At the Jan. 18 Jericho Union Free School District Board of Education meeting, library media specialist Danielle Melia led a presentation about the current happenings at the George A. Jackson Elementary School library.
“Tonight we’re celebrating our library,” said George A. Jackson Elementary School Principal Alex Rivera. “We’re celebrating our love of literature, our love of books.”
Melia explained that the library provides resources for students that extend into the classrooms and are used all day long throughout the building and even by students at home.
Jackson Elementary School students discussed with meeting attendees what they enjoy about their school library, such as digital platforms like Epic! and Sora that make books available 24/7; access to the library before school starts; a comfortable space to work and read; the ability to make recommendations about the library’s collection; events; author visits and the ability to create through podcasts, poetry slams, videos and displays.
According to Melia, over 20,000 books have been borrowed on the platform Epic! and over 2,000 books have been borrowed on Sora. In this year so far, 7,000 books have been checked out.
“Finally, each year we challenge our students to a winter reading challenge,” Melia said. “This year, we have a very special theme and partnered with our amazing PTA for our Pick a Reading Partner, which is otherwise known as PARP.”
The theme is “Blast off with Reading.” Melia then showed a video featuring herself and Rivera announcing the reading challenge.
George A. Jackson Elementary School students showcase what they enjoy about their school library. (Photo by Jennifer Corr)
