Research indicates that when teachers collaborate with the librarian to teach classroom content, students become more engaged through use of meaningful and relevant resources. A good library means a good school and improved literacy. Together with the school, the church and the hospital, a library is one of the cornerstones of a healthy community. Libraries give people the opportunity to experience new ideas, explore great minds, and experience great art, while at the same time providing a sense of place for gathering.

To most of us, a library is a place we go, a place in which literary and artistic materials are kept for reading, reference, or lending. Traditionally library materials were limited to books, periodicals, newspapers, pamphlets, prints, records, and tapes. The collection of such materials would be systematically arranged in shelves. A room could be set up, even in a home, to hold a private collection of materials. A series or set of books issued by a publisher, can also be referred to as a library

The concept of materials has grown over the past 20+ years with the unparalleled access to electronic information obtained over the internet using a computer. Vast amounts of current and historical information is now available on demand and at a moments notice.

A school library has the core mission to ensure that the students are information literate; this means that they are users of information and ideas. Libraries are an important asset which not only provides access to materials, as mentioned above, but they also can provide instruction to foster competence and stimulate interest in reading, viewing, and using information and ideas. Libraries can also help educators to collaborate and design learning strategies to meet the needs of all students.

The notion of a school librarian has also matured with the advent of computerization and broad reaching electronic technologies.

• A school library media specialist will meet regularly with their principals, serve with teachers on standards and curriculum committees, and meet regularly with their own staff.

• Collaborative library media specialists provide in-service training and planning assistance to teachers as well as deliver information literacy instruction to students.

• "Hi-tech" library media programs utilize local or wide-area networks to make information resources available to students and teachers in classrooms, labs, offices-wherever learning is taking place.

The size of a school library's collection and staff is a best single predictor of student achievement. It outweighs other factors like school spending in general, the education and income of students' parents, and the student-teacher ratio. Yet schools struggle to keep up with the many changes in technology, rising costs in books, staff and other school supplies.

One of the main objectives of any early childhood teacher is to instill the love or reading and books in all students. To practice reading, requires books and it requires a clean, safe, and hopefully quiet place to learn. The more children are exposed to books, the more they learn to love them. Consider establishing a kindergarten classroom library where students can go to look at or 'read' books. The classroom library area should be a clearly defined space with basic library furniture to make the space inviting and comfortable. Personalized touches could even include lamps, curtains, chairs, and beanbags. By creating such an inviting area for reading and research, students learn at a very early age the value of the library system.

Experiments with elementary science rooms have also proven to be very important for future success of students within the educational system. Kindergarten through 5th grade science education is important as it's the best time to get students interested in science. Like the physical child development efforts of play, from learning to ride a child's trike to climbing a jungle gym, students need exposure to science in a fun and exploratory manner.

When planning your school or personal education budget, remember the importance and value school libraries bring to child development:

• Improve student achievement on standardized tests

• Help students to develop a lifelong love of reading and literature

• Serve as a resource for teachers to enhance classroom instruction

• Provide computer access and technology instruction

• And much, much more...

Lest you forget, remember that once grown up, a library reflects the diversity and character of your community and offers invaluable services. During economic hardship, citizens (and students of all ages) turn to library resources to make wiser business decisions and improve job skills. For the disadvantaged, a library may help break the cycle of poverty.