Madison Reporter

The shift from elementary to middle school can be daunting for students, but Glacier Creek Middle School's Library Helpers Club aims to ease this transition by fostering an inclusive environment. The club currently has 118 student members who volunteer their time in the library during lunch and recess. Members partake in activities such as shelving books, creating displays, and 3-D printing items. Interested students can join the club by signing up and undergoing training as a library helper.

The club provided its members with the opportunity to present at various professional conferences over the past school year, including events hosted by the Wisconsin Educational Media & Technology Association and the Wisconsin Library Association. Christina Makos, GCMS Library Media Specialist, remarked, “These guys presented to librarians, school administrators, and technology specialists about our club and how they’re trained. Every adult was very excited about that.”

With National School Library Month taking place in April, club members recognize the important role that school libraries play in a student's academic success and social well-being. Besides offering resources for academic assignments and personal enjoyment, the library also serves as a place for students to forge new friendships. “I think that school libraries help to build a good sense of community in a school,” said eighth-grader and library helper Amelia Lee. “There’s always going to be someone who’s nice and welcoming there.”

The club members expressed gratitude for Ms. Makos’ leadership and support. Nora Fu, a sixth-grader and library helper, shared her experience: “When I joined here in fifth grade – I was a private school kid in elementary, so I didn’t really know what clubs were. I signed up for this because I love books, and when Ms. Makos welcomed me, I felt really good about my decision. I feel like she’s the holder of all wisdom for the library, and it’s really nice to have her around.”

In summary, both the students and Ms. Makos have created a community of friendship and learning within the Library Helpers Club, celebrating their achievements together.