Community libraries are a profoundly important resource for students. Here, in an atmosphere away from their teachers and peers, they can investigate personal issues that are of concern to them. The San Francisco Public Library, for example, is an treasured community resource.

Mrs. Linda Suzuki, manager of the Western Addition branch of the San Francisco Public Library, shared that her staff was particularly cognizant of the needs of young people in the neighborhood surrounding the school. Books, magazines, and pamphlets relating to personal issues were a critical part of her inventory. She made certain that there was information about peer pressure, gangs, family life, physical changes in adolescents, role models, manners and places to get counseling. Mrs. Suzuki commented that she worked closely with librarians of the local school district.

The shelves of the San Francisco Public Library also bulged with materials in many foreign languages. An abundance of information about social skills and social issues were available for teachers, parents and students in the Asian, Hispanic and African American communities.

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Mrs. Suzuki identified the library's favorite books for teaching social skills, which are listed on our website's next page.