After school, students rush down from the Central Kitsap Middle School and Central Kitsap High School campus to the Kitsap Regional Library (KRL). As some students prepare to study for a test, others book into the conference rooms to rehearse for their presentations. The public library serves as a third space for many students alike, and students can access all kinds of helpful services such as books, Wi-Fi, games, and printers at the library.
“A lot of students don’t have access to the kind of materials that we have here in the library at home, so being able to access them here is critical for education,” CKHS assistant librarian Adrian Runyan said.
The CKHS library has a diverse amount of services that are available to students and staff, such as Spanish and language books, LGBTQ+ informational books, and many more. Libraries all around can be used as a tool for students to access before, after, and when school is in session.
“The most important thing about a library is the diverse amount of material that’s available from juvenile fiction all the way to adult nonfiction,” Runyan said.
Most libraries have a wide selection of books that students can access, which can be helpful for their studies. Some students may not have access to such a wide range of materials, so having a library within reach can help open up doors for all students.
“One of the most important things about the library is kind of breaking down barriers to information,” KRL librarian Amelia Chea said. “So, you know, students who come from all sorts of different backgrounds and socio-economic situations, it might be hard for them to have access to books. We have video games here, computers, printing, all of that, and all of these other technologies.”
The Kitsap Regional Library has a teen space that specifically allows both middle school and high school students to stay and do work. There are work rooms that students can use to be closed off from the rest of the library, ensuring a space for either personal or collaborative work. Each room has a time limit of exactly one hour before students must renew their session or leave and let someone else use the room to their advantage.
Using the Kitsap Regional Library as a quiet place to do work and to hang out with friends can make visits both beneficial and enjoyable for students. Going to the library and working on missing work, work that is due soon, or even work that just needs to be finished can help students in the long run. Completing schoolwork and homework can lead to the student being less stressed inside and outside the school environment.
“We think of it as a kind of equity and making things available for people,” Chea said. “Pretty much everything at the library is free, so it’s nice, and it’s also a third space for students to come and hang out. You know, if you’re after school or whatever, come with your friends here to do homework. It’s a quiet place to work and study.”
With most libraries providing services free of charge, it is easier for people to come and go with the needs that they have. Having a space where students can get tutored or try to study before, after, and even during school hours ensures them an opportunity to better their academics.
“My personal opinion, I think libraries are great for studying and to read new books,” CKHS freshman Sydney Engman said. “But I feel like the impact on the students, it’s like the best place to study because it’s a quiet environment. Students and people from outside of school are required to stay quiet in the library, so it’s like a good place to study.”
Libraries can be used to the students’ advantage and as a service to help them. Having a quiet space for students to study and complete homework can be beneficial to their overall education. Furthermore, libraries are a main resource for students as they provide them with free access to information, as well as a space for both personal and collaborative work.
