By GAIL LOWE
WAKEFIELD — An alliance between the Beebe Library and School Department has formed to help students with research, analysis and information gathering they need to complete their school work and Beebe Library Director Sharon Gilley, Assistant Director Catherine McDonald and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stephen K. Zrike could not be more thrilled.
Now, the work of the Beebe staff to promote reading, not only as an educational tool but for pleasure, too, has taken on new meaning.
McDonald said that it is of fundamental importance that all schools have librarians, sometimes known as media specialists, because they assist in a child’s learning, particularly when it comes to researching scholarly works. When media specialists work closely with public libraries, students reap the rewards.
Reading, said McDonald, is key to learning and by grade 3 students need be able to read well in order to learn as they move through each grade.
Wakefield schools Media Specialist Erin McCall agrees with McDonald and Gilley. On the job since the position opened last September, she said that she, too, is excited over the partnership formed between the schools and the Beebe.
“Media specialists are an important component of education because of the support we provide for teachers and students,” she said. “Whereas classroom teachers teach to content, my focus is skills-based — from inquiry to working collaboratively. Media specialists strive for students to become independent lifelong learners who are real-world ready and are not afraid to innovate.
“At the Galvin Middle School, I develop instruction for information literacy, research and project-based learning using technology in the Learning Commons and classrooms. The role is somewhat unique from school to school,” she said.
As an instructional partner, McCall views her partnership with the Beebe as beyond the school. “Having a relationship with the district media specialists and the Beebe staff expands my professional learning community,” she said.
“Having public library experience, I know what a challenge it can be to support student learning when you only hear about developments in the curriculum the night before something is due. The more communication there is between the schools and the Beebe, the more support we can provide teachers and students when they need it and the more they will value what we do.”
McCall commented that funding of the school library media center at all levels is lacking, since with new staffing comes the process of updating older libraries into 21st century learning spaces.
“We would all love to have more digital resources, subscription databases and technology tools at our fingertips to share with teachers and students but the funding for eBook collections and multimedia databases is limited. The general print collections need a lot of updating as well. That’s another area where working together with the Beebe has fit in so seamlessly — when we don’t have something needed for a curriculum unit, I know without a doubt that the Beebe librarians can provide it,” McCall said.
McCall said that Diana Kelly, the high school media specialist now in her second year in the position, worked closely with the Beebe staff to develop last year’s summer reading program. “When Diana suggested that I come along to the September summer reading recap meeting, I hopped right on board,” said McCall. “Ever since, we’ve been meeting about monthly with the Beebe team.”
Members include Beebe Library staff McDonald, Nancy Sheehan, Casey Chweicko and Leane Ellis.
“No matter who I get in touch with, they’re always a huge help to me,” said McCall. “Diana Kelly, the elementary media specialists Mike Pirollo and Jeremy Cook and I are also present at meetings when time allows. English Language Arts Curriculum Director Paul Bavuso — leader of the summer reading initiative — has also led meetings with us.”
Currently, there are four media specialists in the district — one at each secondary school and two others who travel among the four elementary schools.
