By Judith Sykes
The Canadian School Libraries (CSL) Board of Directors welcomes school library practitioners from across the country to expand its volunteer base in a growing organization. Why join the CSL team? What are the benefits? How much time does it take? How can busy practitioners or retirees find the time? This article will explore these questions and more, outlining the work and accomplishments of CSL, testimonials from past and present board members, and links to selected Leading Learning / L’apprentissage en tête school library learning commons (SLLC) standards that present indicators for professional growth and collaboration beyond the school.
Standards for professional growth beyond the school are echoed worldwide. Involvement in library associations and organizations are important professional goals to aspire to – and be inspired by, as noted in the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) 2021 School Library Manifesto. “Close reading of the 2021 School Library Manifesto document reveals a few significant changes…[including]…school library professionals who are ‘good leaders’ and involved in their library associations. These are changes worth consideration, as goals to aspire to and goals to be inspired by” (Oberg, 2021).
Whether local, provincial, national or worldwide, involvement in school library associations and organizations provide the practitioner with a broad source of collegial connections, continuous learning, and sharing of research in the field, informing foundational aspects of practice. Such involvement flourishes in the many participatory, collaborative experiences available for CSL team members. Founded by school library leader volunteers from across Canada after the dissolution of the Canadian Library Association (CLA) in 2016, CSL “is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to professional research and education in the field of the school library learning commons in Canada. CSL connects school library practitioners and educators across Canada in the collaborative pursuit of delivering exemplary practices reflective of current professional school library learning commons standards”. CSL is the home of Leading Learning, Standards of Practice for School Library Learning Commons in Canada / L’apprentissage en tête: Principes relatifs à la transition de la bibliothèque scolaire vers le carrefour d’apprentissage au Canada.
Liz Kerr (Ontario), an influential leader in school librarianship, reflects on her time as a CSL board member and developer, and her experiences, including co-founding Treasure Mountain Canada (TMC) Symposiums since 2010. Liz was on the founding board of Canadian School Libraries from 2016-2019, after serving on the working group that created the organization.
I was privileged to be a part of the founding board for Canadian School Libraries. When it became apparent that the Canadian Library Association would have to dissolve as an association, and the national “voice” for school libraries would be lost, several school library leaders from across the country began envisioning a new pan-Canadian network that would be dedicated to professional learning, and the creation of school library learning commons standards with a roadmap to achieve the highest level over time. Thus, Canadian School Libraries was founded in 2016.
What I enjoyed most about the experience was working with like-minded people – all of us were so enthusiastic and excited about creating standards for exemplary school libraries, sharing resources to support and nurture school library professionals, and building a body of literature and research that underscored our common belief in the importance of good school library programs for every student in Canada. I would have to say that my favourite project was working on the biennial research retreat – Treasure Mountain Canada (TMC). Continuous improvement in any endeavour requires on-going inquiry and reflection of our own practices – informed by a broad range of both qualitative and quantitative research. TMC encourages school library learning commons professionals to create and conduct research studies which are then shared and discussed at the research retreats. No participant ever left one of these heady retreats without feeling renewed and excited to return to their positions and try to make a difference!
I have always felt that if “we” want something to continue and grow, we must be part of the process. This belief prompted me to accept many volunteer roles throughout my life, and certainly one of the most satisfactory ones was being on the CSL Board!
Liz Kerr
One of the first major national collaborative projects CSL adopted was Leading Learning, newly-minted SLLC standards that encompass indicators and phases of SLLC growth and development. In this endeavour CSL was able to create national SLLC standards with practitioners from every province and territory, and bring Leading Learning to its current virtual version, continually seeking and posting exemplars for standard indicators – nearly 300 “living” exemplars to date! The following six Leading Learning indicators focus on organizational purpose and involvement.
LLC builds learning communities and is responsive to evolving school, district and global changes. Leading Learning, Collaborative Engagement: Exemplar A4
As CSL is a non-profit organization, it is without paid membership. CSL board has built an extensive national learning community through its committee members, communications, partners, and mailing list associates. This enables the board to respond to events in the field both applaudable or concerning. CSL Board Chair Anita Brooks Kirkland (Ontario), a well-known school library leader, writer, presenter and consultant, has been very active in professional organizations and leadership for many years. Anita reflects on the creation and impact of CSL.
You ask what my favourite project has been with Canadian School Libraries, and I would have to say it is the creation of CSL itself, watching it grow and take on a life of itself. The dissolution of the Canadian Library Association was such a potential disaster for all of the progress that had been made with developing a common national vision of the school library learning commons through Leading Learning. It was so gratifying to see the widespread support we received when establishing CSL, and to see how the whole thing has taken on a life of its own. There is a growing moral and practical investment in deepening a Canadian approach to learning in the school library. We’re all in this together after all, and I think CSL has made a big difference in facilitating professional networking and sharing. One of the great delights in the work I do with CSL is receiving articles for our journal from practitioners who take big ideas and turn them into actions that make such a difference to kids.
On a personal note, I have been involved in association work for a long time, and have found it extremely gratifying. What a wonderful way to work with other dedicated people, and to learn from their collective expertise. Being involved in association work has been the most gratifying experience of my professional life, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is contemplating taking the plunge!
Anita Brooks Kirkland
Evolving technologies and robust infrastructure empower networking and participatory learning opportunities within and beyond the school. Leading Learning, Instructional Design E4
Information literacy enlightens technology for learning, never more tested than in the current pandemic. Practitioners in the SLLC play an invaluable role in guiding learners through the virtual paths of today and into the future.
CSL Board member Richard Beaudry (British Columbia), a teacher-librarian also teaching classes in the diploma and master’s programs in teacher-librarianship at the University of British Columbia, is an information specialist leader. Richard has been involved in association and organization service for many years, including serving as chair of the Canadian Federation of Library Associations / Fédération canadienne des associations de bibliothèques (CFLA-FCAB) Intellectual Freedom Committee. Richard shares his views on being a member of CSL board.
What I appreciate the most is having worked with such a dedicated group of library learning commons advocates who have worked tirelessly over all these years for the benefit and education of teacher librarians in Canada. As a group, we have been able to connect with our members and provincial and territorial associations through our website, School Libraries Journal and various social media outlets to offer relevant and up-to-date information and articles to teacher librarians. On a personal note, I am deeply appreciative of the TMC symposiums and Canadian School Libraries Journal because of the relevance of the Canadian-based research and articles that have complimented the classes that I have taught at university over the years. The present group of volunteers have set the foundation for a thriving teacher librarian association moving into the future and I thank them for their dedication and hard work.
Richard Beaudry
District administration and library consultants collaborate with other district, provincial, national education leaders to build LLC capacity. Leading Learning, Advancing the Learning Community: Exemplar F4
Organizational involvement develops practitioner leadership which in turn helps builds capacity to support SLLCs in schools and strive for SLLC equity for all students across Canada. Through national projects such as CSL Journal, timely articles can be written and shared. CSL Board member Caroline Freibauer (Ontario), teacher-librarian at St. Michael’s College in Toronto, has led school library associations and research, is editor of the Ontario School Library Association’s The Teaching Librarian magazine, and serves on the CSL Journal editorial committee. Caroline reflects on the “whys” of CSL board membership.
All of us who work in school libraries are passionate about what we do, in our individual learning commons, in our school jurisdictions or in our provincial associations. We co-plan lessons, design programs to create excitement for reading and carefully prepare presentations to share our learning at conferences. We work tirelessly to spread our enthusiasm for the school library learning commons to those around us. But it is not until you have the opportunity to contribute at a national level that you truly see the big picture. You can help bring together the energy of all these individual projects to make some important and lasting gains. I have learned so much in my time on the board of the Canadian School Library Association and encourage anyone who shares my love for school libraries to step up and contribute their talents.
Caroline Freibauer
Life-long Learning / Projects: Learning experiences are developed to invite creativity and innovation. Leading Learning, Learning Environments: Exemplar G4
Involvement in CSL and other school library associations or organizations over time enables one to meet and work with outstanding school library leaders, who mentor team members in national work, thinking differently and exploring new, unique and innovative ways of practice while staying steady to school library learning commons (SLLC) values and standards encompassing ingenuity.
Noted educator, author and presenter in school librarianship, CSL Vice-Chair Carol Koechlin (Ontario) has significantly contributed to CSL and the SLLC field. Carol co-founded Treasure Mountain Canada (TMC 2010) and has co-chaired TMC Symposiums since then. Carol co-developed and co-chairs Leading Learning, keeping standard indicator exemplars growing and current. Carol shares her thoughts on what she has enjoyed about CSL board, and favorite experiences.
You ask what I have enjoyed most, and I would have to say that it has been a joy to watch the new and growing connections and networks with school library professionals and other champions of school libraries across Canada; that is our greatest accomplishment. I think we have achieved this by knitting together critical nation projects of interest all under the steady umbrella of Canadian School Libraries. All our resources; the standards, the journal, 10 years of home-grown research through TMC symposiums, special projects like the Research Toolkit and Collection Diversity Toolkit, Read Into This podcasts and so much more is available 24/7 on our website and it is all free to every school library from coast to coast to coast. Thank you to our awesome volunteer leaders and committees who are an inspiration for continued success.
Carol Koechlin
LLC works with the community to develop and promote literacy for all. Leading Learning, Fostering Literacies: Exemplar G4
CSL team members have been and are privileged to work with many other dynamic SLLC practitioners and partners across Canada in developing resources. CSL organizes or is involved with national literacy initiatives such as Canadian School Library Day, Media Literacy Week, I Read Canada Day, Read Into This podcasts, and more. CSL partnered with TEACH Magazine for the new resource, The Great Canadian Book Project: videos, sample lesson plans, and other resources based on current topics and Canadian authors. The newly launched Collection Diversity Toolkit supports the important role and responsibility library professionals have to play in ensuring collections are of the highest quality and represent people authentically.
Teacher-librarian leader Jo-Anne Gibson (Manitoba) was on the founding board of Canadian School Libraries (2016-2018) after serving on the working group that created the organization. Jo-Anne provided extensive leadership within the Manitoba School Library Association (MSLA) including serving as MSLA president. Jo-Anne recalls her experiences with CSL board.
Vivianne Fogarty at TMC5 in Winnipeg.
I think the thing I liked best about being on the CSL Board was learning from the other amazing people on the Board and various committees. I love learning new things and every CSL meeting for CSL I had an opportunity to learn from the best minds in school libraries anywhere in the world. I loved being a part of the Communications Committee because it gave me the opportunity to meet others across Canada who were passionate about school libraries like me. This gave me the sense that I was part of something larger which kept my day-to-day work in school libraries in perspective.
I have three favourite CSL activities/initiatives. The first is the bringing of school libraries together through Canadian School Library Day. The vast majority of school library staff work in isolation; CSLD is a time to celebrate with others all school library staffs from across the country do for students and school staff every day. It is an amazing feeling being connected to schools across the country on CSLD and drawing attention to students, school staffs and the general public all school libraries do to enhance student learning and self-discovery.
I also can’t say enough about the opportunities for learning in every Treasure Mountain Canada I have helped organize and/or attend. Treasure Mountain is such a valuable part of the work of CSL. Partaking in the amazing research projects and discussions as a part of TMC was always such a privilege. It cannot be overstated how the connecting with old friends and making new ones as a part of every TMC experience enhanced my work as a teacher-librarian and school library learning commons consultant.
And finally, I felt very privileged to have worked on the creation of the Leading Learning document. Being a part of helping to decide on the future direction of school libraries was both personally and professionally satisfying. Leading Learning proudly became my guide for the school library program in my school. When I became the library learning commons consultant in my school division, Leading Learning was my go-to document for professional learning.
Jo-Anne Gibson
Teacher-librarians contribute their particular knowledge of best practice results in their LLC to the broader education community. Leading Learning, Instructional Design: Exemplar G4
Shared best practice through action research is one of my favorite interests. As a CSL board member (Alberta), I have seen practitioner research generated and celebrated through the bi-annual TMC Symposia. CSL has developed an outstanding Research Archive and Research Toolkit, supporting practitioners in the important work of exploring their own practice through research. The toolkit provides strategies for busy practitioners to engage in research and reflect on professional growth.
in Victoria, BC.
Getting to know CSL board and committee members through attending interesting and lively meetings – mostly tele-meetings or Zoom once every few months – and working on projects and resources at my own pace in-between has been phenomenal learning and time-saving with shared resources and ideas. No matter how hectic or busy life gets, the CSL team provides a generous welcome and support from others experiencing or working on many of the same things. As a retired practitioner, CSL board involvement has furthered my interests, passions and talents in the field, allowing me to also share experiences and knowledge that may support other practitioners.
Organizational work and involvement can constitute part of one’s professional growth goals, aligning with school and district focus that most if not all school districts require. How would such involvement impact student learning at your school? Beyond? Will it give new ideas, resources or strategies you need to change or risk? Will your ideas and strategies inspire others? Involvement in CSL board, committees and projects are inclusive of Canadian regions, cultures, identity, age and experiences, constructing a vibrant team of practitioners collaborating to support all students through SLLCs in many significant ways.
We hope you would consider volunteering for the CSL team, or perhaps you know someone who might consider. CSL welcomes volunteers with:
- ways to support student learning and contribute to SLLC equity across Canada
- a phased-in, mentorship approach
- learning about and engaging in national work
- professional learning and leadership opportunities to further your interests, passions and talents in the field
- creating or participating in collaborative projects or research
- support for and alignment with your SLLC professional growth goals
- if retired, a way to keep in the field, share wisdom
- networking with SLLC colleagues within and beyond Canada.
If you are interested in being involved in CSL as a part of the board or on one of our committees, please let us know! Send us an email that includes the following information:
- Name
- Location (City, Prov/Terr)
- Email address
- Current position
- School library experience
- Association / organization experience
- Where you think your interests, passions, or talents could best contribute to CSL
If you have further questions about being a part of CSL or would like more information first, please feel free to contact us!
CSL email: info@canadianschoollibraries.ca
For a detailed look at Canadian School Libraries, visit our website!
Reference
Oberg, D. (2021, November 8). IFLA School Library Manifesto 2021: Inspiration and Aspiration. Canadian School Libraries Journal 5(3). Retrieved from https://journal.canadianschoollibraries.ca/ifla-school-library-manifesto-2021-inspiration-and-aspiration/
Judith Sykes has been a teacher, teacher-librarian, district school library specialist, and elementary school principal for the Calgary Board of Education in Alberta. She was the provincial school library manager for the Alberta Ministry of Education, leading the School Library Services Initiative 2008-2012. Judith was the project coordinator and a contributing writer for Leading Learning: Standards Of Practice For School Library Learning Commons in Canada when it was first published, and continues as co-chair of CSL’s Leading Learning Committee. She also serves on the CSL Board of Directors. Judith has published several books about school library practice, including two that deal specifically with action research approaches.