Building a Community of Readers: My Partnership with the Winnetka Northfield Public Library

Over the years, I’ve been trying to establish a strong partnership between our school and the Winnetka Northfield Public Library. While it took some time, the relationship has blossomed into something truly impactful. We’ve had several meetings, and though progress was slow initially, things started to click with the right connections. A pivotal moment came when I saw a Twitter post from a fellow librarian about their school’s Student Library Advisory Board (SLAB) visiting the public library. I was inspired and commented that I wanted to do the same with my students. That post sparked conversations with the Community Engagement Librarian Sydney Clark at the Winnetka Northfield Public Library.

We began collaborating on ways to deepen the connection between our school and the library. After meeting with my administrators, I secured time at a September faculty meeting to have Sydney and a youth librarian present the incredible resources the library offers our staff and students. One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced over the years has been getting a library card for teachers who don’t live in the district. Sydney, recognizing the importance of empowering teachers with access to library resources, quickly proposed giving every teacher in Winnetka a library card. With the fresh excitement from the presentation, teachers eagerly signed up for cards—and I couldn’t have been more thrilled!

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A Fist Full of New Library Cards for My Students!

But that wasn’t the end. I quickly realized that many students didn’t have library cards. At ages 10 and 11, many were still using their parents’ cards, which limited their ability to check out materials independently. So, Sydney and I worked together to create a form that allowed parents to give digital permission for their children to receive their library cards. Dozens of students now have access to a world of resources, from books to audiobooks, music, movies, and magazines. All of this is entirely free, expanding their learning opportunities exponentially.

One of the best parts of this partnership is how the library’s digital resources have complemented our own. With the Digital Library of Illinois, my students now have access to hundreds of thousands of digital books and audiobooks—resources that would have been out of reach due to budget constraints. This collaboration allows us to create a robust, multi-faceted reading experience that enriches every student’s learning journey.

One Of My Library Heroes!

The Teacher Portal: A Game-Changer for Educators

Beyond empowering students, the Winnetka Northfield Public Library has also supported educators in transformative ways. The library recently launched a teacher portal, where any teacher with a library card can request unlimited resources to use in their classrooms. The library staff pulls materials from all the feeder libraries and delivers them directly to the school when available.

I’ve used this service to augment entire grade-level units when our school’s collection couldn’t meet the curriculum's needs. It’s been a game-changer, allowing teachers to access high-quality resources without the need for large budgets. The ability to quickly request and receive materials that enhance student learning has been a huge asset to our school community. This service has made a difference for individual teachers and fostered collaboration among educators across our school.

The SLAB: Student Leaders in Action

And the excitement doesn’t stop there. One of the most thrilling developments in this partnership is the creation of our Student Library Advisory Board (SLAB). After much planning, we’re finally ready to meet in just a few days! We have big dreams for this group, but we’re also encouraging the students to dream up their own goals for the school year. The students will help shape our efforts to create a community of readers, and they’ll be the ones driving projects that celebrate books, creativity, and collaboration.

Our Promotional Video (Complete With Customized Lyrics and Music Via ChatGPT and Suno.ai

One project we’re particularly excited about is the opportunity to take the SLAB students on a field trip to the Winnetka Northfield Public Library. This will be a full-circle moment, as it all started with a tweet about a similar trip. Beyond the field trip, we hope to continue working closely with the library for years. One idea we’re exploring is having the SLAB group create a video for the library’s summer reading program. I can’t wait to see the students’ creativity shine through as they take on this project!

Looking Ahead

While we’ve already seen some incredible outcomes from this partnership, the journey is just beginning. I know the connection between our school and the Winnetka Northfield Public Library will continue to evolve, and I’m excited to see how it grows. We’re building something special—an ecosystem where students, teachers, and librarians work together to nurture a lifelong love of reading.

I look forward to sharing more about SLAB's progress and the projects we embark on together later this year. Stay tuned for more updates, as this partnership promises to open new possibilities for our students and community.