By the TMC7 Planning Committee
Canadian School Libraries is pleased to announce that the seventh biennial TMC Symposium (TMC7) will take place in New Westminster, British Columbia on Friday October 21 and Saturday October 22, 2022. The symposium is presented in partnership with the British Columbia Teacher Librarians’ Association (BCTLA). BCTLA’s Fall Conference will be on Friday October 21, and TMC7 will kick off that evening and carry on for the full day, Saturday.
What is TMC?
Treasure Mountain Canada is a participatory learning experience designed to bring researchers and practitioners together to discuss and debate current Canadian research and scholarly writing which has an impact on the role of school libraries vis-à-vis educational strategy and transformation. Papers and work from previous TMC experiences are archived for viewing and study in the Canadian School Libraries Research Archive.
TMC History: Transforming Research to Action
TMC1 – The first Treasure Mountain Canada, held in Edmonton in 2010, focused on Transforming Canadian School Libraries to Meet the Needs of 21st Century Learners.
TMC2 – In Ottawa 2012, the focus became Learning for the Future: Working Towards Revised National Standards for School Libraries in Canada.
TMC3 – In Victoria 2014, the focus was the launch of Leading Learning: Standards of Practice for School Library Learning Commons in Canada.
TMC4 – In Toronto 2016, in partnership with the Ontario Library Association (OLA) and Ontario School Library Association (OSLA), the symposium focused on deeper implementation of Leading Learning, and evidence that the standards are making an impact on teaching and learning in Canada. Discussions around the future of a national school library voice led to a call for action to create a new national presence for school libraries in Canada: thus fostering the beginnings of CSL.
TMC5 – In Winnipeg 2017, in partnership with Manitoba School Library Association (MSLA) SAGE Conference the theme was Culturally Relevant and Responsive School Library Learning Commons. The work of TMC5 led to a CSL project to help schools build Culturally Relevant and Responsive School Library Learning Commons.
TMC6 – In Toronto 2020, the symposium was developed in partnership with the Ontario Library Association (OLA), the OLA Super Conference, the Ontario School Library Association (OSLA) and The Association of Library Consultants and Coordinators of Ontario (TALCO). The theme of Participatory Learning in the Library Learning Commons kick-started discussions around diversity audits and building inclusive collections. This work culminated in the creation of the CSL Collection Diversity Toolkit.
How Can You Participate?
We need everyone’s voice at the table. The time is right, as we emerge from two years of pandemic crisis, for school libraries to take a lead in the future of education in Canada.There are many ways you can contribute your thoughts, ideas and questions as we work together to explore post pandemic potential for the Library Learning Commons.
- Contribute a paper
- Follow and participate in the TMC Blog in the weeks leading up to the symposium
- Share more ideas on Twitter and tag #TMCanada2022
- Attend the BCTLA fall conference, Leading Forward, on Friday October 21
- Register for the symposium and add your voice in person (Watch for registration details)
TMC7 Call for Papers
We recognize the outstanding contributions so many of you are making to teaching and learning in Canada. Your work needs to be recognized by the greater education community – and documented, so that it can become part of the debate.
For TMC7, we invite exploration and research papers on issues in school library learning commons practice that speak to future possibilities for the library learning commons, post-pandemic. We suggest either teacher action research and/or academic research related to the theme and strands.
TMC7 Theme: Post-Pandemic Library Learning Commons: From Crisis to Invention
TMC7 Sub-Themes:
- Increasing development of the virtual LLC and the development of innovative participatory learning opportunities
- Ensuring infusion of digital literacy skills and global competencies
- Continued growth in diversity awareness and action such as collection development, with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion
- Attention to how the library supports wellness for both staff and students
- Expanding the engagement of students in making and doing in the physical and virtual LLC
- Outreach to the school community to inspire reading and learning
For help getting started visit the CSL Research Toolkit. Explore TMC7 Resources to Get You Thinking for inspiration. You might also enjoy browsing past TMC symposiums in the CSL Research Archive, where you will discover over ten years worth of home grown research on school library learning commons in Canada.
More information about the TMC7 Call for Papers
Participate and Add Your Voice! TMC7 invites researchers, school library practitioners, educational leaders and policy-makers to move forward together and collaboratively explore ideas, inspire each other and build collective knowledge of the learning commons approach as part of sustainable school improvement. Help shape the future of school libraries in Canada.