Author Dusti Bowling speaks with the Student Library Advisory Board during her visit. Photos courtesy of Todd Burleson

Virginia found me at the back of our 126-year-old auditorium, where I was adjusting microphones for the upcoming presentation, surrounded by stately wooden chairs, fluted plaster columns, and a slanted floor that gave the space a quiet grandeur. Her eyes were wide with nervous energy. The fifth grader was fully prepared to introduce author Dusti Bowling to an audience of 370 of her fellow students, but she sought a moment of reassurance.

We walked down the side aisle and stood just to the right of the stage. I introduced her to Bowling, and after a few deep breaths, Virginia stepped into the spotlight. With humor, confidence, and clear evidence of thoughtful research, she delivered a warm, memorable introduction—kicking off our three-day author residency with poise and heart.

We started a Student Library Advisory Board (SLAB) this year as a way to build community in our school and to provide a safe place for anyone who wanted to feel welcome and appreciated, while also contributing to something that would make our school community better. We wanted to build more than just a student group at Skokie School in Winnetka, IL. We aimed to create a vibrant community of readers dedicated to celebrating reading, promoting kindness, and inspiring meaningful connections within our school of fifth and sixth graders—and beyond.

From this foundation, SLAB has evolved into a student-powered initiative that has redefined the role of young leaders in the library space. We opened the group to anyone and consistently have 24 students at the meetings.

In collaboration with a neighboring district, a colleague and I had selected Bowling—author of The Canyon’s Edge, which is the school’s One Book, One Campus selection this year—for the multiday visit the previous school year. Once SLAB was formed, the students took the lead in shaping the visit—funded by the Winnetka Public Schools Foundation—and became the driving force behind its success.

Early on, the students brainstormed what needed to be done. My library colleague Crystal Roel and I offered feedback on areas they might not have considered. While SLAB meets weekly before school, there were quite a few extra meetings with students in smaller groups to help them plan and execute their ideas for each element of the visit.

The goal was to create an engaging, interactive experience that would inspire their peers and celebrate the power of storytelling.

Rather than simply attending an author event, SLAB members became the architects of the experience, dividing specific tasks among smaller groups to ensure its success. The student responsibilities included:

• Correspondence and scheduling: SLAB students managed communications with Bowling and her team, finalizing logistics and crafting an itinerary that included a presentation to the whole school, smaller Q&A discussions, writing workshops, an interview for our first SLAB podcast, and an evening event at a local bookstore.

• Hospitality: Students planned a warm, personal welcome, including a guided tour for Bowling and special accommodations for students who needed them.

• Promotion and outreach: The team created posters, morning announcements, and digital content to build school-wide excitement.

• Event facilitation: SLAB members introduced Bowling at each session, led Q&A discussions, and moderated student interactions.

When it came time for Bowling’s visit, SLAB members were engaged hosts and enthusiastic ambassadors for literacy. Their contagious excitement turned the visit into a school-wide celebration of reading, storytelling, and student leadership.

Of course, everything didn’t go exactly as planned. In one case, Bowling’s presentation to the whole school didn’t start on time because of classes arriving late. Due to the delay, there wasn’t time for the SLAB students to ask questions and facilitate a discussion at the end of the presentation as planned. The students were disappointed but were able to redirect their questions and ask them in smaller workshops with Bowling. Rolling with it and managing disappointment and a disruption to the schedule is a tough skill to learn—and they did a fantastic job at it.

On the final day of the visit, all of the SLAB students gathered in the library to have lunch and a discussion with Bowling. It was an intimate, joyful moment that left a lasting impression. Bowling was incredibly warm and generous— patiently and thoughtfully answering every question. The students, beaming with pride, were grateful for the opportunity to engage in such a personal and meaningful way.
 

SLAB member Virginia, left, introduces Dusti Bowling at the schoolwide assembly.

One of the most rewarding aspects was watching students extend the experience, particularly through the SLAB podcast team. Students produced a podcast episode featuring an in-depth interview with Bowling to extend the learning beyond the visit. This interdisciplinary project required them to:

• Develop thoughtful interview questions based on research into Bowling’s work and themes;

• Learn audio recording and editing techniques to create a polished, professional final product; and

• Design promotional materials to share the episode with the school community and beyond.

“Doing the podcast was such a cool experience,” said one student. “I loved getting to actually interview an author and hear her thoughts in real time.”

Another added, “It takes time, but hard work pays off.”

This initiative reinforced an essential idea: With funding support, author visits don’t have to be single-day events. When students take ownership, these experiences can become rich, multifaceted learning opportunities that integrate literacy, technology, and the arts.

New SLAB projects are already in progress. The students will help select the next One Book, One Campus title and develop promotional activities around it. Additionally, they are working to design a kid-centered summer reading program, from theme to promotion to celebration.

SLAB students have created book menus—visual recommendation guides that connect readers with new titles based on their favorites. These menus, displayed in a flip-file binder at the checkout desk, are a huge hit among students. In addition, SLAB members have been busy designing featured reader posters and displays that showcase why they love reading and share their top book picks. Their work makes the library a more inviting and inspiring space.

For librarians looking to empower student leadership, the SLAB model offers a simple but powerful takeaway: When we allow students to lead, they rise to the occasion, bringing creativity, innovation, and an unforgettable impact to their school community. 

Todd Burleson is the librarian at the Skokie School in Winnetka, IL, and the 2016 School Librarian of the Year.