Librarians enhance the learning experience

Libraries are at the heart of every school and serve as a hub for knowledge. April celebrates School Library Month by recognizing librarians and their contributions to student success.  

From fostering a love for reading to integrating technology, librarians play a crucial role in academic experiences on their campuses. Led by Director of Library Services Patricia Alvarado, the department supports 200 librarians across the district as they promote a culture of literacy and learning. 

“School librarians are excellent classroom teachers because they have the responsibility of being teachers of the largest classroom in their school, which is the library,” Alvarado said. 

Also called media specialists, librarians have received a master’s degree in library sciences and earned their school librarian certificate from the Texas Education Agency, which requires at least two years of teaching experience to complete.  

School librarians follow the district’s standard of service, which focuses on four categories—a culture of literacy, family and community partnerships, student inquiry, and literacy instruction. 

Many of Dallas ISD’s school libraries are infused with technology and STEM components like 3D printers, robotics, and green screens for podcasting. 

“School librarians are proficient in technology and are taking the lead in [artificial intelligence]. We encourage them to use it to draft engaging lesson plans and to analyze their library collections,” Alvarado said. “School librarians focus on digital literacy so that students are successful in their reading experiences.”  

According to Alvarado, successful librarians should be flexible in order to support the needs of the principal and their campus. They are often customer service oriented with a love for sharing information and a passion for creating relationships with their campus teachers.  

“It is important to us that we provide students with a luxurious public-school experience. We are working hard to remove the digital divide that exists and working to make resources available to students that may not typically be available to them in their home,” Alvarado said.