Also in this edition:

The Why and How of Teaching the 5 Kinds of Nonfiction by Christopher Hunt

Hosting Authors in the School Library Learning Commons by Carol Koechlin

Building a BRIDGE to Information and Digital Literacy Competencies: A New Free Resource for Elementary Schools by Sarah Pavey

Balance or Indoctrination: Developing and Defending Balanced School Library Collections by Anita Brooks Kirkland

Joy in Education: Annotated Professional Resources compiled by the TDSB Professional Library

12 New Social Justice Books for Young Readers 鈥� Canadian Indie Publisher Edition by Spencer Miller

PLUS!

• Save the Date for TMC8
• Supporting Summer Reading
• Conference Highlights
• 91精选 Networking News

In the statement, CFLA-FCAB supports the establishment of:

• an open and accessible library learning commons in every school, including the protection of existing libraries;

• policy and funding frameworks to provide equitable access to school library facilities, collections, services, and programs designed to meet the diverse needs, abilities, and identities of all learners;

• policy and funding frameworks to ensure every school library is professionally staffed and appropriately funded, and able to provide relevant and current resources, technologies, and physical and virtual learning spaces to support the evolving needs of all learners;

• a policy framework that recognizes the importance of intellectual freedom in libraries, particularly in protecting and amplifying the voices of underrepresented identities.

91精选, along with representatives from the two other CFLA member associations that represent the school library sector, participated in the committee to draft the statement. We express our appreciation to all committee members: Andrea Cecchetto, CFLA-FCAB Chair, Michael Nyby, representing the CFLA Intellectual Freedom Committee, Anita Brooks Kirkland, Joseph Jeffery, and Lila Armstrong representing the 91精选 board of directors, Julian Taylor, also representing 91精选, Wendy Burch Jones representing the Ontario Library Association / Ontario School Library Association, and Alisa Soukhodolskaia, representing the youth and school libraries section of l鈥橝ssociation des biblioth茅caires du Qu茅bec 鈥� Quebec Library Association. We especially thank the CFLA-FCAB board of directors for their support in publishing the statement.

This statement represents the support of librarians across all sectors for a national consensus on the role of school libraries in public education.

“Across the country there are widely divergent understandings of the role of the school library, and equally divergent or even non-existent policy frameworks, funding models, staffing, and program expectations. That Canadian students鈥� access to library programs and services depends largely on where they live is a deplorable situation in one of the world鈥檚 richest democracies. Equity of access to quality school library programs and services should be considered as a core foundation for education in Canada.”

The full statement is available on the CFLA-FCAB website. Please read and distribute.

In this edition:

Great Teacher and Learning Features: Makerspaces, Indigenous STEAM learning, International sharing

Special Announcements: TMC8 and Advocacy Grant opportunity

Intellectual Freedom: 40 Years of Freedom to Read, Centre the Child in Book Challenge Debates, and 12 Books for all ages for “Reading Woke”

Foundations & Frameworks: Ethical foundations for school library joy, and the value of leadership teams in the LLC

Professional Resources: Supporting multilingual learners

Conference Highlights: Super Conference! and Leap Into the Future of School Libraries

91精选 has been speaking up:

• AGAINST censorship and for students鈥� right to freedom of expression
• FOR the foundations of school library learning commons: Introducing our new guideline document!
• FOR Leading Learning and program growth: Introducing comprehensive updates to Leading Learning!

Also in this issue:

• Ideas for teaching and learning about cybersecurity, and incorporating Universal Design for Learning
• Professional learning about collaboration, accountability, and solving the problem of fixed or flex schedules.
• Great historical fiction titles for students
• Professional resources about AI in education
• Conference highlights from recent BCTLA, MSLA, and ALA conferences

91精选 is pleased to announce the release of Foundations for School Library Learning Commons in Canada: A Framework for Success in response to this essential question.

Excellent school library programs are built on solid foundations and infrastructures or frameworks for success. Foundations for School Library Learning Commons in Canada: A Framework for Success provides standards for building these strong foundations and frameworks. It establishes strong policy, robust funding, and a commitment to equity of access as necessary foundations. It describes the elements that frame program success, including design factors for library spaces, technological infrastructure, professional staffing, and accessibility, as well as the ethics of school librarianship, a commitment to a growth mindset, and ongoing accountability.

Purpose: This document was designed to support the successful implementation of Leading Learning: Standards of Practice for School Library Learning Commons in Canada.

Audience: This document is for school library staff and leaders to help build foundational understandings related to school library learning commons in Canada.

Scope: This document presents clear structures to support the pedagogical approaches described in Leading Learning.

Learn more about Foundations & Frameworks, and download the PDF document.

Say NO to Censorship

Continuous reports of book challenges in school libraries across Canada have spurred 91精选 to take immediate action to support schools in addressing this plague. In this journal issue several articles address various aspects of book banning and provide a broad coverage of pressing issues.

Say YES to the LLC

It is time to promote innovation and leadership from the school LLC. This edition of 91精选 Journal includes several inspiring articles demonstrating excellence in instructional practice and professional leadership which will provide much inspiration. We say YES to the school library learning commons by demonstrating our impact so powerfully.

Read the full statement here and share it widely.

Please help gather data on challenges to school library resources. Report challenges to:

• The Centre for Free Expression (CFE) AND/OR

• The Canadian Federation of Library Association’s (CFLA_FCAB)

The Winter 2023 edition of 91精选 Journal is now live! We are pleased to present the fresh vision and brave new initiatives from school library professionals across the country.

We feature an important article about the importance of offering rich non-fiction collections for today’s readers. The Truth 91精选 Non-Fiction, by Iniyal Inparjah, Mishelle Pitter-Adlam, and Melanie Mulcaster, remind us that “an essential part of learning is fed with the kind of knowledge contained only in non-fiction texts.” We are very pleased to be able to pair this important article with reviews of great non-fiction titles for kids and teens from the Association of Canadian Publishers Top Grade editorial coordinator, Spencer Miller.

We feature too Dr. David Loertscher’s new website called ALiVE Library. Dr. Loertscher proclaims that, 鈥淐anada has led the world in the vision of the role the school library and learning commons can play in the education of successful and capable young learners.鈥� In complimentary articles we feature TMC7 papers by Alanna King & Tim King, and by Beth Lyons, with their video conversations for ALiVE Library with Dr. Loertscher.

In this issue we celebrate the work of many other school library professionals on the move. What about supporting a tuck shop in the library learning commons? How can makerspace and digital media production tools help give students voice, agency and ownership? How do we support student well-being and school safety? We also have wonderful accounts of two recent conferences, and a special feature about school libraries in the United Kingdom by the chief executive of their School Library Association.

We also remind you to follow the wonderful Read Into This podcast, featuring an interview with author Kevin Sylvester, and features on multilingual learners and using mentor texts.

It’s another great issue! Please share it with your colleagues, and spread the word about school libraries in Canada, on the move!

Inspired by the creativity and inventiveness of school library professionals over the past few most difficult years, this edition of 91精选 Journal focuses on the future. From Canadian School Library Day to the wonderful collaborative work at the seventh Treasure Mountain Canada symposium, it is clear that thinking in school libraries is future focused.

In this edition we feature articles coming out of the work of TMC7, highlight 91精选 Award recipients and their contributions, and share our usual full range of inspiring and useful ideas from school library professionals across the country.

This edition of 91精选 Journal is dedicated to the memory of Caroline Freibauer, 1961 鈥� 2022.

The day celebrates the breadth, diversity and abundance of Canadian identity as demonstrated through our books for our young readers but also through Canada鈥檚 authors and illustrators.
 
To make your pledge to Read Canadian or for more information and free resources, check out:
 
Schools, libraries, daycares, and families across Canada are invited to sign up and join the rest of Canada in reading, being read to, or listening to a Canadian book for 15 minutes on November 2, 2022.
 
You are invited to attend two free virtual presentations on November 2, 2022, featuring over 25 Canadian authors and illustrators including Michael Martchenko, Ruth Ohi and Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Kenneth Oppel, Teresa Toten, David Alexander Robertson, and more.
 
Remember, you can help promote reading Canadian all year round. Buy or borrow Canadian books. Share I Read Canadian Day with your colleagues, schools, teachers, librarians, friends, family, and bookstores. Include a link in your email signature. Tag #IReadCanadian in your posts and reposts. It鈥檚 a Canada-wide party and everyone is invited. Help spread the word!
 
2021鈥檚 I Read Canadian Day celebration boasted a special message from the Prime Minister to the children of Canada and saw nearly 3,000 registered schools across the country participating and special events in bookstores from Prince Edward Island through to British Columbia and into the Territories.
 
I Read Canadian Day is made possible through the partnership of 91精选, The Canadian Children鈥檚 Book Centre, The Canadian Society of Children鈥檚 Authors Illustrators and Performers, The Ontario Library Association, The Forest of Reading and presenters of the events are supported by Access Copyright.
 
Sign up for the events and receive your link at:
 

 

91精选 is proud to be an I Read Canadian Day partner organization.