Regard More, Not Regard Less: Welcoming All to the Sanctuary of the School Library

Many of the descriptions of public libraries as sanctuaries provide myriad examples of ways in which they serve the underserved: language circles, English language learning and citizenship classes, and access to technology for the homeless, to name a few. In the school library, if librarians are providing sanctuary only to those who feel comfortable seeking it in the library, they are not valuing the school library as a sanctuary for all. This article discusses why librarians need to prioritize knowing their communities and being proactive rather than neutral.