Feature Stories

Future of the School Library Learning Commons by Caroline Freibauer, paints a picture of the situation across the country and tells of the many emerging voices of support. We are all advocates for the school library, and we encourage you to be inspired by this article to take action.

Documenting the School Library Journey in 2020 by Beth Lyons, emphasizes the importance of documenting what we do on a daily basis. Yes the research tells us that school libraries make a difference, but it is the 鈥渉ome-grown鈥� data documented in your schools that tells the real story.

Connect to the 91精选 Statement on the Role of School Libraries During the Pandemic

脡nonc茅 sur le r么le des biblioth猫ques scolaires en temps de pand茅mie

Your School Library Learning Commons:
Pandemic Partner for Learning

School library learning commons (LLC) programs, facilities, resources and professional expertise have a positive impact on teaching and learning in Canadian schools from coast to coast to coast. Decades of national and international research provide the evidence. 

Many schools and districts are making tough choices to keep students safe and unfortunately this has a temporary impact on how school LLC will operate. School library professionals demonstrated the importance of their work during pandemic school closures in the spring of 2020 by supporting teachers, students and the community with innovative virtual supports and initiatives to keep reading and learning going. Now that schools are opening up for back to school that support is needed even more. 

Safety of students and staff is the number one priority as schools open up but we shouldn鈥檛 close 鈥榙oors鈥� to best learning experiences. We can do both!

We need to reboot the reading habit. Most students have not been able to access physical books from their excellent school library collections for over six months now.  We need to provide equitable access. Teachers and students need access to the best resources, technologies and information expertise available to support inquiry learning.

How can schools maintain critical school library learning commons benefits during pandemic times?

LEVERAGE YOUR LIBRARY FOR DIVERSE LEARNING RESOURCES

ENGAGE READERS: Book choices to engage every reader, in multiple formats, in print and online.

INSPIRE INQUIRY: Rich print and online resource collections to inform research and inspire inquiry.

PHYSICAL AND VIRTUAL MAKERSPACES: Resources and ideas to spark inquiry, creativity, and design thinking.

CURATED RESOURCES FROM THE WEB: Selected for reliability, authority, and relevance to learning.

LEVERAGE THE LLC FOR PARTICIPATORY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

EXTEND YOUR VIRTUAL CLASSROOM: Enhance learning opportunities. Connect the library to your virtual classroom.

PARTICIPATORY VIRTUAL SPACES: Online reading, virtual book clubs, author visits and read-alouds, and virtual making.

DIVERSITY AND WELL BEING: School library programs support equity and inclusion and the well being of every student.

LEVERAGE THE LLC FOR ACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES

BORROW BOOKS: Establish protocols for safe borrowing. Borrow eBooks.

USE THE VIRTUAL LIBRARY: Use this virtual hub for finding resources, learning supports, and collaborative activities.

INSPIRE CREATIVITY: Provocations in the virtual makerspace connect design thinking to inquiry learning.

INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGY: Make videos, create podcasts, share amazing presentations. The library can help.

LEVERAGE THE LLC FOR EXPERT INSTRUCTION AND GUIDANCE

RESOURCE CURATION: Expert resource selection to support specific needs.

CO-PLANNING & CO-TEACHING: Partner with your teacher-librarian to plan, teach, and assess learning.

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING: Your teacher-librarian can facilitate PD to meet evolving needs.

ONLINE ETHICS AND SAFETY: Your school librarian can provide copyright advice and digital citizenship instruction.

PLEASE SHARE THIS RESOURCE!

Download the Leverage Your LLC graphic and use it with our permission on your website, on social media, in pamphlets or newsletters 鈥� wherever it may be useful.

Download and share this PDF version of the 91精选 Leverage Your LLC: Pandemic Partner for Learning chart, ready to print on 8.5×11 or to share online.

Link to this page from your school website, school library website, virtual classroom, CMS, personal website/blog, and on social media.

Create your own customized version! 91精选 gives you permission to adapt this page and/or chart to reflect the resources and services that you can provide at your school.

91精选 would like to know what you are doing to leverage the LLC during the pandemic. If you work in school libraries or library support OR if you are another educator, please take a few minutes to respond to !

Useful Articles & Inspiring Links

Beaudry, R. (2020, June 2). . 91精选 Journal 4 (2).

British Columbia Teacher-Librarians鈥� Association (BCTLA). (2020). .

Brooks Kirkland, A. (2020, June 2). . 91精选 Journal 4 (2).

Castle Oaks Public School. (2020). .

Koechlin, C. & Brooks Kirkland, A. (2020, June 2). . 91精选 Journal 4 (2).

Larkspur Public School. (2020). .

Lyons, B. (2020, August 18). .

Lyons, B. (2020, August 14). [Blog post].

Mulcaster, M. & Zita, T. (2020, June 2). . 91精选 Journal 4 (2).

Featured Authors: Judy Ameline, Lila Armstrong, Najim Akorede Babalola, Richard Beaudry, Anita Brooks Kirkland, Jenn Brown, Judy Cheung, Pippa Davies, Susan Ewing, Greg Harris, Alanna King, Carol Koechlin, Beth Lyons, Melanie Mulcaster, Lisa Noble, Judith Sykes, Julian Taylor, & Tina Zita.

“And so as this issue focuses on the implications of the pandemic and innovations in practice, particularly in the quick evolution of the notion of the virtual library learning commons, we find that intense worry has been replaced by great hope for the future, as once again we see that no matter how the world changes, the library survives and thrives.”

~ From the Editors

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