The day progresses like a sped-up film about a hive of bees as the students move among their classes in the busy school hallways. Soon the afternoon bell rings and the school halls cease activity and empty of students except for the few stragglers finishing their work. The clock strikes three. Four. Five, and as it does so Librarian Pamela Pinkerton sits in the library waiting for students to come and utilize the extended library hours.
The district instituted a new policy that opened the schools’ library hours from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Legacy, Timberview and Lake Ridge for students. Legacy’s library received these open hours on Mondays, Lake Ridge’s library received these open hours on Tuesdays and Timberview’s library received these open hours on Wednesdays. All of the participating schools’ libraries take turns with opening their library on Thursdays.
“Right now, I don’t think the students are seeing the benefits,” Mrs. Pinkerton said. “I would really like to see students utilizing this benefit.”
The district drafted the extended-hour policy to help students without Internet access at home or those in need of assistance from the librarians. For their extended work hours, the librarians get an extra duty pay to stay and assist when needed.
“I think just giving them the benefit of a librarian or just having that person who can help with research and projects and papers will help struggling students,” Mrs. Pinkerton said.
Although the policy created a chance for students to come and work on their assignments, no student from Legacy has used the extension so far. The times the library currently opens at disrupts it from use by students says Mrs. Pinkerton. Closing the gap between the time school ends and the library opens up would increase the number of students attending it.
“I think more students would stay and use the library from three to six,” Mrs. Pinkerton said, “Instead of the students having to wait until five to come and use it.”
Senior Dominic French, a frequent visitor to the library during the day, has his own input on the new policy. With no Internet connection at home, French currently goes to the Mansfield Public Library to work on assignments.
“I think it’ll be better to use the library here than go to the Mansfield library to work,” French said. “It will allow those without an Internet connection at home to come and use the Wi-Fi for their homework and other assignments.”
