Libraries Reflect Our Culture
Description:
Students will study the how historical libraries reflect culture through a study of the packhorse librarians of the Great Depression. Students then create an original fictional story about librarians during a chosen period in history. This lesson is designed to help students experience increased confidence in their research abilities.
Goals & Objectives:
LIBRARY MEDIA SKILLS OBJECTIVES
The student will use, read, and listen to facts and stories about libraries and use the information to create an original story.
CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES:
This activity may be completed as part of a social studies unit about the institutions that represent the culture of a people.
MOTIVATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
The student will:
-become interested in the research process.
-understand the importance of information skills.
-experience increased confidence in research ability
-understand the value of information skills.
-achieve satisfaction in research accomplishments.
Materials & Sources:
Resource List
| Credits: |
School Library Media Activities Monthly
Adapted for SOS by Kori Gerbig
School of Information Studies
Syracuse University
|
| Sources: |
School Library Media Activities Monthly
April 2002; 18(8); 17-18.
http://www.schoollibrarymedia.com |
Procedures:
INSTRUCTIONAL ROLES:
-This activity may be completed by the teacher or library media specialist. Because it is often difficult for students to imagine the lives of people in other times, pictures and other visuals will be important.
ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES FOR COMPLETION:
-As a part of a Library Week celebration, the life of librarians may be highlighted. An excellent example for use might include a reading or sharing of excerpts from the book "Down Cut Shin Creek" In this book are the stories and photographs of a special Kentucky project during the Great Depression. Before reading excerpts, ask students to consider what it might mean to be in dire poverty. How would it feel to wait for someone to come by on horseback to deliver something to read because that would be the only stimulation? (No television, video games, books, radio, etc.).
-Several of the chapters include sections that would be descriptive for reading aloud. (Example: "An Ordinary Day," pp.7-23). Whistle or play folk songs that might have been sung by the librarians on horseback as they set out to deliver books. Show an example of the bags or sacks that might have been carried. The book includes photographs that will be useful.
-After students have listened to the presentation, they may divide into small groups to talk about what it might have been like to be a packhorse librarian or a recipient of books. Suggest that groups consider the clothing, entertainment, food, and work that the people did. How does a look at packhorse librarians reflect the time and the events ? How did the depression and the economy relate to what the people were doing? Students may find that they don't know much about the time or the area. Suggest that they identify information they need to know. Lists will be used for research in the library media center.
-Following the discussion, students will be asked to imagine themselves in the position of needing or using a libary or library media center in another time period and place where libraries existed. They must decide who they would be, what they might need a library for, and how they would use it . Each student may use the resources of the library media center to find details that would help in writing about the person that he or she has chosen. Information collected is used to write a short story about that person and the times.
-Suggest that students use their imaginations. For example, if they are looking at libraries in the United States, what events might be going on at the time? What might be significant for a potential library user?
FOLLOW-UP:
-Students may collect interesting anecdotes about libraries and library users. Introduce the use of newspaper and periodical databases and suggest that they search for library stories.
Assessment:
EVALUATION:
-The student will be evaluated on his or her success in reading and listening to facts and stories about libraries, and the use of the informatiion to create an original fiction story.
Sources:
School Library Media Activities Monthly
April 2002; 18(8); 17-18.
http://www.schoollibrarymedia.com
