Librarians are uniquely positioned to play an important and effective role in the extended essay process.

As interdisciplinary educators they are able to work across subject areas to help students become lifelong

learners through inquiring, gaining and creating new knowledge, and pursuing personal interests. With

the necessary educational background and training they are able to support students in the development

of information literacy and research skills. Students are often overwhelmed at the amount of unfiltered

information available to them, so they need to develop the skills to be able to raise questions and evaluate

the authenticity, validity and reliability of sources. Utilising the knowledge and skills of a school librarian

will help students to navigate and plan their extended essay more effectively and to become independent

researchers.

In order to prepare students to be successful in the extended essay process, librarians can help to lay the

foundations for the development of research skills. Ideally, some of these skills will have already been

developed several years before the extended essay process, thus giving students a chance to demonstrate

their learning. However, in situations where the concept of research is new to students, librarians have

an invaluable role to play. The school librarian can provide leadership and expertise in the selection,

acquisition, evaluation, and organization of information resources and technologies in all formats, as well

as expertise in the ethical use of information. These are all important concepts and practices students

need to understand.

Support for the extended essay

One of the best resources any school has to support the extended essay is the school library and librarian.

In order to support the extended essay, a school may decide that the librarian is best placed to provide

training in some of the fundamental research and information literacy skills. Working closely with Diploma

Programme/extended essay coordinator and supervisors, librarians can provide important and additional

support in the development of these skills.