The Challenge
The purpose of this quick guide has been to give the leadership team of the LLC a plethora of ideas for moving from a more traditional role into a cutting edge and vibrant center of excellence. The guide with its companion volume, We Boost Teaching and Learning, help provide a road map for becoming a showcase of possibilities in a school district, a state, or at the national level. Thus the challenge:
Remember those superintendents who ask the authors where they could visit a library learning commons to see all the great ideas in action? As authors, who see much dismal news about the replacement of professionals in the library with only support staff or no one at all, we cannot think of a better initiative than to have showcase places in the U.S., Canada, and beyond the demonstrate what a real 21st century library learning commons is all about! It is time to emerge from invisibility!
While we are alarmed by two current research studies(1) that sound the alarm of a declining presence of both libraries and professional librarians, we are confident that there are enough showcase library learning commons that showcasing the best would turn a trend down into a trend up.
While some national initiatives are so tightly structured that the LLC professionals can have little impact, most current models encourage more personalization, student voice, creativity, and other inventive ways beyond just preparing students to take a high stakes test. These are the the areas in which the LLC professional staff can infiltrate alongside administrators interested in change and excellence.
Are You Ready to Showcase Your LLC ?
As you have read through this document and perhaps have been working with other national and international documents, you realize that you are ready to accept visitors to showcase the progress you have made thus far.
We have created the following recognition:
The International Distinction Award fo Excellence in the Library Learning Commons
Here are the instructions for how to apply.
Would You Like to Prepare to Be a Showcase LLC?
Would you like to be a part of a support group that is working toward showcase status? Here is how to participate in our free webinars, or other helps on this instructions page.
Here is the questionnaire to become a member: Join the Community of People on their Way to Working on this Program
Would You Like to be a Part of the International Cadre Guiding this Showcase Initiative?
The international cadre of experts include practitioners, educators and persons willing to promote excellence in the LLC concept. Here are the instructions for becoming a member of the cadre.
Resources
While some national initiatives are so tightly structured that the LLC professionals can have little impact, most current models encourage more personalization, student voice, creativity, and other inventive ways beyond just preparing students to take a high stakes test. These are the the areas in which the LLC professional staff can infiltrate alongside administrators interested in change and excellence. Here are a few documents to check out and use as you plan your road to excellence:
National Standards for the U.S. and Canada:
- Check out the ESSA standards for your state.
Professional standards from national organizations connected to libraries and technology
- AASL Standards Framework for Learners: https://standards.aasl.org/framework/
- ISTE Standards at: https://www.iste.org/standards
- Future Ready Librarians models: https://futureready.org/program-overview/librarians/
- Standards of Practice for School Library Learning Commons in Canada http://llsop.canadianschoollibraries.ca/
- YALSA. Teen Services Competencies for Library Staff. See at and also download full document at: http://www.ala.org/yalsa/sites/ala.org.yalsa/files/content/Teen%20Services%20Competencies_Snapshot.pdf
- Also, check out your state library and technology associations to see if there are recent standards documents
- IFLA School Library Guidelines. 2nd rev. ed., 2015 at: https://www.ifla.org/files/assets/school-libraries-resource-centers/publications/ifla-school-library-guidelines.pdf
- Scotland national standards for school libraries: https://scottishlibraries.org/media/2108/vibrant-libraries-thriving-schools.pdf
Various Curricular Standards
- The Next Generation Science Standards: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Generation_Science_Standards
- A major analysis about reading and the NAEP test from the International Literacy Association: https://www.literacyworldwide.org/docs/default-source/where-we-stand/ila-exploring-the-2017-naep-reading-results.pdf
- National Council for the SocialStudies standards: https://www.socialstudies.org/standards/introduction
- Language arts and Foreign Language: https://www.educationworld.com/standards/national/lang_arts/
Footnotes:
- (1) Cicchetti, Robin and Carol Gordon study of Massachusetts: http://www.masslibsystem.org/blog/2018/03/21/school-library-commission-finds-inequities-in-commonwealths-schools/ also, Lance, Keith curry and Debra E. Kachel. "Why School Librarians Matter: what Years of Reseach Tell Us." Phi Delta Kappan: http://www.kappanonline.org/lance-kachel-school-librarians-matter-years-research/