MOSAIC makes world connections through diverse media

Every student at Lincoln Public Schools should be able to see themselves reflected in the media choices provided to them through LPS Library Media Services.

“We know that it is critical for kids to find themselves reflected in books,” said Chris Haeffner, director of Library Media Services for LPS. “Not only can these books help them relate to things they are feeling and doing, it can open their minds to our global society and also take them to places a world away to learn about new cultures.”

Over 25 years ago, a new rule from the Nebraska Department of Education required that schools include in their libraries current and unbiased information about different cultures. LPS stepped up to the challenge by creating a Multicultural Committee to review materials and make recommendations to schools about appropriate content. They also put together a digital display called MOSAIC each year.

This year, the display is viewable at LPS District Office, 5905 O St., until Sept. 27, and is open and free to the public during regular office hours.

“Our media specialists are doing an amazing job opening the world to students through books,” added Haeffner. “With all the time they spend in the classroom working with students, they don’t always have the time required to research and review all the new multicultural titles that fit within the Nebraska Department of Education’s Rule 16. The MOSAIC display serves to inform all of our librarians, teachers, and curriculum specialists about the rich multicultural resources we have available to us.”

The committee consists of current and retired media specialists and volunteers. Each member reviews between 10 to 20 books each year, depending on the reading levels. Even though this year’s books have just been announced, these reviewers have already begun selecting and reviewing titles for the 2019-20 school year.

Each year the MOSAIC committee works on modernizing the display with more hands-on and interactive displays to help create more connections with the books.

Over 190 titles will be part of the digital displays, which will include:

• Book trailers and highlights videos
• Professionally written reviews
• Teaching resources to compliment most titles
• Full text ebooks and audiobooks on demand

Haeffner said, “It took a lot of hours for our staff to research the multimedia support for each title and then compiling them all together. Our hope is to get them to stop and look more deeply at the literature, giving them a richer experience and a deeper connection.”

You can visit the digital MOSAIC displays online. 

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