In investigating and deep searching Rebekkah Smith Aldrich’s novel, Sustainable Thinking, and thankful for her time at the MLA/DLA Conference – there are many great pockets of information that public libraries and school libraries do, and can do to help educate many on what their libraries can do for them as community members.

Here are the some of the positives libraries do and can do in the first ten chapters.

Chapter One- Disruption- There is absolute fact that being passive versus being proactive has its implications on the perception of libraries and their value. This applies to the role of librarians and how they perceive the opportunities around them. There is no secret that librarians’ time is sacrificed and often deleted from daily schedules, and put on a back burner of value. It is difficult to have school librarians negotiate community involvement without give planning time to meet public librarians halfway find those paths to be proactive. It is an absolute truth that libraries do indeed influence a community and can enhance a community when given a chance. Being able to be proactive comes from being recognized as an entity from administration to have an opportunity to be proactive.

Chapter Two- Beyond Our Walls – Having situational awareness of what is needed and how a library can help is crucial, and certified librarians are trained to assess situations around them and find how to best support the needs of a community. There are a number of disruptions on these levels that interrupt students every day- environmental, political, economic, technological, and social. Yet, a clear path and guide exists for students to have a chance to evaluate information, resources, and support for opportunities with our libraries. Many are unaware of these opportunities and we have a chance to show and appeal to strategies to be allowed to reach these needs to our patrons. Public and school librarians, working together, help navigate unknown minefields. I do agree that we need to leverage the wide view to improve the long view and libraries are equipped and trained to do so.

Chapter Three- Back to Basics – Certainly Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs takes precedence in times when so many students are in need more than ever before, due to circumstances often out of their control. Self-transcendence and mapping helpers in the community that can help and echo the resources that are available – this goes hand in hand with being able to see where a library and librarian can fit a niche that is missing. I love the fact that a long time ago, Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots allows individuals to map their community find what resources exist and are missing, and make evaluative choices to provide those missing resources. School libraries are counted on to do that on a daily basis – public libraries absolutely. Together, their ability and time to work together can change everything for the better about a community.

Chapter 4- Survive the Earth – One of the most pressing situations in front of us has been climate change. It is a good reference to check out the Yale Program on Climate Change – but there are so many nonprofit organizations that exist, locally, that can provide opportunities for youth to shine, lead, and be a part of a community that changes things for the better for our world. School Libraries certainly need to be present to give youth that opportunity, and public libraries the resources to reinforce those leadership opportunities outside of school walls.

Chapter 5 – The Most Important Thing- Building resilience. In a time where school libraries and school librarians are being removed, reduced, and discounted over technology to do the very thing trained librarians of Information Science can do to add to an institution’s strength, resilience is needed now more than ever. Helping ALL to be heard and finding ways to have voices be heard – that is a school librarian’s specialty, that is what they are trained for. Finding their voice thanks to resources that might not be evident at first – yes. Covid unfortunately showed how school librarians can help students find their way. But it does not have to take a calamity to be able to let others know, school librarians/libraries and public librarians/libraries can fill the niches needed to support a foundation. Interruptions will happen, expected and not expected, and librarians and libraries are the safety net.

Chapter Six – Being Strategic – From comprehensive collection development plans, to seeing how school librarians can be strategically position to support literacy and working with public libraries, empowering learners as well as other librarians eliminate silos. Many of our students lack and struggle with long term thinking, and that is where Informational Science training comes into play. Libraries and librarians are TRAINED in areas of technology, information, strategizing, organizing, curating, investigating, and so many other categories, that can pivot to any discipline at any given moment. Many might not be aware of this and it is very crucial that libraries find ways to make and identify the deliberate choices that allow community members to havre the freedom to find those decisions that meet their needs.

Chapter Seven- The Why Behind the What – I love the value placed on the why. Old ads of Apple that created this sense of breaking away from the mundane and normal were referenced. There is certainly nothing mundane and “normal” about how libraries navigate the avenues of choice in today’s world. Referencing the West Vancouver Memorial Library as one single example, there is no substitute, in ANY FORM, of a librarian that is able to keep in sight of what they need to do for the community. Losing sight of what libraries do for a student, adult, community, etc. is never happening when the knowledge of what libraries provide to patrons is made clear. Always focusing on the WHY versus the WHAT is one of the most valuable assets librarians hold close to their profession.

Chapter Eight – Core Values of Librarianship – Without a doubt, the qualities listed below need to be exemplified and emphasized to community members so they are aware, this is what a school and public library stands for:

Access. Confidentiality Democracy. Diversity Education Lifelong learning

Intellectual Freedom Professional Services Social Responsibility Service Preservation

Without the trust and opportunity to exemplify these characteristics to the community at large, librarians and libraries are handicapped. We need to press upon administrators and legislators alike, these core values are what are important to communities, and we need to insure school and public librarians are in place to reinstate these values to all that come into contact with their school library.

Chapter Nine- The Three E’s of Sustainable Libraries – Empower, Engage, and Energize. School and public librarians do this and persevere under situations and circumstances that would amaze most people. Many are largely unaware of these circumstances and situations, and in order for school and public librarians to stay empowered, engaged, and energizes, and to pass these qualities onto future generations, knowledge and support needs to be freely available. Period.

Chapter Ten – WHAT- Local Supports local. I cannot say enough about how much local matters. Local businesses, local leaders, local agriculture, local employment, local opportunities, local influencers, local supporters, local information, local success. The best thing ANY local community member can do is find out the statues of their local school library and librarian, public library and librarian, and find ways to support them, voice concerns over their needs, and to continue to support their path forward. This cannot be realized or stressed enough.

These are only ten out of 25 chapters that provide a roadmap of how school librarians and public libraries depend on the knowledge of what libraries are able to do day in and day out. Stay tuned for a continuation of more but in the meantime, PLEASE dig into how and what is happening with your school and public library, and how you can support their role, in supporting your community.

Thank you!