October is for Celebrating School Libraries!

Web Editor — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 16:27:44 +0000

The Canadian Federation of Library Associations/ La Fédération canadienne des associations de bibliothèques (–) has proclaimed October as , an annual celebration of libraries, library workers and the services they provide to their users. The proclamation emphasizes the essential part that libraries play in democratic access to knowledge and discovery in Canadian communities, including schools.

October is also (ISLM), an annual celebration of school libraries worldwide. The 2020 theme for ISLM is “Finding Your Way to Good Health and Well Being”. It is based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #3, “Good Health and Well Being”. This year the invites participants to think about and celebrate the link between books, reading, school libraries, good health and well being.

Canadian School Library Day is on Monday October 26, 2020

91��ѡ is pleased to proclaim Monday October 26 as Canadian School Library Day / Journée nationale des bibliothèques scolaires canadiennes (91��ѡD/JNBSC). 91��ѡD celebrates the role of school libraries as part of Canadian Library Month and International School Library Month. 91��ѡD provides an opportunity to celebrate the unique contribution of school libraries to student success and well-being.

The theme of 91��ѡD 2020 is A Day in the Library Learning Commons. That day will look quite different this year during the pandemic than it ever has before. School library professionals across the country are rising to the challenge of supporting all learners in inventive new ways. 91��ѡD provides a great opportunity to highlight the unique contribution of the school library and school library professionals.

Celebrate Canadian School Library Day

How are school library professionals supporting learning during the pandemic? Perhaps you are going on the road to classrooms with your curated collection on wheels. You may have been very busy promoting your virtual collection and helping teachers find other online resources. Perhaps you have set up a school virtual library learning commons website to engage students with reading, inquiry and making. Perhaps you are connecting with classes online, with read-alouds or research lessons. You may be holding outdoor inquiry walks, or hosting author visits.

Whatever you are trying out, we want the world to hear.

Download and share the 91��ѡD / JNBSC 2020 poster (below) and badge (above) and share them widely, in school newsletters and on the website.
Use the 91��ѡ resource Leverage Your LLC: Pandemic Partner for Learning. Lots of ideas here, and a poster to download and share!
Share your celebrations with the district / province / country / world through social media using the hashtag #91��ѡD2020

CELEBRATE and SHARE #91��ѡD2020

91��ѡ Statement on the Role of School Libraries During the Pandemic
Énoncé sur le rôle des bibliothèques scolaires en temps de pandémie
Issued by the 91��ѡ Board of Directors on September 23, 2020

Canadian School Library Day Celebrations

Anita Brooks Kirkland — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 18:48:35 +0000

October is Canadian Library Month, an opportunity to celebrate innovation in libraries from all sectors, including school libraries. president and member Jo-Anne Gibson reached out to provincial associations across the country to see how they are celebrating school libraries’ contributions to education.

Celebrating School Libraries Across Canada

School libraries across the country will be celebrating Canadian School Library Day on Monday, October 24, 2016. Promoted by the Canadian Library Association since 2004 to its dissolution in 2015, Canadian School Library Day is now a grassroots movement celebrating and uniting school libraries across the country.

Canadian School Library Day celebrates the central role that school libraries play in the education and development of young people. As they evolve into school-wide learning commons, libraries are taking on more responsibility for supporting all kinds of learning, from experiential to digital. Much more than custodians of resources and managers of floor space, school libraries have embraced the issues raised by new technology and the needs of the 21st century learner.

But libraries still have books and school libraries are still committed to promoting literacy and the love of reading, a theme recognized by many of the events organized in various provinces, school districts and individual schools throughout Canada on Canadian School Library Day. The provincial school library association in British Columbia () and Manitoba () have both challenged all their schools to drop everything and read at 11:00 a.m.on October 24th to highlight the importance of school libraries in the educational lives of students.

B.C. will try to beat their record from last year which saw 66,500 students from across the province dropping everything and reading. Last year it was also reported that reading spilled out into the community with at least one mall and insurance company taking part in the challenge. Some schools even had members of the government and firefighters coming to read to their students in their libraries and classrooms. This year’s BCTLA’s theme for their D.E.A.R. day is “Share-Celebrate-Advocate.”

Manitoba is another province that is particularly proud of their school library day. The Government of Manitoba, through its Ministry of Education, recognizes the unique impact school libraries have on literacy and learning by declaring the last Monday in October, “Manitoba School Library Day.” The theme for their day is “School Libraries: Where Creativity and Learning Begins.” Thousands of students, teachers, principals and support staff will be dropping everything and reading throughout the province to celebrate this special day for school libraries.

Manitoba Proclamations (PDF):

The supports Library Learning Commons in schools across Ontario as they celebrate October 24th with a broad variety of events to engage their communities. Many schools are participating in a D.E.A.R. activity, either cross-grade in their libraries, or across entire schools. Others are using this day to launch their book clubs, as the 2017 nominees were just announced October 14th. There are Library Learning Commons in both elementary and secondary schools hosting MakerSpace activities, board games, trivia contests, and Lego building challenges: events which clearly demonstrate the diverse interests and needs served by school libraries. The OLA embraces Canadian School Library Day as an opportunity to remind our students, teachers, and parents that the school library is a great place to connect, learn, and share.

“We know that students enjoy being read to,” says Nepean HS teacher-librarian Glenn Turner. “And the research shows that this can change both kids’ attitudes towards reading and their reading abilities.”

is one example of many schools in the Ottawa region that will take time on October 24th to salute school libraries. Over forty adult members of the Nepean High School community will be coming to the school to read aloud to classes and share their love of reading. Readers will include local MP the Hon. , trustees and senior staff, the Imam of the , Olympic kayaker , retired teachers and many prominent and active members of the school community who will read from a wide variety of books.

“We know that students enjoy being read to,” says teacher-librarian Glenn Turner. “And the research shows that this can change both kids’ attitudes towards reading and their reading abilities.”

In recognition of the importance of school libraries, has proclaimed October 24, 2016 as “National School Library Day”.

Submitted by Jo-Anne Gibson
With contributions by Kate Johnson-Mcgregor, Rhea Woolgar and Glenn Turner

Canadian Library Month – 91��ѡ