The Paideia Elementary Library

Role of the Elementary Library

Paideia’s elementary library plays a crucial role in the development of reading, research, and lifelong learning skills. All students visit the library on a regular basis--kindergarten through 4th/5th grade students once a week and 5th/6th grade students every other week. During library visits students participate in read alouds and book discussions, learn how to use the library to find books to read for pleasure and information, and begin developing early research skills to prepare them for junior high and high school. All students borrow books from our collection of more than 13,000 titles.

A primary purpose of library visits is to share materials that help broaden students’ world view through literature they can experience as “windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors”--stories with characters that reflect their own experience, provide a window into a different experience, and allow them to empathize with others’ experiences. Our read alouds are carefully selected to support this purpose and to encourage thought-provoking discussions about current events, history, social issues, and life experiences.