The 21st Century Librarian
THE 21st CENTURY LIBRARY- THE ROLE OF THE TEACHER LIBRARIAN
THE BEGINNING
After the baby was born and when I had more time in the day to think, I began to realize how much I really missed my job. Being there for so many years it was like a second home to me. The staff, the students, the administration, teaching, the building, the community. I genuinely missed everything.
I decided to pop in and greet the familiar faces that I had known so well and of course to show off the new babe.😊
The second I stepped foot into the building I felt an overwhelming feeling of calm and peace. This surprised me. My job had always been a huge part of my life and many times had created a heightened anxiety for me.
When I walked by the classrooms most of the students worked quietly and some classrooms were engaging in interactive activities. Oddly enough, when I walked by the Library there was a constant buzz of chatter, movement and happy faces. Students were engaged, on task and collaborating happily. What was it that made the library such an exciting place to learn?
I wanted to become part of this learning environment.
I could continue to make this Library Learning Commons (LC) an enjoyable place to learn, to collaborate and to achieve.
But how?
What does it take to be a 21st century Librarian? How can I create a space or a Learning Commons that is beneficial to the student body when most students, especially at my school, have their own computers and technology at their fingertips.
This is what I found…
According to the article, Why Do I Still Need a Library When I have One in My Pocket? The Teachers Role in 1:1 BYOD Learning Environments (Legarde, Johnson, 2014), if every child has a library in his/her pocket this will call into question the need for traditional libraries.
For Teacher Librarians to remain relevant we must educate ourselves into new roles and responsibilities that support the students and staff. To do so we must take advantage of the advances in technology, educational practices and learning to broaden our horizons. We must position ourselves to be leaders in creating a space that supports school wide goals and improved student outcomes. Furthermore, we must provide evidence of how a LC will improve student achievement.
THE GOAL
According to the School Library Manifesto 1999, the following are essential to the development of literacy, information literacy, teaching, learning and culture. The school library is an integral to the education process and must:
- support and enhance educational goals
- develop and sustain enjoyment in reading
- offer opportunities in creating and using information for knowledge, understanding and enjoyment
- support all students in evaluating and using information
- provide access to local, regional, national and global resources
- organizing activities that encourage cultural and social awareness and sensitivity
- work with students, teachers, admin and community to achieve the mission of the school
- have freedom and access to information
- promote reading and resources to school community and beyond
How can we achieve these goals and create a stimulating learning environment where inquiry is at the center of learning, where students can create, imagine, research and enjoy?
THE PHYSICAL SPACE OF THE LEARNING COMMONS:
Bring Your Own Device or BYOD
Most children have their own devices or have access to a device at their school. How do we make a space that is conducive for the use of technology by all?
Physical Layout
The physical layout must be student centered not book centerd, it is a “high touch” environment with opportunities for social learning where digital resources are available to students in a 1:1 ratio. (Legarde, Johnson, 2014)
It must provide comfort with flexible furniture arrangements and highly adaptable spaces. According to the Leading Learning document, the space must support individual, small group and whole class work to facilitate spontaneous groupings and engage learners in participatory learning. The space should invite networking with and beyond the school and support multiple abilities with particular benefit for special needs learners.
According to Legarde and Johnson, this space should also have an area for games where students can play, collaborate and develop kinesthetic learning experiences.
Wireless Infrastructure and Power
Teacher Librarians must work with tech staff to make sure there is sufficient capacity and coverage, and abundance of electrical outlets throughout the library and recharge stations.
Re-purposed Computer Labs and Makerspaces
According to Legarde and Johnson, students should have access to various types of tech equipment such as webcams, microphones, cameras, green screens, Macs, Pcs etc.
“Libraries must adapt to become spaces where knowledge and new information is created.” (Legarde, Johnson, 2014)
These makerspaces can be critical to the 1:1 initiative and provide an opportunity to explore a devices potential.
Teaching and Presentation Spaces
Space for large group instruction must be available as well as small group spaces by sectioning off part of the room with furniture and dividers. The space should also include presentation areas with access to video projection and sound.
Once we have created this dynamic space, how can we educate ourselves into providing an exceptional learning commons?
THE ROLE OF THE LIBRARIAN- What makes a successful 21st Century Librarian
“The learning, teaching and professional development activities in the LC position the teacher librarian at the center of the academic program” (Moreillon, 2017)
According to the journal article, 21st Century Library Professionals in Dynamic Role in Digital Era, by Dr Kaur and Dr Sharma, as technology advances, library professionals must advance their skill sets by keeping up to date with technological developments.
Experts in our Field
It is our job to be trained experts in information searching, selecting, acquiring, organizing, preserving, repackaging, disseminating etc. We must be at the forefront of learning and acquire these skills to engage the students, staff and the community. Furthermore, we must teach students how to be safe online so they are eventually able to take ownership of their own digital responsibilities.
According to Leading Learning, we must develop units of instruction that engage learners in inquiry learning that have real world context and relevancy for the students. The learning experiences should accommodate multiple learning styles and abilities where feedback is provided during the various stages of inquiry.
With the increased use of technology, it is important not forget about traditional literacy that includes reading, writing, listening and speaking. We have to give students a reason to want to read and write, by engaging them in books and topics of their interest.
How can the Teacher librarian work with staff to increase student achievement and learning?
Collaboration and Co-teaching
A Teacher Librarians willingness and ability to co-teach can improve the achievement of the Learning Commons.
Co-teaching provides classroom teachers with support for their teaching along with planning, implementing and assessment.
According to Moreillon, engaging in Evidence Based Practice (EBP) through co-teaching, the Teacher Librarians work can impact students learning outcomes and transform curriculum.
A learning commons is a place where the school faculty can co-plan, co-teach and co-assess. A place where educators enact school improvement based on data and collective decision making. Together, the staff and the Teacher Librarian can test innovations in teaching and learning and modify them to develop best learning environments to support curriculum.
FINAL THOUGHTS
As the pictures indicate in this blog, we are off to a great start at producing a Learning Commons that is beneficial to the entire student body. The next step is within myself, to educate myself in best practices, advance my technology skills and share a love of learning and growing. This is the future of teaching and this is the 21st Century Library.
Resources us
Change Management: A Big Solution to Cope Up With IT Based Culture in 21st Century Libraries : Kaur, Rajwant. Library of Progress-Library Science, Information Technology & Computer, Jan-Jun2018, Vol. 38 Issue 1, p140-148, 9p; DOI: 10.5958/2320-317X.2018.00014.4, Database: Education Source
IFLA/UNESCO School Library Manifesto 1999
Leading Learning : https://apsds.org/wp-content/uploads/Standards-of-Practice-for-School Library-Learning-Commons-in-Canada-2014.pdf
The Learning Commons, Moreillon, Judi.Teacher Librarian; Bowie Vol. 44, Iss. 3, (Feb 2017): 21-25 , https://search-proquest-com.proxy.queensu.ca/docview/1877698180?accountid=6180
21st Century Library Professionals In Dynamic Role in Digital Era - : Kaur, Rajwant; Sharma, A. K.. Library of Progress-Library Science, Information Technology & Computer, Jan-Jun2018, Vol. 38 Issue 1, p129-139, 11p; DOI: 10.5958/2320-317X.2018.00013.2, Database: Education Source
Why Do I Still Need a Library When I have One in my Pocket? The Teacher Librarians Role in 1:1/BYOD Learning Environments - LAGARDE, JENNIFER; JOHNSON, DOUG. Teacher Librarian, Jun2014, Vol. 41 Issue 5, p40-44, 5p, Database: Education Source
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