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The Library...
The Library...
The library is run by specialists and clerks who utilize the space with empathetic knowledge of students from diverse backgrounds (both racial and economical); contains content and programs related to both academic and socioemotional learning; and inspires a creative, brave space for students to engage with their ideas and one another.
Teacher librarians are leaders, teachers, instructional partners, informational specialists, and program administrators (AASL, 2018) working to help students with their information and media needs.
Teachers
Teachers
Teacher librarians are certified educators and have the advantage of hosting programs that are related to both academic and socio-emotional learning. Using knowledge of students' academic, college & career, and "soft skills" development, teacher librarians host programs, workshops, and events geared toward student interest and development.
Additionally, the library program works to meet standards ensuring students have access to informational materials and are trained how to be discriminating users of information (Iowa Code). They are taught about the access and resources available to them through the library and how to use the information provided through that access.
Book Tasting table decor for a freshmen English course
Library Orientation (K-3)
Library Orientation (K-3)
The above slides review expectations for K-3 students. The presentation is reviewed at the beginning of the year in the library and again later if needed.
Leaders
Leaders
Because TLs are leaders, they work to promote those on the fringes--the minorities. As Judy Krug (2009) aptly noted: “We have to serve the information needs of everybody, and that includes people on the fringes, and they can be economic fringes" (ALA) among many others. As such, TLs must have empathetic knowledge of their student-base but also the world at large in order to keep themselves and students abreast of knowledge and information for and of diverse backgrounds.
Regardless of background or race, students should find the library to be a space of equality of information. The American Library Association interprets the Library Bill of Rights (2014a) to remind TLs that “all students [should] have equitable access to library facilities, resources, and instructional programs” (ALA, 2014a). The TL will assist both parties without regard for their access outside the boundaries of the library; within, each will be given the same access.
Reconsideration Form
Reconsideration Form
As much as the KSCD libraries support the ALA's Bill of Rights (2014a), it is important for community members to feel they have a right to speak up if they take issue with a library item. The form above is part of the library policy for items to be reconsidered.
Meeting Space for All
Meeting Space for All
Meetings are held in the library on a regular basis. Sports meetings, board meetings, and clubs use the media and table space when available. Above, you can see a photo of a visiting GSA speaker who presented during the fall of 2019.
Mrs. Westermeyer Marlin performs a book talk for 4th grade students, complementing the work the teacher already does to interest students in books
Instructional Partners
Instructional Partners
A huge advantage to teachers working within the classroom is the aforementioned certification of teacher librarians. Some TLs have a background in English, still others have history or communications; all are certified in one field or another. At KSD, Mrs. Westermeyer Marlin will be “working with the classroom teacher to establish learning objectives and goals … [and] implement[...] assessment strategies before during and after assigned units of study” (AASL, 2009). As such, she can assist with a unit before, during, or after it happens.
Because of TLs unique background and certification, they can assist teachers in many ways within their classrooms and in the library itself.
Classroom Visits & Library Tours
Classroom Visits & Library Tours
After a visit to the library to review different genres, students in a 1st grade classroom listen to a fiction story.
Aug Lib Pick - Wishtree.movBook Talks
Book Talks
In addition to classroom visits to "talk up" books Mrs. Westermeyer Marlin enjoys, she has begun adding short clips online too. This book is a 2020 Iowa Battle of the Books (Children's Choice Award) text, too.
Students participate in a book-related escape room during Teen Read Week
Information Specialists
Information Specialists
“School librarians provide the all-important human connection between students and information, as well as between teachers and information,” (Arbanel, Davis, Hand, & Wittner 2013). TLs work hand in hand with faculty and students to not only provide information but also detail how to use it in a helpful manner. Many think that students do not need help with information; after all, can’t anything they need be found online? Yes and no. With the information overload that is the internet, TLs are needed to help sift the credible from the fake, the useful from redundant.
Beyond that, “TLs curate collections that support a sense of wonder at the breadth of possibility in the world … lift[ ] information access from a rote and random activity to purposeful, meaningful learning” (Arbanel, Davis, Hand, & Wittner 2013).
TLs keep spaces that foster a love of learning and a love of reading. The KCSD libraries are no different in working toward this goal.
Students work on personal inventories during a workshop to help them prepare for scholarship essay writing
Inquiry Guides
Inquiry Guides
The above photo link provides an example inquiry guide created for the 5th grade Iowa History Project. Mrs. Westermeyer Marlin will gladly collaborate with teachers to create an inquiry guide for teachers in their classrooms aligned with their lesson and subject standards.
2022 Best Websites for Teaching & Learning
2022 Best Websites for Teaching & Learning
The teachers' area on each respective school page includes information about books, lessons, and the best websites for teaching and learning. The AASL reviews websites for "qualities of innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration," and the "sites recognized are free web-based sites that are user friendly and encourage a community of learners to explore and discover" (AASL).
Program Administrators
Program Administrators
Our teacher librarian and clerks work to insure the space, staff, and programs of the school library align to provide equitable access to all students. This equitable access may include flexible scheduling (AASL), defending challenged resources in one’s library collection (ALA, 2017b), budgeting for new technology to keep students digitally competent (ISTE, 2018), advocating for more clerks and paraprofessionals to keep Learning Commons setups to assist more students (Moreillon, 2017), and so on.
As a program administrator, Mrs. Westermeyer Marlin works to keep information available through staffing, budgeting, programming, co-teaching, community outreach, and face-to-face service with staff and students. This work is to encourage students to be creative and have brave engagement with content, knowledge, and one another in an open access environment.
Community Outreach
Community Outreach
The above article was shared with our local newspaper, the Daily Gate City, to promote Teen Read Week.
2019 Annual Report (2).pdfAnnual Report
Annual Report
Each year, Mrs. Westermeyer Marlin compiles a detailed account of lessons, monies spent, and programs hosted at each of the four KCSD libraries. The annual report is linked above. (COVID led to a skipping of 2020's report. Will update in 2021.)
References:
AASL (2014). Position Statement on Flexible Scheduling (2014). Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/resources/statements/flex-sched. American Association of School Librarians (2018). National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries. Chicago: ALA Editions. American Library Association (2014). Access to Resources and Services in the School Library: An Interpretation of Library Bill of Rights. Retrieved from:http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/accessresources. American Library Association (2017). How to Respond to Challenges and Concerns aboutLibrary Resources. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/respond. Arbanel, E., Davis, S., Hand, D., & Wittner, M. (2013). The New School Library. Retrieved from https://www.nais.org/magazine/independent-school/summer-2013/the-new-school-library/. International Society for Technology in Education (2018). ISBE Standards for Students. Retrieved from https://www.iste.org/standards/for-students. Introduction: Iowa Code (2016). Teacher Librarian 101. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/a/uni.edu/drkarlakrueger/teacherlibrarian101/iowa-code. Krug, J. American Library Association. 2009, April 21. Judy Krug Memorial. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD6kfKAsRWQ&feature=relmfu. Moreillon, J. (2017). The Learning Commons: A Strategic Opportunity for Teacher Librarian Leadership. Teacher Librarian, 44(3), 21-25. Retrieved fromhttp://web.a.ebscohost.com.proxy.lib.uni.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=14a8d68c-64ca-4267-a942-3fe5ba4e1092%40sdc-v-sessmgr01. Stevenson, C. (Photographer). (2018, September). Book Talk. Westermeyer, A. (Photographer). (2018, Sept./Oct.). Book Tasting, Scholarship Workshop, Teen Read Week.
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