read the book. I've been that person next in line, obviously, so I get it.

Now, working in school administration, I see the inner workings of a variety of departments, one of which being the library. My brain seems to always be on the mode of making processes better, and the library is no exception. To be honest, I do not agree with limiting the number of books to check out. Those in education will agree, that when it comes to the amount of books that students should read, it's quantity over quality. I don't care if a student prefers comic books to the great American novel. I've never read Moby Dick and I'm doing just fine, thank you very much. The fact is that they are reading! I've been in parent meetings where I hear children being discouraged from reading Captain Underpants and though I'm not a fan of that series, let's ask, "Is your child reading? Yes? Okay, then we're good."

I don't need to delve into the research that proves reading to children helps with their language development, interest in reading, phonemic awareness, etc. You can Google that good stuff!
For next steps, it is important for me to write about limitations that come through advancing student literacy at school:
1. Technology (The Kindle exists but how many are using it??)
2. Checkout limits at the library
3. Books students can't check out because it is not "their level" - The day I was able to say the school wide reading program that assigned points and incentives to students' books read, was the day the heavens opened and angels sang!
4. Books students can't check out because they've read them before
5. Books students can't check out because they have too many pictures
6. Books students can't check out because they have too many words
7. No book checkouts before a school break
8. Books students can't check out because they have an outstanding loan
9. On the flip side, when books are used as a punishment - when students are in need of a consequence so either their book is taken away or they are made to read something they don't want to read
10. Books that are forcibly read - students can't choose a new book or are given an assignment on one particular book without choice.
BONUS: Assuming students are reading at home. Guess what? Parents assume their kids are reading at school.

Let's commit to giving up these limitations as soon as possible. Even if it is just one at a time.

Comment below your thoughts on making changes to these or other literacy limitations you've witnessed.