The Teaching Librarian's Role in College Reading

Reading is an essential function for everything people learn. The main goal of reading is for readers to interpret, comprehend, and receive meaning from the text. Academic reading differs from standard reading. It is a complex form implemented throughout all subjects in higher educational institutions. Academic reading involves a detailed and critical approach, whereas standard reading is casual and typically involves briefly skimming over information. Students entering college are often unprepared to comprehend the complicated reading materials and manage the heavy reading load required for their class assignments. To be successful in college, students must understand different terminology and styles of academic reading, as well as the role instructional or teaching librarians play in this process. The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL, 2017) Standards for Proficiencies for Instruction Librarians and Coordinators Revision Task Force defines teaching or instructional librarians as those for whom instruction is a central or primary area of professional responsibility. This article will argue for the establishment of a reading center in college libraries to create a welcoming and encouraging environment, featuring special instructional sessions led by teaching librarians that alleviate the pressures of college life and help students understand the complexities of college-level reading.