In my experience, libraries are constantly used as community meeting places, even showing movies, so I don't know what that person is complaining about.

The problem with the library complainer is that they're describing what libraries already do -- but since s/he declares that s/he doesn't and never plans to go there....

From that library column:

Few RHS teacher require library research ... and most all reading assignments (biographies, fiction, current events) must be annotated, which means students must buy paperback versions, not check them out at the library.

Um, what? Does she mean "annotated," as in the book must be turned in with the paper, all marked up? If so, is this true, because I hate the very idea.

"I've never been to a school, and I have no plans to ever go to one, but schools should be about teaching children things and not just about a place to keep them indoors for the day."

The problem with the library complainer is that they're describing what libraries already do -- but since s/he declares that s/he doesn't and never plans to go there....

"It's just an outdated building full of stupid books! Why would I go there???"

Kathy, teaching students to mark their text is a pretty key skill in high school, at least. I usually give them the option to use post-its if they have a real problem with writing in a book, but a lot of kids don't read closely until they learn that skill.

(Not commenting on the person herself; just on the annotation thing.)

Maybe she means they have to use a specific (paperback) edition so the page numbers will be consistent.

Eta: wow, I had no idea that marking the text was a taught skill. We were so not allowed to mark up the (school-owned, and they were pretty much all school or library owned) books in my day.

That site is sort of addictive. After a while, I was clicking things mostly on instinct. Still, 540 grains of rice is what - a mouthful? Maybe two?

Right! And yet, addictive because it's this trick of figuring out how far I can get in vocabulary level (highest I've gotten was 47 but with a ton of luck and guessing).

I love annotating text and think it's a good skill to be taught to students, especially with readers who struggle because it makes explicit what is often a hidden process -- that of making meaning of a text. And I will often, with short pieces, have kids get credit for annotating (or group annotating) because they are practicing it and need motivation to do so since it isn't easy.

And there are lots of ways to annotate and teach annotating. For many of the teachers I work with, it's now WHAT or HOW something is annotated, but it is the fact that annotation happens that is important.

eta xpost with others.

they need to be transformed into gathering places for all sorts of activities, combined with rec centers, perhaps, and focused more on multimedia.

I was going to say. My public library has toys in the children's room, two rooms of entertainment DVDs and videos (they're gangbusters on TV series), and a small lecture hall. And free internet, and ESL materials, and two reading rooms, and a bunch of smaller conference-style rooms for group work, and a reference librarian to whom you can direct questions, and oh yeah a whole lot of books. And a giant plant (possibly a ficus) in the middle of the non-fiction floor!