Mindful School Libraries: Creating and Sustaining Nurturing Spaces and Programs

by Wendy Stephens

Overview

Complement efforts in the classroom to work on social-emotional learning and understand the affective needs of young people in library settings.

Given the national climate of anxiety and fear, climbing diagnoses of neurological difference, and overall sensitivity, fewer young people come to school able to self-soothe. Building on the work of Nel Noddings, Lynne Evarts, and Meghan Harper, this book focuses on the deliberation, quiet, and reflection sometimes described collectively as mindfulness.

From breathing exercises to meditation, mindfulness exercises can be a coping mechanism for at-risk students, and librarians can create an environment, away from the classroom, in which students can explore their abilities to regulate and control their social and emotional responses, skills that underpin information retrieval and analysis. The role of school libraries in promoting mindfulness in the twenty-first century could parallel the quest for intellectual stimulation and self-improvement that informed the public libraries movement in the late nineteenth century. Providing practical suggestions for working in concert with classroom teachers, school counseling staff, and community partners, this guide will inform librarians' practice by increasing awareness of how to create a nurturing space for students in the school library.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440875274
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	02/01/2021
Pages:	152
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.33(d)

About the Author

Wendy Stephens, PhD, is Assistant Professor and School Library Chair at Jacksonville State University, USA.

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

1 The Library and Stress 1

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma 1

The Student Mental Health Crisis 2

Library Anxiety 4

Grit and Resilience 6

Emotional Intelligence and Social-Emotional Learning 7

An Ongoing Need for Empathy 8

References 9

2 Sensory Experiences and Self-Soothing in the Library 11

The Whirlwind of School 11

What Makes for a Mindful Library Space? 12

Visual Information Inventory 16

Beyond Décor 18

Engage All the Senses 20

Technology Adjustments 22

References 23

3 Real Accessibility 25

Liminality and the Library as Liminal Space 26

The Information Search Process and the Expectation of Uncertainty 28

Where Does This Fit into the AASL Standards? 29

References 30

4 Procedures and Policies for Positive Interactions 31

Why Quiet Study Is Still Relevant 31

Teaching Reflection in Small Steps 32

What Does a Mindful School Library Collection Look Like? 34

Restructuring Discipline 36

Group Dynamics 38

Getting Things Done 40

Getting to Inbox Zero 42

Calendars 44

Reference 47

5 Slowing Down Research 49

Rest 50

Time for Leadership 51

Slow Reading and Slow Research 53

Journaling to Combat Speed 55

Process Not Product 57

References 58

6 Whole-School Advocacy for Students 59

Defining Social-Emotional Learning 60

How Can SEL Help Disadvantaged Students? 62

Skills and Strategies 63

References 65

6 Physical Fitness and Well-Being 67

Mens Sans in Corpore Sano 67

Activity, Not Exercise 68

Play 70

Meditation or Focus 71

Yoga or Stretching 72

Breathwork 73

Sensory Focus 74

Physical Regulation 76

References 76

8 Safety and Other Student Needs 79

The Work of Lynne Evarts 79

Other Inspirational Librarians 81

Empathy 82

References 84

9 Bibliotherapy 85

The Bibliotherapy Concept 85

From Mirrors to Prisms 87

Broader Reading Promotion in Schools 88

References 89

10 Connections to Social Services 91

When to Seek Help 91

Whole Person Librarianship: Social Work Concepts for Holistic Patron Services 91

Working with Other Libraries 92

Working with Counseling Staff 94

Working with College Admissions 95

Working with Military Recruiting 96

Other Local Agencies 97

Self-Care 97

Librarian's Stress and Burnout 98

References 101

11 Mindfulness in Difficult Times 103

Social-But Not Emotional-Distancing 104

Trauma Sensitivity 107

Conclusion 109

Annotated Bibliography 113

Index 123

Editorial Reviews

Professional materials on mindfulness and social emotional needs are more important than ever, making Stephens's volume an ­ideal choice for most collections.” —School Library Jourbanal

“School librarians, administrators, and even teachers should find this text enlightening and thought provoking.” —Booklist Online

From the Publisher

04/01/2021

The stress and strain of the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the trauma that many students already face. Social and emotional learning is taking center stage in education right now as educators find ways to heal and uplift struggling students. Stephens's timely book aims to show how school libraries can adapt to the needs of their often-stressed patrons. Each of the 11 chapters connects an aspect of mindfulness with library services. The author delves into the physical presentation of the library, the use of space, services and information, the collection, policies and procedures, and social services. Reading the book feels like having an intimate conversation with Stephens as she blends research and resources with discussions of her own experiences. She encourages librarians to deliberately consider how libraries can best serve students, teachers, and the community—but she reminds librarians not to neglect their own mental and physical health. In many ways, the library already supports the social and emotional health of students by offering a safe, welcoming environment where they can look for books without worrying about being graded. By taking a mindful approach to library services, Stephens stresses, librarians can expand the possibilities for a nurturing space where students and teachers can decompress. An annotated bibliography provides additional information on sources cited. VERDICT Professional materials on mindfulness and social emotional needs are more important than ever, making Stephens's volume an ideal choice for most collections.—Laura Fields Eason, Danville H.S., KY

School Library Journal