For this reflection, I decided to explore the Library as Classroom. Although the articles talked about all different types of learning for all different types of people, I would like to focus on children and emphasize that children learn through their play. I appreciated Jordan Bookey’s article; 8 Awesome Ways Libraries are Making Learning Fun and found some of the highlighted programming experiences thoughtful and intriguing. As someone who is hoping to one day be a children’s librarian, this article reassured me that I am in the right place and heading down the right path. I am a preschool teacher and am well acquainted with the philosophy that children learn through play and agree that “play is early literacy”. As such, it felt very good to see library programming honoring and 
incorporating this fact into how they approach children’s programming.
Three programs that really stood out to me highlighted by Bookey included the Fairy Hunt, the LIT room, and the story walk. The Fairy Hunt engaged children and families as they decoded clues and helped build community as children had to interact with local businesses as part of the hunt. The LIT room sounds absolutely amazing, and I wish every classroom/space for children could have one. In the preschool, we do our best to bring stories to life through puppet shows, acting them out etc. but to have a room that can be programmed to create a “multisensory reading experience” sounds like an amazing way to promote literacy and a love for reading and learning. And lastly, the story walk. Incorporating movement (walking) into reading a story is such a wonderful idea. It really meets children where they are at and allows more active children to enjoy a book without the expectation of sitting still to hear it. I can’t wait to implement programs like these and think of new, innovative ones for the future children I will serve.
Reference
Andrews, S. (2021, October 2). A young child is drawing on a piece of paper [Photo]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/a-young-child-is-drawing-on-a-piece-of-paper-nqI3t8M3qcI.
Bookey, J. L. (2017, December 6). 8 awesome ways libraries are making learning fun. HuffPost. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/8-awesome-ways-libraries_b_7157462.
Hi Rachel,
I really love your choice in topic for this blog post! I was drawn to an overlapping, similar topic with the idea of incorporating more “fun” into libraries as a way of promoting infinite learning. It’s definitely especially pertinent for children who really do learn so much through play. It sort of reminds me of the way that people can learn so much through the “play” involved in hobby/serious leisure pursuits — i.e. all the Wikipedia rabbit holes that one may fall down!
Also, really was struck by the idea of incorporating movement into storytelling events with children! It feels like such an obvious, great way to help combat the struggle of wrangling together a bunch of younger children and trying to force them to sit still and listen. Sometimes it’s easier to bend with them and meet the kids where they’re at, vs just trying to force them to behave a certain way when it’s not really necessary.