Parent Teacher Magazine Gaston County Public Schools 2015 | Page 9

Children, families learn about the public library
When Ann Perkins-Davis realized that many of her students had
never been to the public library, she decided to bring the library to
them.
In her job as media specialist at Pleasant Ridge Elementary
School, Perkins-Davis works to help students develop a love for books
and reading. She discovered that many families at the school did not
have a library card either because of a language barrier or a lack of
awareness about the library’s resources.
Perkins-Davis called the Gaston County Public Library and invited
them to visit Pleasant Ridge for an afternoon. She promoted a “Free
Public Library Card” campaign and set aside time for parents to come
to the school’s media center where public library staff members were
available to answer questions and sign up new cardholders. The
library employees also brought a selection of books from the main
branch and gave the families an opportunity to check out the books.
Keturah Scarborough, an interpreter for Gaston County Schools,
attended the event and helped parents communicate with library
staff. One mother was interested in finding bilingual books so she
could read stories to her children in English. Another wanted to use
the library to research vocational schools for her son, a high school
senior who is interested in becoming an auto mechanic.
Scarborough said parents who are English language learners may
not know about signing up for a card at the public library, but they
want to provide their children with access to library resources.
“If the children are interested, they want to get involved,”
Scarborough said. “They know the teachers and principal here and
might feel more comfortable at the school rather than going into the
public library. That’s the nice thing about bringing the library to us.”
Paul Ward, assistant director for the Gaston County Public
Library, said they appreciate the opportunity to connect with families
at Pleasant Ridge. He was able to tell the parents about the library’s
online resources like Freegal, a music download service, as well as
e-books and digital magazines.
“It all starts with the library card,” Ward said. “It’s great to get

Sarah Miller, children’s services supervisor with the Gaston County
Public Library (left), and Ann Perkins-Davis, media specialist at
Pleasant Ridge Elementary School (center), talk with parent Donna
Flowers as she checks out books for her children.

people informed about our services.”
Perkins-Davis agreed, adding that she wants children to get into
the habit of visiting the public library when they are young.
“When you don’t go, you don’t know. That exposure is important,”
she said. “I tell the students that books are a way you can go all over
the world and never leave your home.”

Parent Teacher Magazine • Jan/Feb 2015• 7