In honor of National School Library Month, Mayfield Central School District proudly recognizes the role our library media centers play in the growth and academic well-being of our students and educators.
For the 2024-25 school year both the Mayfield Elementary and Jr/Sr High School libraries are fully staffed and open to offer resources, guidance and support to help students excel academically and develop a lifelong love of learning.
As the elementary school librarian, Jennifer Reynolds is excited to re-establish the library as a place that is welcoming and comfortable, where students can enjoy learning through hands-on, interactive experiences.
“I really want students to have fun while they are here and I try to incorporate STEAM projects as often as I can,” said Reynolds. “We just did a whole unit focusing on ‘How to Catch a Leprechaun’. We read the book, students brainstormed their ideas and then built traps to set around the school. They had a great time.”
Reynolds is also working on building the essential library, research and media literacy skills students need for both their immediate academic success and their future as active media consumers.
“Media literacy is so important for future success. These students need to know how to identify and use reliable information and news sources as well as engage with social media appropriately,” said Reynolds.
Kristin Conley is the Jr/Sr high school librarian and was excited to re-open the space after some time of it being closed to students. As a first-year librarian, she’s been actively gathering feedback from students on what they feel was missing from the library and how it can be shaped into a place that is enjoyable to be in and beneficial to their learning.
“The students have been really excited about this. They want the library to be a safe, calm space where they get away from the hubbub of the school, relax and focus on getting work done,” said Conley.
Conley is looking forward to establishing the library as an interactive space that is an extension of students’ classroom learning. From book fairs and workshops to collaboration with teachers and projects, she sees the library as being a hub of the Jr/Sr high school community.
As we celebrate National School Library Month, it’s important to acknowledge the profound impact of school libraries not only in shaping academic journeys but also in enriching lives. From their beginnings in 1983 to the first official celebration in April 1985, School Library Month has grown into a national tribute to the transformative power of libraries and their role in education.