I wanted to share this because the letter below has some thought provoking comments about the direction and future of our libraries in this new Obama administration. The information was written by Paula Huddy, who is a Teacher Librarian at The Blake School in Wayzata, Minnesota. I hope you find it as compelling as I did.

-JoAnne

The Obamas take their role model status very seriously and while their celebrity status is already assured, they take great effort to present themselves as “one of us,” and not a part of the aloof and inaccessible political elite.

The Obamas carry not only the potential for significant improvement in our nation’s well being; they literally carry the hopes and dreams of a nation hungry for change. Of course, my interests in president-elect Obama’s priorities are heightened when I hear him discuss his views on education. I was particularly impressed by a speech he gave to a group of librarians on June 25, 2005, soon after he was sworn in as a U.S. senator, but fully two years before he announced his candidacy for president.

In the speech, he began by expressing his views on the importance of libraries. “The library has always been a window to a larger world – a place where we come to discover big ideas and profound concepts that help move the American story forward.” If we wish our children to be successful and to have doors of opportunity open while they’re young, then one of our greatest responsibilities as parents, educators and citizens is to make certain that every American child can read and read well. No skill is more basic; no ability more essential, Obama believes, than reading. “Reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible.”

It has been proven in numerous research studies that children who start kindergarten with an awareness of letters and basic language sounds become better readers and face fewer challenges in the years ahead. We also know that the more reading materials children are exposed to at home, the better they score on reading tests throughout their lives.

Obama promised to make investments in family literacy programs and early childhood education so that children aren’t left behind before they even go to school. He further suggested that parents need to get books in their children’s hands early and often and, as parents; finding the time and energy to develop a love of reading not only in their child, but in themselves. He urged that parents find time to read to their children, talk to them about what they are reading and make time for reading by turning off the television and picking up a book themselves.

Obama asked; “What if it was easy to get a book as it is to rent a DVD or pick up McDonalds? What if instead of a toy in every Happy Meal, there was a book? What if there were portable libraries that rolled through parks and playgrounds like ice cream trucks? Or kiosks in stores where you could borrow books?” Although parents and educators can never guarantee that our children will be rich or successful, or do better than their parents, he affirmed, America is about making it possible to give our children the opportunity to try.

“Education is still the foundation of this opportunity. And the most basic building block that holds that foundation together is still reading.” He concluded that as the 21st century dawns on a world where knowledge is power and literacy is the key that unlocks the gates of opportunity, we all have a responsibility to instill in our children a love of reading so that “we can give them the chance to fulfill their dreams.” The Obamas are going to be very much in the fishbowl, but it’s going to be interesting, exhilarating and an education for all of us.

May all of our dreams be fulfilled and future challenges met under this new and exciting leadership.

Books from the award winning Bur Bur and Friends children’s book series that uses a cast of multicultural characters who educate kids about sports, outdoor exploration and active play.

Seed Newsvine

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 at 7:33 am and is filed under Community Board. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.