By Joanne Bailey-Boorsam
joanne@wktv.org
When Godfrey-Lee’s Media Specialist Harry Coffill shared that the district’s East Lee Campus did not have a library and due to budget constraints, the chances that the alternative high school getting one were slim, staff at the Kent District Library listened.
After all, the chance to get books in the hands of anyone, especially students, is a temptation that no librarian can ever really resist, so the KDL staff partnered with the the Godfrey-Lee media staff and built a private collection for the school.
“We really focused on providing books and materials that would be popular for that specific population,” said Ty Papke, the branch outreach and programming specialist for the KDL Wyoming and Kelloggsville branches. “The students also will have access to the KDL full catalog and will be able to request books from other KDL branches which will be delivered by the KDL Bookmobile.”
The groundbreaking collaboration started two years ago with KDL and Godfrey-Lee staff looking through the KDL’s collection for possible selections for the new library. Through discussion, it was decided that while the library would have books that connect to the East Lee curriculum, the new library’s main focus would be to encourage reading, Papke said.
“We want the students to enjoy reading rather than feel like they are forced to,” he said, adding that the collection was designed so students would be able to find books about people that are like them, helping to give a voice to what students are facing whether they are Spanish speakers, LGBTQ, or teen parents.
Therefore, the collection has a broad selection that includes teen fiction, novels, graphic novels, junior level chapter books, and some picture books for those with younger siblings or have children of their own.
A former classroom was converted at the East Lee Campus with shelves and signage added with some comfy furniture as well.
“I’m really excited about building a community partnership with KDL that allows East Lee students access to exciting literature choices while engaging them in a relationship with a community library that will serve them well into the future,” Coffill said in a recent release about the new library. “The books chosen for the KDL Godfrey-Lee library are exciting, and I can’t wait to see our students utilize the space.”
Unfortunately, the East Lee students have not had a chance to “check out” the library since the school has been in virtual learning well before the recent Michigan Department of Health and Human Services three-week partial shut-down order that took effect on Nov. 18.
Papke said there also is a goal to have the students come to a KDL branch and do a “shopping spree” of sorts among the stacks for books they would like to see in the new East Lee library. This adventure will have to wait due to the COVID situation, he said.
For now, Papke said KDL is pleased to be able to help connect students to books in hopes they too will become lifelong readers.
The East Lee library is the first private collection at a school that KDL has built. In 2017, KDL opened the KDL Kelloggsville branch in partnership with Kelloggsville Public School. The KDL Kelloggsville branch, located in the high school, was the first KDL-school partnership. The Kelloggsville branch is open to the public after school. Currently, all KDL branches are closed to the public and only offering online services and curbside pick up.
For more about KDL, visit kdl.org.
