About us

Media Center facilities are centers of learning. 
These centers encourage the exploration of ideas and provide information, technology and literature resources which support curriculum and promote effective communication. 

Media Center programs provide opportunities for students to become independent learners who are effective, responsible, critical, creative, and ethical users of ideas and information in a 21st century society. 

Media Center staff support learning by collaborating with classroom teachers to provide resources and learning experiences which integrate information skills and information communication technologies (ICT) into the curriculum.

The mission of the library information communication technologies department is to ensure that ALL New Canaan students are effective, ethical users of information and ideas in order to prepare them for living in an information rich 21st century society.

The Learning Resources program supports student learning by teaching information skills, advocating reading as a lifelong interest, and providing centers of learning which encourage exploration of ideas and information. Information Communication Skills (ICT) have been identified as essential prerequisites for successful performance in the work force of the 21st century. These skills help students become proficient at managing and communicating information. Students know how to identify an information problem, to effectively use multiple and varied sources of print, media and technology to access and evaluate relevant information, and to use information tools to effectively communicate knowledge and understanding.

Furthermore, we encourage all students to become avid readers. An appreciation of a wide range of literature gives us a richer understanding of the world. A library media center is the intellectual heart of a school-it links classrooms to the world, it highlights the interdisciplinary connections of content areas and supports the curriculum through a close collaboration with classroom teachers.  

By creating lively, inviting centers of learning, we provide an opportunity for students to immerse themselves in an information-rich environment and to apply inquiry skills across all school disciplines and into their lives beyond the school day.

     A Learning Resources Program is the intellectual center of the school. It can connect classrooms to the world and through interdisciplinary teaching and learning, demonstrate the link between content areas. Use of resources reminds us that we teach process, not just facts. Preparing students to be 21st century adult learners who can make the most of their personal potential means we teach them to be media literate, to love learning and to be effective users of ideas and information. 

     We want our students to be productive, independent learners, able to use ideas and information effectively and to apply the core knowledge of the school's curriculum. If students learn to use information tools to formulate and communicate conclusions to real world questions, they create the foundation of independent learning. Together with classroom programs, active use of learning resources and technology is a regular part of every students' experience at Saxe. The students construct knowledge and are involved in evaluating their own learning. Teachers structure the activity, design the rubric for evaluation, teach the necessary skills, monitor student progress, and evaluate the final project. The library teacher-librarian acts as a guide and coach for both teachers and students.

When students use resources to solve an information problem, they learn to:

 -Approach learning in a variety of ways

 -Structure the learning process for themselves

 -Work cooperatively as well as independently

 -Test hypotheses and evaluate conclusions

 -Identify and solve information problems        

 -Assess the process and products of their own learning

 -Create a product which communicates understanding and new knowledge

 -Reflect, as well as act, on the learning process

INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING & THE LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER...

Inquiry-based learning addresses research skills within the structure of curriculum. Since learning goals for information skills and technology cross disciplines, resource-based, student-centered instruction facilitates interdisciplinary connections. Curriculum problems that require investigation to formulate conclusions engage a student not only in the classic process of research, but also with technology as a learning tool. Ongoing monitoring of student learning with assessment rubrics help guide the student and inform the teacher. 

Inquiry learning leads to culminating 'performances' which allow students to demonstrate and communicate what they learned. These inquiries draw on research and connect the most important ideas, concepts, and skills. In order make connections, students call on more complex, higher order thinking, as well as, technology as a tool to link information. Technology skills, like multimedia authoring, are taught as part of a 'presentation' step in the research process. These products, whether through multimedia or in written pieces, demonstrate learning in an immediate, tangible, and compelling way. 

Teacher-Librarian...

The Saxe Library Media center has one full time teacher-librarian (library media specialist). 

The library media specialist has three basic roles, teacher, instructional consultant, and information specialist.  Together with classroom teachers, they collaboratively design learning experiences which develop information skills, along with digital and media literacy.

In addition, the teacher-librarian  promotes reading and literature through book talks, reading promotions like Nutmeg Books and Battle of the Books, and advocates for creating a school-wide culture of literacy. 

Lastly, the specialist emphasizes the process of inquiry -within every content area.