On Wednesday, May 7, 91精选 sent an open letter to the BC Minister of Education, the Honorable Lisa Beare, regarding the state of education funding in the province and the impact it is having on library learning commons across the province. Since this letter was sent Kamloops-Thompson (School District 73) has also cut back library assistant jobs. As stated in the letter, while there is record funding in BC for education, there is also record costs and these two numbers are not keeping up with each other. So while the BC Government has put more into education that has historically been the case, the costs have risen much higher than that allocation. This is causing districts to cut back wherever they can. Full text of the letter is below.

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.

Surrey Schools, School District 36, Surrey, British Columbia

as recipient of the Leading Learning Implementation Award 2022

The Leading Learning Implementation Award has been established to recognize, honour, and applaud school districts, provinces, and territories who have developed and/or enhanced their school library learning commons on a systemic basis, founded on the tenets, principles and continuous growth and renewal focus of the five standards of .

91精选 is pleased to announce Surrey Schools, School District 36, Surrey, BC, as recipient of the Leading Learning Implementation Award 2022.

All 125 elementary and secondary schools in Surrey Schools SD36 are staffed by teacher-librarians in library learning commons, implementing the district’s vision of programs that are aligned with Leading Learning standards.

The outstanding work in the district is driven by the vision of libraries as creative and collaborative hubs of learning that promote transliteracy, innovation, and inquiry.

Surrey Schools teacher-librarians strive to create safe places for all members of the school community to embrace and explore their passions, interests and learning needs. They receive strong support from district administrators and principals, who clearly understand the impact of the library learning commons program on student learning.

91精选 is delighted to share highlights of the outstanding, collaborative school library learning commons work in this district. The Surrey Schools webpages linked below show the significant impact that their library learning commons have on student learning.

• Locally Developed Indigenous People Collection and Classification System
• Surrey Schools One: A Surrey Teacher-Librarian Collaboration

• 鈥淎 Place Where Everyone is Someone鈥�: School Goals foundational to LLC Goals
• Building Connection and a Sense of Belonging to Achieve School Goals

• ADST/Science/Literacy Cross Curricular Learning through TL Collaboration
• Social Justice through TL Collaboration
• Locally developed Collaboration Infographic
• Locally Developed Inquiry for Equity Planning & Process Guide

• Student Voice in Collection Development
• School Wide Read 鈥� Collaboration to Ignite Readers
• Elementary and Secondary Diversity Audit
• Surrey Schools Book of the Year Programs for all ages

• Makerspace in the Secondary LLC
• Spaces invite Participatory Learning
• Whole School Participatory Learning through the LLC
• District Wide Pride Poster Contest

These highlights demonstrate the excitement, rigour, and forward development of library learning commons standards in Surrey Schools SD #36. Additionally, teacher-librarians in Surrey Schools SD #36 are lifelong learners themselves; engaged locally, provincially, and nationally in the field of school librarianship. All of this would not be possible without strong support from district administrators and principals 鈥� if Surrey Schools SD#36 Library Learning Commons want to move forward in standards of practice they are supported to do so as their impact on student learning is evident.

Our LLCs are a focal point of our schools. Students from all areas of our community use the library throughout their school day and beyond. It is a hub of activity where students are encouraged to ask questions and work collaboratively. In addition, our Teacher Librarians work with students to identify their areas of passion and then support them on their learning journey. Our Teacher Librarians are also strong supporters of staff development. Teachers from all departments work with the TL to develop projects and guide inquiry. These partnerships help all our teachers improve their practice and grow as professionals. Our Library Learning Commons are a source of pride for the Surrey School District.

James Johnston, Principal, Clayton Heights Secondary, Surrey Schools SD #36

Given that all elementary and secondary schools have library learning commons that are inherently collaborative and student-centred, Surrey鈥檚 teacher-librarians have been critical in leading, adapting and leveraging their spaces to better support reading motivation. In flexible and inviting spaces, they are fostering reading interest by engaging students in hands- on learning opportunities, offering choices, encouraging student voice, and providing process-oriented feedback. In this regard, Surrey鈥檚 teacher-librarians are supporting the district鈥檚 focus area of Literacy. They are 鈥渕aking makers and readers鈥� who cooperate with their peers, problem solve, and think creatively and critically.

Kathy Puharich, Director of Instruction, Surrey Schools SD #36

Surrey teacher-librarians embody the notion of collaborative engagement. Not only do they meet regularly in person and on TEAMs to share their professional expertise with each other, they have taken on pivotal roles in their individual schools, empowering their teachers and students to work together in the enterprise of learning. Surrey TLs are keenly interested in cultivating collections that reflect the community and provide voice for a range of communities such as Indigenous students and LGBTQ+ learners.

Gordon Powell, Retired District Principal (Surrey SD#36), Public Library Trustee (City of Surrey)

Surrey School District has been a leader in implementing changes to transform our libraries to Library Learning Commons (LLC) for the past decade. Over the years, Surrey Schools has exhibited leadership by hosting numerous groups of administrators and teacher-librarians coming from out of district, province, and country. Our schools have opened their doors, sharing our experiences and advice, allowing visitors to spend time touring our LLCs and meeting with our administrators and teacher-librarians. In addition to financial support in the LLC transformation, Surrey Schools has also provided countless hours of release time for teacher-librarians to collaborate on everything from inquiry to technology (i.e., Maker space equipment).

This district has been a huge supporter of forward thinking and 21st Century Learning. Surrey Schools understands the need for a Library Learning Commons to provide for their school communities and has spent time and money to help it come to fruition.

Sheila Hammond Principal, Surrey, SD #36

91精选’s Leading Learning Implementation Award will be presented as part of the Kick-Off Dinner, Friday October 21, in New Westminster, BC.

In this “back-to-school” newsletter, 91精选 shares information about the upcoming TMC7 symposium, Canadian School Library Day, I Read Canadian Day, International School Library Month, Canadian Library Month, and Media Literacy Week.

Registration for TMC7 and the BCTLA Conference Moving Forward is now open!

Your TMC7 registration includes:

• Friday evening dinner with TMC Keynote Speaker, 91精选 Awards Presentation, and TMC Kick-Off Challenge
• Saturday TMC Research Symposium with Spotlight Speakers, Table Talks based on TMC7 papers, and collaborative knowledge building for going forward
• Continental breakfast and boxed lunch Saturday

Register for both TMC7 and the full BCTLA Conference, Friday October 21, at a special combined rate.

You do not need to contribute a paper to attend (unless you want to). We have many people attend who have not written a paper. We all work together during the symposium to look more closely at the papers and build knowledge for moving forward. You might find these two recent articles from 91精选 Journal useful for learning more about what makes TMC work.

Registration Rates:

TMC7: Friday evening dinner at Inn at the Quay & full day symposium Saturday 鈥� $175.00

Special Combined Rate: TMC7 & Full BCTLA Conference Friday 鈥� $275.00

The BCTLA Conference on Friday and TMC on Saturday will both be held at New Westminster Secondary School, 820 6th Street, New Westminster BC, V3L 3C8. The TMC7 Friday evening kick-off dinner will be held at Inn at the Quay, 900 Quayside Drive, New Westminster, BC, V3M 6G1.

We have blocked off 100 rooms at Inn at the Quay for booking between October 20 & 23. The hotel is within walking distance of the conference site. You are responsible for booking your own room. Be sure to mention that you are attending the BCTLA /91精选 conference.

Please visit the on the TMC website for more information.

In partnership with聽,听91精选 is hosting their biennial symposium and think tank in October 2022. This year鈥檚 theme for TMC7 is . This open chat will provide the opportunity for OSLA members and beyond to hear from other school library professionals who have contributed to Treasure Mountain in the past, learn more about the 91精选 Research Toolkit, ask questions and brainstorm their own ideas for TMC7 submissions. Supported by the recording from the , participants will have access to a network of supportive school library colleagues as they consider their own school library research journey.

No experience needed!

Join the conversation whether you are completely new to Treasure Mountain Canada or have been participating since its inception in 2010!

Part 1: 91精选鈥檚 Research Toolkit Crash Course An overview of research through the lens of the 91精选 Research Toolkit.

Part 2: Tales of Treasure Mountain Get an idea about papers that have been presented at Treasure Mountain Canada, a school library learning commons symposium and think tank. What was required as a writer/co-writer, how they approached their research.

91精选鈥檚 Research Toolkit Webinar is offered by the British Columbia Teacher Librarians’ Association.

TMC7 Theme: Post-Pandemic Library Learning Commons: From Crisis to Intervention

91精选 is pleased to announce that the seventh biennial TMC Symposium (TMC7) will take place in New Westminster, British Columbia on Friday October 21 and Saturday October 22, 2022. The symposium is presented in partnership with the British Columbia Teacher Librarians鈥� Association ().聽BCTLA鈥檚 Fall Conference will be on Friday October 21, and TMC7 will kick off that evening and carry on for the full day, Saturday.

TMC invites researchers, school library practitioners, educational leaders and policy-makers to move forward together and collaboratively explore ideas, inspire each other and build collective knowledge of the learning commons approach as part of sustainable school improvement.

TMC7 Call for Papers

We recognize the outstanding contributions so many of you are making to teaching and learning in Canada. Your work needs to be recognized by the greater education community 鈥� and documented, so that it can become part of the debate.

For TMC7, we invite exploration and research papers on issues in school library learning commons practice that speak to future possibilities for the library learning commons, post-pandemic. We suggest either teacher action research and/or academic research related to the theme and strands.

TMC7 Theme:聽Post-Pandemic Library Learning Commons: From Crisis to Intervention

TMC7 Sub-Themes:

• Increasing development of the virtual LLC and the development of innovative participatory learning opportunities
• Ensuring infusion of digital literacy skills and global competencies
• Continued growth in diversity awareness and action such as collection development, with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion
• Attention to how the library supports wellness for both staff and students
• Expanding the engagement of students in making and doing in the physical and virtual LLC
• Outreach to the school community to inspire reading and learning