Feb 195 min read

Building Literacy: A House of Learning

Access-–who are we without access? How does access change our lives? How does access empower us? Do we take access for granted? Think for a moment about the item or person in life that you cherish the most; surely those feelings are established because of the value the item, or the person brings to you and your life. My husband, my son, and a few other treasured pieces–a monogram necklace, a pink vase with a matching bowl, and the navy-blue dress suit hold a lifetime of precious memories that cannot be shaken. What do you really, really love? Is it your family? House? Car? Perhaps, it is something not mentioned here, but think about it whatever it is and then imagine if you cannot see, touch, hold, or interact with him or her, or it any longer. How would your life be devastated? How would that shake your foundation?

Civil rights leaders of the past opposed the laws that would took away our access to building a life with basic needs. In that day, knowledge was the key to a successful present because it led to a brighter future. The Black family’s structure was cemented with education; learning to read, write and speak drew the blueprints for abundant livelihoods. Frederick Douglass, the great abolitionist, said it this way “once you learn to read, you will forever be free.” Education and literacy handcraft the minds of learners then and now. As a librarian and consultant, my heart for students not only encompasses reading and other communicative skills but today students–all ages–require a bit more motivation than our previous generations needed. Why? Our ancestors lacked basic needs to build their foundation because they were denied access. Our patriarchs and matriarchs were not given the land and other necessities including education. Their desire to learn was their shelter, and the secret meetings to escape lit the freedom path even though they were doused with water and clearly forward progress still appeared. Collectively, many youths find themselves in situations of lack–homelessness, food insecurity, bullying, mental illness, and more–plague the minds of some youth depriving youngsters from focusing on learning. Students, and sometimes adults need reminders of the house we are building on the legacy of the past master builders. Our youth are vital jobs to install windows, add the high-end fixtures, and design the rooms they need to succeed and thrive. They can build it, if we ask for and encourage their input.

Even modern-day activists confront unjust laws that favor districting areas that favor one political party over another, gerrymandering. As registered voters, our part is to make sure the best candidate works for the people–all people, and not in the best interest of the lobbyists or enjoy lucrative kickbacks. Our part is also to be an informed citizen knowing that whichever means one uses to obtain information includes inspecting the source of the information by not only reading it but thinking critically about information and making our own decisions. Tricia Ebavia, author of Get Free: Antibias Literacy Instruction for Stronger Readers, Writers, and Thinkers, notes students “need to speak from a place of informed knowledge rather than opinion in order to fully participate in classroom discourse.” The same may be said for all our American citizens; if we choose to impactfully use our voice, then let it be an intelligent voice rebuilding the brokenness that lies in multiple areas of our communities. An intelligent voice gives food and water for nourishment realizing that the foundation of literacy requires a nurturing home.

Librarians throughout history and even today continue to help educate our young in a variety of ways as we build literacy and learning; students need multiple ways of learning; it stirs the natural curiosity and motivation to know more. One heartfelt story of a Houston public school librarian assisting her fourth grader in the annual MLK Oratory Competition through hours of research, speech writing, and practice is one of the ways librarians educate and assist students regularly. The goal is to add more amenities to the structure being erected; these language skills and experience add luxurious amenities to the house of literacy. Thankful for this beautiful young girl, I am also grateful for the librarian, Ms. Miller-Eaglin, who saw the need and committed to the diligent work it took for her to tirelessly work with this student.

Eliza Gleason, Ph.D. was the first Black woman in the United States to earn a doctorate in library science in 1940; this is the “support for professionals that looked like me?” I was referring to. (from Fiya Librarian’s blog article, Appetite Change) This additional information may have acted as a walk–in closet for the new career edifice. (Perhaps, this information should be included in the library studies coursework, so that all students are aware of those who forged before us.) Dr. Gleason exposed the injustices of the segregated libraries of the south; telling of the inability of the system to adequately afford two separate library buildings. There are many black librarians–male and female–that broke ground creating a legacy of literacy and community enhancement years and years before me. The knowledge of these cornerstone individuals came from my own research and desire to know more, so more bricks can be added to the house of knowledge. Dr. Gleason and other librarians understood the practicality of establishing a physical structure to engage the community in learning beyond what they currently know and see, and this is the continuous work of librarians even today.

Unfortunately, the world is changing, and is pledging to destroy the work of literacy. Libraries and librarians are under verbal attack for simply meeting the learning needs and requests of their patrons. As recently as a few short days ago, local school districts in the Houston area have enacted budget cuts and have plans to “reduce and restructure library services” due to lack of state funding and have implemented additional policies and procedures requiring librarians to read the entire book before purchasing and add the campus’ name to where the book is housed. As professional librarians, our goal is to help and serve our community. Librarians want nothing more than to continue the legacy of learning that began so long ago. Please do not disregard the needs of our diverse students; they need librarians to provide the services they were trained to provide; librarians do not have a hidden agenda. The goal is to support the foundation of the past, and to design as many houses on the foundation with the best amenities that life has to offer our students.

It starts with access, and it ends with access. In a free and democratic society, all students do not have access to information at home. Let us continue learning the way it should be–information for all. Libraries share value–public, academic, school, classroom, and private. Each type of library adds tremendous value, but one does not replace the other. Each one is needed. Not only do students and adults need their unrestricted libraries and librarians; librarians need their communities to retrofit their thinking on government, local, and school levels to reinforce the love of true learning. If our society’s thinking continues along this destructive path, the ability of our children’s learning may implode and the free society as we know it will be dismantled one book at a time.