Beyond Reading: Empowering Students to Transform School Culture through School Libraries

Abstract

School libraries play a vital role in fostering not only reading habits but also student agency and a positive school culture. This poster presents an innovative school library project in which students became active creators and promoters of reading experiences through book curation and outdoor library activities.

Students selected meaningful books, designed promotional materials, organized reading spaces, and facilitated participation among their peers. These student-led initiatives encouraged voluntary reading, strengthened social connections, and enhanced the visibility of the school library as a collaborative learning hub. The project also incorporated the values of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing inclusion, community engagement, and sustainable learning practices.

The findings suggest that when students are empowered to lead library programs, they move beyond being passive readers and become active contributors to school culture. This approach demonstrates how school libraries can serve as dynamic spaces that promote participation, collaboration, and social responsibility while supporting lifelong learning.