The Eaglebrook School is fortunate to possess a robust recreational reading program promoted through the Copley Library on our campus. Our annual circulation statistics confirms that our students, faculty and staff are passionate about reading.
Because librarians cannot read every book, selections for school, university, and public libraries are all made using the same criteria, namely that a title must receive positive reviews in professional journals. All the materials in our collections have received positive reviews and/or have received national awards for their literary and artistic merit. Our library utilizes the standards set by the American Library Association and the American Association of School Librarians which provide guidelines around access and acquisition. Materials selected should:
Support and enrich curriculum and/or students’ personal interests and learning
Be appropriate for the subject area and for the age, emotional development, ability level, learning styles, and social, emotional, and intellectual development of the students for whom the materials are selected
Incorporate accurate and authentic factual content from authoritative sources
Exhibit a high degree of potential user appeal and interest
Represent differing viewpoints on controversial issues
Provide a global perspective and promote diversity by including materials by authors and illustrators of all cultures
Demonstrate physical format, appearance, and durability suitable to their intended use
At Eaglebrook, library staff are available to help check out books to students in grades sixth through nine, casting another set of eyes on their choices to ensure a good match of book to student. We also encourage students to share their reading with their parents as well as their school advisor and residential faculty. Of course, we hope parents will make their own expectations clear with their child/children.
Parents play an integral role in developing strong readers as well by having books available in the home and modeling reading in front of children, two proven factors that support the acquisition of reading skills. Children who read frequently not only exhibit higher GPAs and test scores but also display more empathy, having lived many lives through the experiences of characters in books.
The wide range of books and materials available in our library allows our faculty and staff, as well as families, to support children in reading books that meet their developmental needs and their family’s beliefs and values. Understanding that some people will find material objectionable while others will not, educational institutions generally use guidance and expectations rather than censorship or book banning to maintain an intellectually vibrant space and community. Books help our students understand the world around them and develop curiosity, empathy, and social acumen. Our goal is to continue the school tradition of graduating lifelong readers and learners.
Anna Bognolo, Library & Archive Director