District marks School Library Month; librarians highlight rising circulation and library programs

Rutherford County Schools’ district library and information specialist, Caitlin Benavidez, opened a presentation at the April 24 school board meeting to mark School Library Month. Benavidez outlined the scope of the district’s library services, described staffing and professional credentials, and highlighted programs aimed at expanding students’ recreational and academic reading.

Benavidez said Rutherford County has 60 library media specialists and 30 library assistants and that district libraries serve tens of thousands of readers. She reported that circulation across the district has risen, and credited librarians’ relationship-building and collection curation for the increase.

The board heard short video and live remarks from several librarians and students. Stacy Whitlock, library media specialist at Stewart’s Creek Middle School, presented winners of a district March “reading challenge,” and the meeting included student book reviews from Rockvale High School and other schools. Whitlock recognized teachers, principals and librarians who support reading programs and named principal Dr. Latony Murray for supporting the library at Stewart’s Creek.

Benavidez described school libraries as active instructional spaces that support literacy across subjects, noting librarians’ roles in classroom collaboration, research instruction, grant support and after-school clubs such as book clubs, STEM and robotics. She also cited research linking well-staffed library programs with reading achievement across demographic groups.

Why it matters: School libraries are a core part of literacy and curriculum support. Board recognition highlights the professional staffing and district efforts to increase student engagement with reading.

Ending: The board acknowledged librarians publicly and district communications distributed highlights from the libraries’ programs and student reading achievements.