Foundations for School Library Learning Commons in Canada: A Framework for Success
What support do schools need to successfully implement Leading Learning: Standards of Practice for School Library Learning Commons in Canada?
Excellent school library programs are built on solid foundations and infrastructures or frameworks for success. Foundations for School Library Learning Commons in Canada: A Framework for Success provides standards for building these strong foundations and frameworks. It establishes strong policy, robust funding, and a commitment to equity of access as necessary foundations. It describes the elements that frame program success, including design factors for library spaces, technological infrastructure, professional staffing, and accessibility, as well as the ethics of school librarianship, a commitment to a growth mindset, and ongoing accountability.
Purpose: This document was designed to support the successful implementation of Leading Learning: Standards of Practice for School Library Learning Commons in Canada.
Audience: This document is for school library staff and leaders to help build foundational understandings related to school library learning commons in Canada.
Scope: This document presents clear structures to support the pedagogical approaches described in Leading Learning.
Recommendations in Foundations for School Library Learning Commons in Canada: A Framework for Success are based on the International Federation of Library Association’s (IFLA) School Library Guidelines, 2nd revised edition (2015), internationally-approved standards for school libraries, adapting recommendations from the IFLA guidelines to the Canadian context.
Foundations for School Library Learning Commons in Canada: A Framework for Success is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial CC BY-NC license. We encourage school library professionals, associations, educators, and decision-makers to use, adapt, and build upon the recommendations in this document to improve equity of access to quality school library learning commons programs for every school in Canada.