Comments on: Emotional Learning Not @ Your Library

By: S Chang

S Chang — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 05:15:07 +0000

Allison: You’re right, it’s not unequivocally a library issue. But I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s irrelevant. Supporting literacy is certainly good for libraries. It will probably just take a little time before awareness of SEL reaches a point where the benefits are widely understood.

By: Heather

Heather — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 20:02:39 +0000

Unfortunately, there has been a mass shooting at a university library in California:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_University,_Fullerton_massacre .

By: Allison

Allison — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 17:04:56 +0000

Well, yes. I’m all for anything that helps kids have more time to learn to read and write, but that doesn’t make anything a library issue.

By: S Chang

S Chang — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 02:24:03 +0000

It sounds like you might not be very familiar with social-emotional learning, or what it is already doing.

All states currently have at least some SEL learning standards through the K-12 level.

It’s not one class. It’s an integration of skills such as self-management and responsible decision-making throughout the entire curriculum.

(Note to “Public Librarian:” Outside groups offering one-time programs have not been found effective in teaching SEL, unfortunately. When the programs are fully supported and integrated throughout the school, though, the benefits can be enormous.)

It doesn’t take away from class time. It’s actually been shown to decrease the disruptions in class which take away from instructional time. Further, it helps students’ standardized test scores increase substantially.

When something can actually increase the amount of time students CAN spend learning to read and write, and do the rest of their schoolwork as well, can we really say that that’s a non-library issue?

By: Texas

Texas — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 17:26:08 +0000

I was thinking of the shooting in 2010 at the University of Texas Library. The Shooter was eventually dead on the 6th floor.

By: Public Librarian

Public Librarian — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 12:07:53 +0000

Why not do something productive like bring in outside groups to offer workshops on bullying, depression, caregiving for mentally-ill loved ones, handling stress. Many local agencies will do a one-time program for free. A library with a large programming budget and more space could offer Krav Maga workshops. I think that would help the public more than this resolution.

My brother just retired from teaching in an inner-city high school. He had 50 kids in his classes and was expected to make sure they all passed a standardized test. Many could not speak English. I don’t know how he could have factored in some emotional learning time. Perhaps some of the ALA Councilors should spend some time in a localschool.

By: teetop

teetop — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 23:29:39 +0000

I was thinking Columbine, too.

By: madamlibrarian

madamlibrarian — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 22:39:56 +0000

At Hennepin County Library a few months ago, a patron was shot by another patron in the bathroom of our Franklin branch.

By: crankylibrarian

crankylibrarian — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:29:16 +0000

um…. where did the Columbine shooters go? the library and the cafeteria. it is unfortunate that many school shootings involve the busiest places in the educational institution (this includes colleges as well)

By: Library Spinster

Library Spinster — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:23:07 +0000

No, there hasn’t been a mass shooting in a library. But within the past few years police shot a robbery suspect in a Free Library of Philadelphia branch. It’s hardly out of the realm of possibility.