Students build community through books

Little Free Library created by Niskayuna students

A collaboration between schools helped students build community through books.

Niskayuna High School students in Mrs. DeSimony’s 10th grade English class and Schenectady High School students in Mrs. Libertucci’s 11th grade class collaborated to build and stock two “Little Free Libraries.” The libraries are located at Girls, Inc. and the Steinmetz Boys and Girls Club.

Students and teachers posing with little free library
Mrs. DeSimony and Mrs. Libertucci with Schenectady High School students (Left to Right) Divina Rambharose, Mariah Jacobs, Mikelle Moore and Joe Rivera.

The students read and selected a range of young adult books while corresponding with each other using FlipGrids, a virtual message board. Through their discussions, they learned about each other and their shared appreciation of reading.

“We liked some of the same children’s books and children’s books reach mostly everyone,” Niskayuna student Rebecca Schmidt said.

The project was made possible by grant funding from the National Education Association.

10th grade students selecting books for the little free libraries
Mrs. DeSimony’s 10th graders discuss the selection of books.