The Coffee Klatsch or How to Feed My Addictions

Everyone who knows me will understand it when I say I am addicted to two things...reading and coffee.

Coffee

I view my Starbuck Decaf Grande Americano as the saving grace of my morning.  (Yes, decaf as part of my Detox-GetIntoShape-GetALife endeavors)  To say "addiction" is a bit of an understatement, but let me  rationalize for a minute.  The morning coffee represents so much more than just a hot, "makes-me-feel-lovely" beverage to get the day going.

The true benefit is the Coffee Klatsch experience.  What is a better time of the day to have a conversation with a colleague/peer than over a coffee?

I am a big believer in "destress" time, or designated time to reconnect and enjoy each other's company as well as discuss "work" in more informal settings.  This same holds true for students.

I even have a list of conversation starters for these informal times:

1. The classic...How was your weekend?
2. The roller coaster...How bout them Packers?
3. The literary...Did you read (insert title)?  [Word of warning...Fifty Shades of Grey]
4. The most important...How much do you love your library media specialist?
5. The brown-noser...What are we getting the principal for Bosses Day?  OR,  Isn't Mr. Pendleton your favorite teacher?

Reading

I certainly don't want to seem to be complaining overly, but we (myself included) consistently complain about students (or my own children) not reading enough.  But the real question for me as I travel from district to district and talk with parents is do we really encourage reading and allow enough time in our busy schedules for leisure reading as an activity?  Do we allow enough informal time during the school day to read for enjoyment?

I am more guilty than most.  Of my four boys, only the youngest reads enough and only because he hangs out with Grandma in the morning.  Our nights are filled with football and basketball practices, our weekends with football games and basketball tournaments.  I can foresee, and know through experience, that students hit middle school and fostering reading becomes even more challenging.

Here's my suggestion...Let's turn our school libraries into coffee houses, combining two of the greatest leisure activities.  Funny thing is there are schools actually doing just that.  I do have my reasons other than great coffee, however:

• Time to reconnect...either with a book or with friends in a safe environment.  School doesn't need to be a cinder-block wall classroom painted mint green.
• It's all about the atmosphere.  Create an atmosphere and an "experience" and people will want to come back.
• The library will function as more than just a place to hold books or research.  Offer live music, poetry readings or performance art and see how popular the library will become.
• Information is not confined in books like it used to be.  Libraries have much less need for physical materials and much more need for free wireless, access to ebooks and online services.  We can do this.
• The library as the hub of the school...make it interesting!

I have seen far too many "dead" libraries in my travels recently.  My profession is changing, education is changing, technology is changing...libraries (and how we as media specialists and teachers) MUST change.