Your School Library Learning Commons:
Pandemic Partner for Learning
School library learning commons (LLC) programs, facilities, resources and professional expertise have a positive impact on teaching and learning in Canadian schools from coast to coast to coast. Decades of national and international research provide the evidence.
Many schools and districts are making tough choices to keep students safe and unfortunately this has a temporary impact on how school LLC will operate. School library professionals demonstrated the importance of their work during pandemic school closures in the spring of 2020 by supporting teachers, students and the community with innovative virtual supports and initiatives to keep reading and learning going. Now that schools are opening up for back to school that support is needed even more.
Safety of students and staff is the number one priority as schools open up but we shouldn’t close ‘doors’ to best learning experiences. We can do both!
We need to reboot the reading habit. Most students have not been able to access physical books from their excellent school library collections for over six months now. We need to provide equitable access. Teachers and students need access to the best resources, technologies and information expertise available to support inquiry learning.
How can schools maintain critical school library learning commons benefits during pandemic times?
LEVERAGE YOUR LIBRARY FOR DIVERSE LEARNING RESOURCES
ENGAGE READERS: Book choices to engage every reader, in multiple formats, in print and online.
INSPIRE INQUIRY: Rich print and online resource collections to inform research and inspire inquiry.
PHYSICAL AND VIRTUAL MAKERSPACES: Resources and ideas to spark inquiry, creativity, and design thinking.
CURATED RESOURCES FROM THE WEB: Selected for reliability, authority, and relevance to learning.
LEVERAGE THE LLC FOR PARTICIPATORY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
EXTEND YOUR VIRTUAL CLASSROOM: Enhance learning opportunities. Connect the library to your virtual classroom.
PARTICIPATORY VIRTUAL SPACES: Online reading, virtual book clubs, author visits and read-alouds, and virtual making.
DIVERSITY AND WELL BEING: School library programs support equity and inclusion and the well being of every student.
LEVERAGE THE LLC FOR ACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES
BORROW BOOKS: Establish protocols for safe borrowing. Borrow eBooks.
USE THE VIRTUAL LIBRARY: Use this virtual hub for finding resources, learning supports, and collaborative activities.
INSPIRE CREATIVITY: Provocations in the virtual makerspace connect design thinking to inquiry learning.
INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGY: Make videos, create podcasts, share amazing presentations. The library can help.
LEVERAGE THE LLC FOR EXPERT INSTRUCTION AND GUIDANCE
RESOURCE CURATION: Expert resource selection to support specific needs.
CO-PLANNING & CO-TEACHING: Partner with your teacher-librarian to plan, teach, and assess learning.
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING: Your teacher-librarian can facilitate PD to meet evolving needs.
ONLINE ETHICS AND SAFETY: Your school librarian can provide copyright advice and digital citizenship instruction.
PLEASE SHARE THIS RESOURCE!
Download the Leverage Your LLC graphic and use it with our permission on your website, on social media, in pamphlets or newsletters – wherever it may be useful.
Download and share this PDF version of the Canadian School Libraries Leverage Your LLC: Pandemic Partner for Learning chart, ready to print on 8.5×11 or to share online.
Link to this page from your school website, school library website, virtual classroom, CMS, personal website/blog, and on social media.
Create your own customized version! Canadian School Libraries gives you permission to adapt this page and/or chart to reflect the resources and services that you can provide at your school.
Canadian School Libraries would like to know what you are doing to leverage the LLC during the pandemic. If you work in school libraries or library support OR if you are another educator, please take a few minutes to respond to this short survey!
Useful Articles & Inspiring Links
Beaudry, R. (2020, June 2). Being a Teacher-Librarian During a Pandemic. Canadian School Libraries Journal 4 (2).
British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association (BCTLA). (2020). BCTLA Recommendations for Access to Library Learning Commons Resources to Meet COVID-19 Requirements.
Brooks Kirkland, A. (2020, June 2). The Virtual Library Learning Commons: Leveraging the Pandemic Tipping Point for Lasting Change. Canadian School Libraries Journal 4 (2).
Castle Oaks Public School. (2020). Castle Oaks Library Learning Commons.
Koechlin, C. & Brooks Kirkland, A. (2020, June 2). Vision 2020: Planning During Uncertain Times. Canadian School Libraries Journal 4 (2).
Larkspur Public School. (2020). Larkspur Learning Commons.
Lyons, B. (2020, August 18). @MrsLyonsLibrary [Twitter moment].
Lyons, B. (2020, August 14). Reflect. Review. Revise. A year in the Library Learning Commons [Blog post].
Mulcaster, M. & Zita, T. (2020, June 2). Bringing the LLC Home: Learners in a Pandemic Time. Canadian School Libraries Journal 4 (2).