Novi Middle School Library Earns Top Honor

NOVI — Novi Middle School’s Library Media Center has earned recognition from the state, earning the 2017-18 Model 21st Century School Library Award. The school library, part of the Novi Community School District, won the honor for its focus on services and programs for students and staff, and extensive professional activities promoting school libraries and quality services statewide, the announcement said Wednesday.

The SL 21 program recognizes performances by K-12 libraries, particularly high-quality school libraries and library media specialists, and promotes the development of similar initiatives in other schools. State Librarian Randy Riley commended Library Specialist Kimberly Wesner for providing a high-quality program.

“By achieving exemplary status, you show that you are meeting statewide benchmarks for excellent service, learning, environment and leadership for your students,” Riley said.

Novi Middle School principal Stephanie Schriner said the media center provides a mix of both print and digital media for students, along with technological resources that encourage learning in the 21st Century. “We are fortunate to have an outstanding media specialist in Ms. Kim Wesner as she is an advocate for literacy and works diligently to use various forms to draw students into our media center,” Schriner said. “Her use of advertising, social media and classroom presentations help to draw students towards the many offerings of the Novi Middle School media center. Her efforts and this award make us very proud.”

Participants in the program applied by providing information such as curriculum, co-teaching activities, community collaboration, and participation in educational associations. The Novi Middle School Library Media Center holds exemplary status in the SL 21 program through March 2021. Its designation as Michigan’s Model 21st School Library is for the 2017-18 school year.

Photo by Bill Roose/Novi Community School District