Service

The traditional concept of service in the LLC has been the helpful nature of the teacher librarian in finding, locating, recommending, and advising to both individuals and small groups. There are numerous accounts from successful adults who appreciate the advice they received as children and teens from caring adults both in the school and public libraries.

In this guide, we have expanded the concept of service very broadly to include efforts by the entire LLC adult staff and the patrons themselves to build a culture of service to self and others. The transformation from a traditional library into a library learning commons is a major cultural shift. In the physical space, the concept of a quiet research space is transformed into a very active and busy place. Various “zones” and flexible spaces allow for quiet to busy; single purpose to multi-purpose; adult controlled to everybody collaboration.

In the virtual learning commons, the culture transforms from a one way street to a two way street where the entire community is collaborating, helping, exhibiting, working, making, and using a plethora of resources and technology.

The following examples might help as idea starters that contribute to that cultural shift:

• Techsherpas (student volunteers, interns, or paid helpers of all ages and abilities) have various expertise and are LLC ambassadors throughout the school to help adults and fellow students with technology, LLC initiatives, creation of the Virtual Learning Commons, and other useful roles that not only help but point them to careers.
• A genius bar/information desk staffed by LLC staff, teachers, patrons, and parents provide advice and assistance not only in the LLC physical space by also online from the help desk of the Virtual Learning Commons. An example might be that the student runs the video production studio in the LLC for two periods each day.
• The assistant principal becomes a temporary member of the LLC staff to head a mentoring session of students working on a design thinking project to work on bullying in the school.
• An initiative to embed social justice throughout the school is first tested in the LLC and then, when ready, rolled out to the entire school both during the day and through the Virtual Learning Commons.
• One or more counsellors spend part or full time in the LLC working with the entire school on safety, career guidance, personal guidance, or other initiatives that require an identity across the school. They often co-teach alongside the LLC staff when their expertise contributes to learning experiences happening in the LLC.
• As a part of a cotaught learning experience about hunger across the world, the LLC becomes the center of student exploration on ways they can assist now and additionally help with the problem in the future.
• The counselors have several potential dropout students that they are interested in helping. The LLC staff join with the counselors to provide an internship in the LLC that helps these students have a reason to stay in school.