By Anita Brooks Kirkland & Carol Koechlin
Leverage your library learning commons. This is Canadian School Libraries’ message. As the full weight of the pandemic hit us at the beginning of the school year, all educators need to understand that school library professionals are among their most important pandemic partners for learning.
of teacher-librarians gained significant media attention.
There is despair at the grim realities of libraries closing in some school districts and staff being reassigned. There is creativity and innovation in many schools where library staff are going above and beyond to support reading and inquiry. There is encouragement as other educators raise their voices in support of school libraries, and as an extended community of support emerges. And now in mid-November, as news of promising vaccine development gives us a glimmer of hope amidst the second wave of the pandemic, there is hope for the future of the post-pandemic library learning commons.
Énoncé sur le rôle des bibliothèques scolaires en temps de pandémie
Canadian School Libraries has been proactive. The CSL Board issued a statement on the role of the school library during the pandemic, and we have created resources for you to use and adapt to leverage the LLC as a partner for learning during pandemic times and beyond. We encourage you to use these resources to amplify your own voice.
The Spring 2020 edition of CSL Journal told the story of how these professionals had sprung into action with the initial lockdown. This Fall 2020 edition responds to the shifting situation, telling stories of innovation, and providing concrete ideas for effective practice in these very challenging times.
One of our feature stories, Future of the School Library Learning Commons by Caroline Freibauer, paints a picture of the situation across the country and tells of the many emerging voices of support. We are all advocates for the school library, and we encourage you to be inspired by this article to take action.
This edition proudly gives voice to school library professionals across the country who are mastering the pandemic pivot. As pandemic partners for learning, they are indeed inspiring their school communities to leverage the library learning commons. We have stories of effective instructional practice, building relevant and responsive collections, fostering reading communities, and focussing on student well-being.
Our other feature story, Documenting the School Library Journey in 2020 by Beth Lyons, emphasizes the importance of documenting what we do on a daily basis. Yes the research tells us that school libraries make a difference, but it is the “home-grown” data documented in your schools that tells the real story.
Pivoting is fine, you might think, but it’s hard to be innovative when you are focussed on just surviving! Yet the pandemic has helped so many educators crystalize their understanding of the key role that the school library continues to play. The library learning commons has never been so crucial. Our hope is that you will take inspiration from the stories in this very important edition of CSL Journal, and most importantly that you will find the strength to continue to support your students and the whole education community as only the school library learning commons can.
CSL Wants to Hear from You!
Documenting what you are doing in response to the pandemic is so important. CSL is seeking to gather that evidence in order to amplify your voice. Please take a couple of minutes to respond to our very short survey.