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Silence - Anita Cellucci

4/3/2016

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Silence is something I seek daily. This topic has been on my mind a lot as my library gets busier and louder. Instead of a full maker space lab, I am researching ways to bring silence to my library and lab space without interfering with the positive impact of a collaborative learning commons. Silent reading and reflection still hold an important role in my teaching philosophy and in my Bibliotherapy work as a librarian.

In this article, Science Says Silence is Much More Important to our Brains than We Think, scientists who conducted a 2013 study realized that perhaps silence can "grow your brain".  Reading this made me reflect even more on the way that my library has changed over the last several years.  Sometimes it is so loud I wonder if students are able to concentrate.
I have long been a learner of Eastern philosophies and how mindfulness, reflection and contemplative education can help to center us and result in a more relaxed state of being.  Mindfulness is a way to become more aware of our surroundings and is known to be helpful to students with anxiety, ADHD or other emotional and focus issues. 

To me, it makes a lot of sense to think about our communities and their very unique needs in order to decide which of the newest educational philosophies, strategies and gadgets we will bring into our libraries.  Over this past school year I have focused on Mental Health issues with students and teachers and how the library program can support and lead within these issues. Reflection and silence are something that we can all infuse in some small way that will help support our students with social and emotional learning. 




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Library Legislative Day at the Massachusetts State House - Anita Cellucci

4/3/2016

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Library Legislation Day was especially exciting this year with a new format for showcasing school libraries.  The Showcase allowed different types of libraries to tell about their programs through a display at a table in the Great Hall. 

​With  my colleagues from Westborough Public Library, Westborough Youth and Family Services and  Westborough High School and along with 2 of our students we highlighted the MBLC LSTA Grant that was awarded to the Westborough High School library for this school year.
 

As we all know, advocacy is something that we all must do for our libraries, and what a great opportunity Library Legislative day is to speak directly with legislators regarding the direct  impact our libraries are making.

In a recent article in  American Libraries entitled, School Libraries Transform -Joyce Valenza speaks to the idea of how having a transformative school library is an issue of equity. I quote directly from the article:

     “Research confirms: When credentialed school librarians lead teaching and learning in our schools’ largest     classrooms, student achievement and reading scores increase...Perhaps what the research does not show is what it looks like and what it feels like. School libraries are not merely places to get stuff. School libraries are more kitchen than grocery store. They are more transformational than transactional. Critical weeding and new design models make space for user-centered, “genrefied” collections and for messy, informal, self-directed learning. On any given day in a school library, you can hear the productive noise of collaborative invention—brainstorming, design, debate, production, storytelling, and presentation.”

I know that those who were able to attend believe that the Library Showcase was a fantastic way to highlight all that is taking place in libraries and that is also provides a new definition of school libraries as places of exploration, experimentation and creation.  

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    ​Carrie Tucker

    E.Bridgewater Jr/Sr High 
    MSLA president

    Carrie Tucker

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