Library Learning Commons

The TJRC supports the staff and spaces of all 76 school Learning Commons at UGDSB. Read on to learn more about the Library Learning Commons model at our board.

Some of us think of a library as a place to find resources for borrowing, like books, movies, or music. As a student, you might have used the library as a quiet place to study, sitting alone at a desk with your textbooks and notes. Things have changed. And so have we.

Over the past few years, the Upper Grand District School Board has been working on transitioning our school libraries into Library Learning Commons to support the changes in teaching and learning brought on by the increased use of technology, 24/7 access to digital resources, inquiry based learning, and collaborative learning environments.

A Learning Commons is a shared learning space, both physical and virtual, that reflects a new perspective and a different way of imagining and using libraries. The Learning Commons model supports a student-centred approach to learning, emphasizes active and collaborative engagement, and encourages the co-creation of knowledge by all learners. 

Multiple research studies have shown that students who have access to a Learning Commons are more likely to exhibit advanced student achievement and literacy development. We know that critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and the ability to create new knowledge are essential skills for today’s students. These skills are the foundation of the curriculum and must be embedded in all aspects of the school including the Library Learning Commons.

A Library Learning Commons supports the shift in teaching and learning by…

• providing individual, small, and large group spaces (either physical and/or virtual) to support participatory learning opportunities;

• advancing the learning community to achieve school goals;

• cultivating effective instructional design to co-plan, teach, and assess learning;

• fostering literacies to empower life-long learners and engaged readers;

• facilitating collaborative engagement to cultivate and empower a community of learners; and

• supporting inquiry-based learning and providing a space for student learning and innovation to be demonstrated, shared, and showcased.

Schools across North America and abroad are re-thinking, re-inventing, and re-investing in their traditional library and computer lab spaces. A re-investment in school libraries as Library Learning Commons is a sustainable investment in school improvement and the future of learning.

If you have questions about Learning Commons @ UGDSB please contact the Supervisor of Library & Media Services, Lauren Bull at lauren.bull@ugdsb.on.ca or (519) 822-4420 x550