Supporting Independent Reading

For 2023’s first episode, we discuss independent reading and school library support. Joining the pod are Nancy Stenberg, who is the librarian at Dorman Elementary School in Springfield; Sarah Murphy, Kennedy Middle School librarian in Natick; and Laura Harrington, the high school librarian in North Andover. Independent reading and school libraries is a vast topic, connecting to many things we all do everyday, yet the culmination of Emily Hanford’s reporting into the Sold a Story podcast and Wayne D'Orio's recent SLJ article, which outlines the scope of the problem and how some libraries are responding, has put it back into the spotlight. Media discussed: Brian Selznick Wonderstruck Brian Selnick The Invention of Hugo Cabret Pam Smy, Thornhill Lincoln Peirce, Big Nate series Elizabeth Acevedo, The Poet X Jason Reynolds & Jason Griffin, Ain’t Burned all the Bright Jason Reynolds, Long Way Down Jason Reynolds & Danica Novgorodoff, Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel Laura's Article "Independent Reading: One Town's Process to Support Choice" Brenna Maloney, Buzzkill: A Wild Wander Through the Weird and Threatened World of Bugs Pierre Bayard, How to Talk About Books You Haven’t Read Deborah Moyer, The Readers’ Advisory Handbook Laura is Reading: Carolyn Hays, A Girlhood: A Letter to My Transgender Daughter Book by Carolyn Hays Tracy Deonn, Bloodmarked Nancy is reading: Kwame Alexander, illus. by Dare Coulter, An American Story Sarah is reading: Rebecca Caprara, Worst-Case Collin Christina Lauren, The Honey-Don't List