If you’ve walked through the Wright Education Building, you’ve seen, and maybe studied, in the Education Library on the first floor. But not many may be aware of the work that goes into stocking the shelves of the library - or of the ages the books in the library serve.

Like any library, a great deal of thought goes into the books that fill the shelves as they serve students of all ages, and now thanks to a generous gift from donor Pat Chase, the children’s collection will continue to grow.

Christina Jones, Head of the Education Library, uses a number of selection tools to decide what books to include in the library’s collection, including a research guide she made for the School of Education community and lists from various teaching organizations, such as the National Council for the Social Studies and the National Science Teaching Association. Jones also takes into consideration faculty interests and keeps in mind books that will support readers at all stages of fluency.

"Pre-service teachers use these books to provide a starting off point for teaching a particular concept or framing an activity. Many of our books support social-emotional learning and provide a powerful foundation for productive conversations,” Jones said. “Our students and faculty use these books in the classroom and out in the field to plant seeds in a child's imagination so that they become healthy, curious, knowledgeable, imaginative and empathetic adults.”

“A guiding principle for my approach to working with children's literature is summed up by a powerful quote from Kwame Alexander: ‘The mind of an adult begins in the imagination of a child,’” she added. “My hope is to curate a collection of books in which young people encounter characters who share their lived experiences so they can be assured that they have a place in the world, while at the same time providing a window into the lives of others.”

Those wishing to contribute to the purchase of additional books are encouraged to make a monetary donation to the Education Library.