#CSLDay2018
It’s here! Monday October 22, 2018 is Canadian School Library Day / Journée nationale des bibliothèques scolaires (CSLD). We are celebrating by gathering good news stories from school library associations across the country.
Canadian School Libraries (CSL)
CSL sponsors CSLD, and has posted ideas and supports for celebrating the school library learning commons. (October 22 is Canadian School Library Day)
CSL is also celebrating the release of a new project inspired by the fifth Treasure Mountain Canada Research Symposium and Think Tank (Winnipeg, October 2017), Culturally Relevant and Responsive School Library Learning Commons, led by Monica Berra (British Columbia) and Jennifer Brown (Ontario). For details see our news story or go directly to Culturally Relevant and Responsive School Library Learning Commons. You will find connections to Leading Learning Standards of Practice, and learn more about the context and connect to external resources. You will also find practical planning tools to inspire school library learning commons professionals to lead the way to positive change in their schools.
British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association (BCTLA)
Rhea Woolgar, BCTLA Coordinator, Advocacy
BC Teacher-Librarians Continue Celebrating and Learning!
In BC teacher-librarians have a lot to celebrate! In November 2016, the British Columbia Teachers’ Foundation (BCTF) won their suit against the BC government. As a result class size limits were restored and non-enrolling teacher ratios reverted to levels negotiated before the stripping of the BC teacher’s contract. For schools in BC, this has meant that access to school libraries and teacher-librarians is being restored!
Despite a summer of many fires and smoke in much of BC, BC teacher-librarians showed their commitment to learning by attending a summer institute on “Transformational Storytelling” in Kamloops, BC. This institute focused on the exploration of storytelling strategies, ethno botany and Secwepemc culture and history at the site of the Kamloops Residential School.
On October 19, BCTLA will hold its annual Provincial Specialist Conference. This year’s conference is in Richmond, BC, and recognizes that Teacher-Librarians are in a time of flux and challenge. The theme of the conference is “Challenge Accepted.” Our keynote speaker is Toni Samek, Professor and Chair of the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alberta. She raises awareness about human rights that relate particularly to core library values, information ethics and global information justice such as freedom of thought, freedom of religion, freedom of opinion and expression, right to association, right to peaceful assembly, cultural rights, and the right to education. She will address the inherent tension between intellectual freedom and social responsibility, as it sits underneath many aspects of our work. This keynote goes to the heart of the critical question: what constitutes teacher-librarian work today?
On October 22, 2018 BCTLA is challenging all students and teachers in British Columbia to Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) for 20 minutes.
The DEAR challenge began officially in 2008 as an opportunity to celebrate literacy and education. BC teacher-librarians believe that access to good literature, literacy teaching and modeling of reading have contributed to British Columbia’s high rankings in international literacy. Seeing adults set aside work and business for a few minutes of pleasure reading has sent a powerful message to students – reading can be a priority for all of us!
Since its inception, the DEAR challenge has grown into an international event. Every year new far-flung locations have joined the DEAR challenge. Last year many students in BC participated in the DEAR challenge and were joined by many others. We had reports of a variety of workplaces participating and schools from as far as Kenya and Israel joined the challenge.
BCTLA would like to invite you to join the DEAR challenge this year. On October 22, 2018 we would like you to set aside the busyness and business of your day for 20 minutes to “Drop Everything and Read!”. Do you want to kick it up a notch? Here are some ideas for involving others in the DEAR challenge:
- Invite local MLAs or members of your local government to join the DEAR challenge.
- Make the DEAR challenge a family event. Invite parents/grandparents etc. to join.
- Collaborate with other classes to have older students model reading for younger students.
- Invite local “heroes” and “celebrities” to join your students in the DEAR challenge.
- Don’t forget to take pictures and share them out. We use the hashtag #BCTLA_DEAR to celebrate reading and literacy!
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is hosting a seminar on Oct 22 to celebrate national school library day with a variety of partners for educators and librarians “to share information and resources supporting the School Library Learning Commons movement in Canada” and to “learn about the Teacher Librarian Education program”. Click here to see information about the event.
Alberta Regional Consortia (ARPDC)
ARPDC through the Calgary Regional Consortium (CRC) is offering a new webinar series focused on the culturally relevant and responsive school library learning commons led by Judith Sykes and Linda Shantz-Keresztes: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action for Education: A Learning Commons Perspective. Webinars will air November 21, 2018 and January 9, February 27, and April 10, 2019. The webinars are free of cost as this learning opportunity is being offered through a grant from Alberta Education. Webinars will feature the CRC Education for Reconciliation Consultant and guests from TMC5 who are leading this work in schools or districts. Click here for more information or to register.
Saskatchewan School Library Association (SSLA)
Gaetan Hammond, SSLA President
In Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Library Association had a “Libraries Transform” campaign throughout the province. One activity held was a “Book Spine Poetry” contest. Several school libraries in the province held family literacy nights to celebrate both Education Week and school libraries.
Manitoba School Library Association (MSLA)
Manitoba has the unique distinction of being the only province with a government proclamation to celebrate school libraries. In partnership with MSLA, the provincial government has once again declared the fourth Monday of October as Manitoba School Library Day.
In schools across the province students will drop everything and read at 11 am to celebrate the event. It is expected that more than 18,000 students across the province will participate in this fun event celebrating literacy and libraries.
MSLA is also proud to align Manitoba School Library Day with the national celebration of Canadian School Library Day.
MSLA Update!
October 22, 2018 was a special day for school libraries in Manitoba and across Canada. 13,000 students and staff representing forty schools in Manitoba joined students from the entire country to celebrate the importance of school libraries learning commons in the educational lives of students by Dropping Everything and Reading.
Manitoba School Library Day was proclaimed by the Minister of Education and Training, Hon. Kevin Goertzen, on the fourth Monday in October. Initiated by the Manitoba School Library Association, this year’s theme coincided with the MSLA SAGE conference theme, “Moving Students from Digital Citizenship to Digital Leadership.” The proclamation reinforces the role qualified library learning commons staff play in the information rich age supporting a host of learning in schools including inquiry, literacy, technology and information literacy. The government recognizes libraries as active learning centres where access to information, quality resources and innovation are a part of the daily educational practice initiated by school library staffs.
The MSLA would like to thank all schools who registered for their Drop Everything and Read Challenge to celebrate this day. The MSLA has been supporting students and educators for over 80 years in the province of Manitoba. Let’s all work together to ensure that the library learning commons remains at the centre of learning in all schools across Manitoba and Canada.
Ontario School Library Association (OSLA)
Kate Johnson-McGregor, OSLA Past-President
This year, OSLA is again encouraging students (and teachers, administrators, parents and other members of the school community) to raise their voices in celebration of school libraries! Responses ask for a first name and last initial and school name, so student privacy is protected and replies are vetted before they are posted online. Some of our favourites include:
- My school library rocks, because of the comfy chairs and quiet areas to work on assignments and picking out great books. Haddissa N. Grade 6 Brant Avenue Public School
- Because it’s big and open and awesome. There is a bunch of computers and laptops and mangas and comics. The librarian rocks and is awesome. Also she provides awesome snacks. There is a garden, and half the wall is windows so there is a lot of sunlight! Also security beeps for unchecked out books. That’s why I think our library rocks. Jimmy X. Grade 9 Monarch Park Collegiate Institute
- We have an annual Battle of the Books between all the neighboring middle schools, organized by the teacher-librarians. Leslie W. Teacher Cedar Hill Middle School
- It’s basically my escape from reality. You can read, dream and nobody minds. Karyssa G. Grade 4 St. Peter and Paul CS
- There is always someone there to help in any way and they have really good resources for research and projects in various subjects. I like the sense of community in the library. Emily R. Grade 12 BCI Library
- It’s a kind place. AJ G. Grade 3 Wilshire Elementary School
Link to the OSLA My School Library Rocks! Google site.
We welcome input from school libraries around the province and across Canada! The Ontario School Library Association can’t wait to hear why YOUR School Library Rocks!
ASSOCIATION POUR LA PROMOTION DES SERVICES DOCUMENTAIRES SCOLAIRES (APSDS)
Pierre Van Eeckout, APSDS President
The library technicians and librarians of Association pour la promotion des services documentaires scolaires (APSDS) have at heart, among other projects, the transition of Quebec’s French libraries to the new learning commons approach. Slowly, but surely, we are renovating and transforming libraries into more flexible, more inclusive spaces with services geared toward the needs of tomorrow. In this respect, and in the context of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our members are keen to give their opinion to the important SCHOLA project that is developing in Quebec to help renovate schools buildings by using the highest architectural and design standards to ensure that students surroundings are as enriching as possible. Also, APSDS would like to partner in the future with researchers from Laval University in beautiful Quebec City to help and facilitate the development of a guide to promote inclusive and accessible libraries for all.
In another area, this year many schools took advantage of special budgets from the Education Department to buy robots to introduce students to the joy of programming with Scratch, an initiative that is part of RECIT Tools and Digital Creation program.
As for Canadian School Library Day, it deserves more promotion and visibility in the province of Quebec French Libraries. It would be in everyone interest to celebrate school libraries once a year as a key tool in student academic success. APSDS will devote more energy in the future to this endeavour.
Prince Edward Island Teacher-Librarians’ Association (PEITLA)
Allison Giggey, P.E.I.T.L.A Secretary/Treasurer
Schools across Prince Edward Island will not only be celebrating Canadian School Library Day on October 22, but will be participating in School Library Week from October 22-26! Teacher-librarians have been working hard to plan various activities that support traditional literacy, digital literacy, and 21st century learning skills. Many school libraries will be hosting local authors to share their work, and others will be hosting full day “curl up and read!” events! There are also all sorts of contests being held, from book-character pumpkin carving to library scavenger hunts. It’s going to be a great week! Follow @pei_tla on Twitter for updates.
Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association Teacher-Librarians’ Special Interest Council
Leigh Borden, President, Teacher Librarians of Newfoundland and Labrador (TLNL)
2018-19 is shaping up to be an exciting year for school library learning commons across Newfoundland and Labrador. Following recommendations from the Premier’s Task Force on Improving Educational Outcomes, the NL government in July released its Education Action Plan which included investments in school libraries and teacher librarians in 40 ‘phase 1’ K-6 schools, with remaining schools coming on stream over the next three years. Specifically, in schools with over 200 students, a full-time teacher librarian is now in place; in those with 51-200, a half-time position now exists; and, in schools with fewer than 50 students, the teacher librarian allocation remains the same but with added support to ensure optimal utilization of the teacher librarian’s time. These developments are cause for great optimism and after our first two days of successful professional learning, these teacher librarians are feeling enthusiastic about the year ahead. The Education Action Plan at this point does not address needs related to school libraries in our grade 7-12 schools; it is our hope that this will be addressed in a subsequent phase of the plan.
Teacher librarians across Newfoundland and Labrador are also celebrating this fall the release of our long-awaited curriculum support document. After many years of writing, rewriting, and piloting, the NL Department of Education and Early Childhood Development has published Extending the Classroom: The Library Learning Commons. This document provides guidance for teacher librarians in all schools K-12 and emphasizes many of the elements of the school library learning commons as reflected in Leading Learning. Executive members of Teacher-Librarians of Newfoundland and Labrador (TLNL) have been involved from the start in the development of this important resource and we are very pleased with the finished product. (See the announcement, below.)
In order to grow our membership and to promote school libraries and teacher librarianship in Newfoundland and Labrador, TLNL has announced a “Follow Us On Twitter” contest for School Library Month. We have invited NL teacher librarians to follow our Twitter account @TeacherLibNL and tweet pictures of fun and innovative school library learning commons activities to win a tote bag of librarian swag! Additionally, we are planning to organize a series of Skype professional learning sessions over the course of this year so that regardless of location, TLs who want to improve their teaching practice are able to do so! We have an active Twitter community and share lots of great student learning! Follow us for more!
Newfoundland and Labrador Announcement: The Library Learning Commons
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development published, in English, a support document entitled “Extending the Classroom: The Library Learning Commons”. It is with pleasure that we announce that the French translation of this document “Enrichir la salle de classe : Les carrefours d’apprentissage” is now online on our Ministry website.
You can access this French translation online here.
The English document can be accessed on our website here.