The Power of Partnership

In a conversation with Ryan Wieber, Director of Lincoln City Libraries (LCL), Dr. Chris Haeffner, Director of Library Services for Lincoln Public Schools (LPS), shared insights into the vital role school libraries play in building strong readers and the powerful partnership between LPS and Lincoln City Libraries.   

What’s your role at LPS, and how did you get there?

I’m the Director of Library Services for Lincoln Public Schools, where I work to make sure that we have the very best school libraries in all of our 62 schools and programs. I started my career as a teacher at Everett Elementary, where on my very first tour of the building, we entered the school library and I asked, “How does one get THIS job?!” 

I served for 12 years as a school librarian, both in elementary and middle schools. These were by far the most energizing and creatively inspiring years of my career! Once I finished my doctorate program in educational leadership, I was given the opportunity to serve as the director of libraries for the district. It’s been a dreamy succession of events, and I couldn’t be luckier in the path that my career has taken!  

LPS libraries are known for their incredible resources. Can you share what makes them stand out?

We’re fortunate in Nebraska that accreditation rules require certified school librarians and dedicated spaces in every school. That’s rare! What this means for LPS is that every school has access to a highly trained school librarian who can not only build strong library collections to help grow strong readers, but also provide important instructions in areas such as media literacy, digital citizenship, and research skills

I believe that LPS has one of the strongest school library programs in the nation. We’ve developed a comprehensive elementary library curriculum with 44 lessons per grade, per year, shared nationwide with districts lacking such resources. Middle and high school students engage in lessons tailored to digital and media literacy. Last year, LPS students checked out over 800,000 print books and 250,000 ebooks—a testament to the joy of reading and the expertise of our librarians.

If we want our children to become skilled readers, we have to help them discover the joy of reading and the sense of fulfillment that comes from investing in their own curiosity.   

How does the LPS partnership with Lincoln City Libraries for programs like Library OneCard and summer outreach at school sites benefit students and families?

Our partnership with LCL ensures students and families have year-round access to resources that expand learning beyond school walls. Programs like the Library OneCard introduce students to LCL’s vast resources and create a seamless connection between school and public libraries.  

Our library partnership creates a continuous bridge of opportunity for students, providing them with access to information and resources, regardless of age, income, or educational background.

What are other potential ways that LCL and the Schools can work together to encourage stronger reading habits and improve educational outcomes?

I feel so encouraged by the collaborative conversations that are happening between LCL and our LPS library services. We both recognize that developing strong readers is vital to the success of our community, and I’m excited about the different ways we’ve talked about joining forces to further our goals. 

Now that every student has a Library OneCard, I’d love to see us working together to make sure every family has an opportunity to visit their local library and explore the wide range of resources available to them there. It would also be exciting to partner with each other in events that encourage families to sign up for permanent library cards that they could use once students graduate from LPS. Our school and city libraries have so much to offer; I believe students and families would be amazed to discover the resources already at their fingertips!