Stories
RHS Library Forum
It's not just a book club; it's an adventure!

Founded in December 2003, the Library Forum is a supportive community of readers and writers among Robinson High School students. The Forum has grown from the idea of a single student to a school-sponsored activity. What makes us different from other high school extracurricular clubs is the use of online discussion boards to share poetry, short stories, book reviews, thoughts, and opinions. We have on-campus meetings about once a month. There are no membership fees and no fundraisers. Partipicate as much or as little as your busy schedule allows. Any RHS student who is interested in literature, learning, and fun is welcome to join during membership enrollment dates.

I sponsor this little group (55 students out of 530 student pop.) at Robinson High School of the most diverse group of kids ever and we call ourselves the RHS Library Forum. Last year, our membership had the honor of a senior class valedictorian and the male and female students voted "Most Likely to Succeed." We have a large population of below poverty level students and special ed kids, too as well a small number of gay and lesbian students as members. It is amazing and beautiful to see them all together because you would think it wouldn't "work" but somehow it does.

Our mission states that we want "to build a community of readers and writers that shows respect for diversity of opinion while promoting a lifelong appreciation for literature, drama, and learning."

Our motto is "Read responsibly. Write creatively. Think independently."

It is really two groups in one but I think RESPECT is the key issue.

We have live face-to-face social activities and meetings: once a month on campus "business" meetings were we talk about membership, rules, congratulatory notes, etc. and upcoming social activities:

"Booked for Breakfast" (a group that meets once a month for donuts and book discussion of the Abe Lincoln Award nominees), a very popular "Mystery Theatre" (members from teams and solve mysteries once per year), an equally well-attended "Evening at the Forum" (members read poetry, play original compositions, produce original short film, perform skits, play impromptu "theatre" games, etc.), and our wildly popular DDR parties (members play/compete with Dance, Dance Revolution, Karaoke Revolution, and Guitar Hero).

We have an online reading, writing, reviewing, game-playing, and sharing artistic masterpieces website especially for the Library Forum members. If you would like to visit, http://robinsonschools.net/libraryforum/

We try to keep it school appropriate and the membership polices themselves with an occasional nudge from me.

This story was submitted by: Janet Jenkins of Robinson High School, Robinson, IL

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