What is the Future of Libraries in Chinook’s Edge? Re-envisioning Libraries for the 21 st Century

What is the Future of Libraries in Chinook’s

Edge?Re-envisioning Libraries for the 21st

Century

What Are the Issues?Some of our libraries exist as islands,

not connected strongly to learning.

What Are the IssuesO The majority of our library staff were

hired with no training for their role.

What Are the Issues?The digital age provides instant

access to current information.

What Are the Issues?Libraries are easy targets when

budgets are tight.

When We Think About a Library…

O What do we think of…

O http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufu5sqJh24Q

So Why Bother?Research indicates that strong library

programs:

support student literacy and school-wide literacy initiatives

positively impact student learning and achievement

encourage and support self-initiated inquiry.

Transforming LibrariesGlobally, progressive libraries are

moving toward the learning commons concept of flexibility, so activities and spaces in the library and on the library’s web site are flexible in design to accommodate a variety of learning activities; e.g., collaborative community space, a coffee house concept.

How is This Good for Kids?

A school library learning commons supports ongoing critical thinking, inquiry, action research, interdisciplinary learning and brain-based learning.

A learning commons becomes a place of active learning in real-time or online with project, problem-based, experiential, and cooperative learning that is ideally coordinated by a teacher-librarian.

What Does it Look LikeElizabeth Rummel School video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=EpwhQYafNp4

How Will We Get There?

By engaging in a visioning process.

What Does a Quality Learning Environment Look Like in a Contemporary Library and How Does This Support Tomorrow’s Learner?

Visioning, To What End?

A vision statement that guides our division…O That provides in-depth researchO That helps to inform decision makingO That helps to inform other procedures as

well (budgeting, hiring, training)O That helps to align with Alberta Education

(SLSI)O That helps in transforming libraries to

foster a quality learning environmentO That supports tomorrow’s learner

March 5th – Innisfail