By Serena Mohammed, BCTLA
I attended the Treasure Mountain 8 Research Symposium from January 31 to February 1 this year. It was my first time attending TMC, and it was an inspiring, affirming, and empowering experience. The symposium featured award recognitions, spotlight speakers, table talks, and numerous opportunities for attendees to connect, collaborate, and engage in meaningful discussions with one another. I met many passionate teachers and teacher-librarians and gained many impactful and memorable takeaways.
The evening began with a land acknowledgment and a reading of Be a Good Ancestor by Leona Prince, Gabrielle Prince, and Carla Joseph, urging us to consider the long-term impacts of the decisions we make. This was followed by a keynote speech from Leslie Weir, Librarian and Archivist at Library and Archives Canada, who provided insight on how the Library and Archives Canada shares the stories and heritage of diverse Canadian communities. Leslie encouraged teacher-librarians and teachers to inspire students to visit them, to explore and to use their resources, and to continue advocating for freedom of information and freedom of expression.
to be selected as one of the recipients of the inaugural
Donald Hamilton Advocacy Award.
Following the keynote, the annual awards were presented, recognizing outstanding contributions to Canadian school libraries. Among the honourees were Wendy Burch Jones, Jennifer Brown, Diana Maliszewski, and the BCTLA Executive Committee for their work supporting colleagues, supporting students, developing advocacy campaigns, promoting equity and inclusion, writing articles, presenting at events, and more. Judith Sykes, Carol Koechlin and Anita Brooks Kirkland were also celebrated for their years of contributions to the field. As a member of the BCTLA Executive, this portion of the event was especially memorable to me. It was inspiring to be recognized alongside so many others who have made positive impacts in promoting and contributing to Canadian school libraries.
Saturday began with a Land Recognition and a reading of I am Connected by Ḵung Jaadee and Carla Joseph, inviting reflection on our ties across time and space. The spotlight speakers included Dr. Dianne Oberg, Diana Maliszewski, Jennifer Casa-Todd, Dr. Keith Curry Lance, and Alanna King. Dr. Dianne Oberg and Diana Maliszewski addressed persistent barriers in supporting school libraries — such as inadequate financial support, human resources, and limited research — and highlighted events like the TMC Symposiums that empower teacher-librarians to engage in research, connect with peers, and share findings across Canada. Jennifer Casa-Todd discussed AI’s impact on school libraries, stressing the importance for teacher-librarians to stay current on AI, model ethical use, join school board discussions, and build AI literacy skills to support students. Dr. Keith Curry Lance reviewed how funding and hiring decisions for school librarians are made. His presentation is a reminder to all stakeholders to continue to advocate for better policies for school libraries and better funding for school libraries and library staff. Alanna King’s presentation on disability inclusion, which resonated with me as a teacher with a disability, compared the medical and social models of disability and urged all school stakeholders to prioritize inclusion, equity, and accessibility in schools, libraries, and communities.
The table talks were a significant part of TMC, as most of the presenters were current or former teacher-librarians, but there were also presenters who were members of non-profit organizations, post-secondary instructors, and university students. It was inspiring to see such a diverse group of researchers passionate about sharing innovative practices and ideas they’ve implemented in their school communities. Sixteen papers were part of the table talks, some by individuals, others by groups. Each attendee could visit four sessions, and with so many intriguing topics, it was difficult to choose. Fortunately, the papers are available on the TMC blog for future reading. I attended discussions on cyber-education, the Sustainable Development Goals, the impact of school libraries on student success, and transitioning away from the Dewey Decimal System. These sessions taught me about engaging methods for teaching cybersecurity, integrating the Sustainable Development Goals into programming and collection development, the positive influence of high-quality school library programs on students especially in the early years, and how to use the Brian Deer Classification System to organize a library’s collection.
The TMC symposium provided many networking opportunities, including a Friday evening dinner and social event and themed discussions on Saturday. I enjoyed engaging in meaningful conversations about strategies for supporting school library education and research, professional learning for library professionals, and advocacy with various stakeholders. These discussions allowed me to connect with school library professionals from across Canada and gain insights into working conditions and student learning environments in different regions. My first experience at the Treasure Mountain Research Symposium was extremely positive, impactful, and memorable. I look forward to sharing my experience with colleagues to encourage them to submit papers or attend future TMC Symposiums.
Serena Mohammed has taught in the Richmond School District for 10 years. She also has experience with teaching in a rural community in Northern Alberta. She has worked in the roles of teacher-librarian, resource teacher, kindergarten teacher, and ELL teacher. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the BC Teacher-Librarians’ Association and manages their social media pages. Serena is passionate about contributing to her union and community work related to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. In her free time, Serena enjoys reading, watching movies, traveling, and cooking.