Changing Dynamics of 
School Libraries 
October 24, 2014 
Teacher Librarians of NL 
Special Interest Council 
Professional Development Workshop
According to the 
Canadian Library Association (CLA)… 
…the focus of the library program in the past was 
on building strong collections of resources and 
assisting users to find and use them effectively, 
the goal now is to build learning communities 
and make connections among learners, thus 
facilitating knowledge creation in the school 
community. 
Canadian Library Association. 2014. Leading Learning 
http://clatoolbox.ca/casl/slic/llsop.pdf
CLA acknowledges the reality might be 
different… 
Our school libraries should reflect our common 
values of equity, diversity and cultural identity as 
well as the best approaches in the educational and 
library professions. They should be contextually 
relevant to student need and success… 
Canadian Library Association. 2014. Leading Learning 
http://clatoolbox.ca/casl/slic/llsop.pdf
What is driving the changes we are 
seeing in school libraries? 
• Publishing industry (print / electronic) 
• New formats (hybrid texts, graphic novels) 
• Multimodalities (digital, print, video) 
• Technology adaptations (tablets, interactive white boards) 
• Budget constraints 
• Differentiated instruction 
• 21st Century Learning (integration, collaboration, inquiry) 
• Globalization / Cultural Diversity 
• Inclusion / Individualization
What changes have you 
seen in YOUR library? 
Use the orange/pink post-its and indicate 1 or more 
positive changes in your library/learning commons. 
Use the blue/green post-its and indicate 1 or more 
negative changes in your library/learning commons.
How can you help bring about 
positive change? 
You don’t need to be a superhero, but you do need to 
consider some engagement strategies: 
• Inquiry-based research 
• Collaborative problem solving 
• Community literacy programming
Inquiry – The Stripling Model 
Stripling, Barbara. 2008. 
http://www.teachingbooks.net/content/InquiringMindsWantToKnow-Stripling.pdf
Problem-Based Learning Model 
Beall, Lisa. 2014. 
http://lisabeall.bgsu.wikispaces.net/Inquiry+and+Problem+Based+Internet+Resources
Community Literacy 
Programming 
Community Literacy is an 
engagement strategy that 
draws on your local 
community and encourages: 
• Place-based learning 
• Intergenerational programming 
• Intent participation 
• Service learning
Community Literacy 
Programming 
Community Literacy evolves when 
members of the community are 
given opportunities to gather, talk, 
and share expertise. 
It has the added benefits of: 
• raising the profile of your library & school 
• being cost-effective 
• providing networking opportunities
Community Literacy 
Programming Ideas 
IFLA Sister Libraries Program 
Example: Let’s Dream Together 
http://sisterlibraries.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/lets-dream-together/
Community Literacy 
Programming Ideas 
StoryWalk® 
Example: Annapolis Valley Regional Library 
http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2012/06/walking-the-storywalk/
Community Literacy 
Programming Ideas 
Could a Community Programming 
initiative work in YOUR community?
Community Literacy 
Programming Ideas 
Want to review some of the sources 
shared in this presentation: 
http://www.slideshare.net/bethmaddigan

Changing dynamics in School Libraries Workshop

  • 1.
    Changing Dynamics of School Libraries October 24, 2014 Teacher Librarians of NL Special Interest Council Professional Development Workshop
  • 2.
    According to the Canadian Library Association (CLA)… …the focus of the library program in the past was on building strong collections of resources and assisting users to find and use them effectively, the goal now is to build learning communities and make connections among learners, thus facilitating knowledge creation in the school community. Canadian Library Association. 2014. Leading Learning http://clatoolbox.ca/casl/slic/llsop.pdf
  • 3.
    CLA acknowledges thereality might be different… Our school libraries should reflect our common values of equity, diversity and cultural identity as well as the best approaches in the educational and library professions. They should be contextually relevant to student need and success… Canadian Library Association. 2014. Leading Learning http://clatoolbox.ca/casl/slic/llsop.pdf
  • 4.
    What is drivingthe changes we are seeing in school libraries? • Publishing industry (print / electronic) • New formats (hybrid texts, graphic novels) • Multimodalities (digital, print, video) • Technology adaptations (tablets, interactive white boards) • Budget constraints • Differentiated instruction • 21st Century Learning (integration, collaboration, inquiry) • Globalization / Cultural Diversity • Inclusion / Individualization
  • 5.
    What changes haveyou seen in YOUR library? Use the orange/pink post-its and indicate 1 or more positive changes in your library/learning commons. Use the blue/green post-its and indicate 1 or more negative changes in your library/learning commons.
  • 6.
    How can youhelp bring about positive change? You don’t need to be a superhero, but you do need to consider some engagement strategies: • Inquiry-based research • Collaborative problem solving • Community literacy programming
  • 7.
    Inquiry – TheStripling Model Stripling, Barbara. 2008. http://www.teachingbooks.net/content/InquiringMindsWantToKnow-Stripling.pdf
  • 8.
    Problem-Based Learning Model Beall, Lisa. 2014. http://lisabeall.bgsu.wikispaces.net/Inquiry+and+Problem+Based+Internet+Resources
  • 9.
    Community Literacy Programming Community Literacy is an engagement strategy that draws on your local community and encourages: • Place-based learning • Intergenerational programming • Intent participation • Service learning
  • 10.
    Community Literacy Programming Community Literacy evolves when members of the community are given opportunities to gather, talk, and share expertise. It has the added benefits of: • raising the profile of your library & school • being cost-effective • providing networking opportunities
  • 11.
    Community Literacy ProgrammingIdeas IFLA Sister Libraries Program Example: Let’s Dream Together http://sisterlibraries.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/lets-dream-together/
  • 12.
    Community Literacy ProgrammingIdeas StoryWalk® Example: Annapolis Valley Regional Library http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2012/06/walking-the-storywalk/
  • 13.
    Community Literacy ProgrammingIdeas Could a Community Programming initiative work in YOUR community?
  • 14.
    Community Literacy ProgrammingIdeas Want to review some of the sources shared in this presentation: http://www.slideshare.net/bethmaddigan