School Library Connection | Library in Context

Articles & Columns

Perspectives & Partners

Editor’s Note

Learning More

Rebecca J. Morris

This issue's focus on trauma-sensitive school libraries draws our attention to the very center of that work: serving the nuanced, complex, whole student who enters the library space or accesses the library's digital portal. As educators and information professionals, we've always shouldered the difficult task of acting with concern for the "whole individual," when often we don't know the whole story about a student's life, home, and experiences. Read More

Full Voice

Anita M. Cellucci

Mindfulness through a Trauma-Sensitive Lens

When our students have experienced trauma, mindfulness meditation has the possibility of exacerbating symptoms and it can also be an invaluable tool for students dealing with the aftermath of trauma. There are important ways to ensure that the practice is grounded through a trauma-sensitive lens.

Research into Practice

Meghan Harper

Liz Deskins

Building Knowledge and Understanding of How Trauma Affects Children

Recognizing the signs of trauma is key to implementing trauma-informed library services, which can include library instruction, programming, collection development, facility design, and the implementation of management practices, including policies and procedures that consider the needs of students holistically.

Connection Point

Stony Evans

Promoting an Environment of Accessibility

The library can be a haven for all that visit. School librarians can be champions for all students and their various learning styles regardless of their abilities.

Features

Sexual Assault and Trauma: Young Adult Literature Tackling Tough...

by Jenna Spiering, Kate Lechtenberg, and Nicole Amato

Some school librarians might be inclined to shy away from texts that contain depictions of (sometimes graphic) sexual violence for fear of parental concern or triggering past traumas. However, these texts are powerful tools for examining themes and topics that are a part of national conversations in the #MeToo era. In this article we will talk about one specific text that has had a huge impact on our students and discuss how young adult literature that tackles the topic of sexual assault can be used in school libraries. Read More

Trauma-Informed School Libraries

by Meghan Harper

Trauma-informed education is focused on understanding how to engage, support, and respond to students who have been impacted by trauma. This approach is becoming more commonplace in schools as the benefits and successes are documented, and there are numerous relevant practices that school librarians can develop and adopt. Read More

Creating Authentic Safe Spaces

by Anita M. Cellucci and Courtney Balacco

School librarians can agree that the library offers an opportunity for a safe space for all students in our schools. But, how do we actually create a safe environment? Ensuring that a place and space are actually safe is quite different from labeling that space as safe. Read More

One-Question Surveys

What's Your Most Important Core Value?

How Do You Tell Your Library Story?

What Is the Philosophy of Your Makerspace?

One-Question Survey: What Drives Change in Your Library?

1-Question Survey: Community Connections

How Do You Connect with Your Community?

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