How public school helped Point find the right track…

This video (6:40), created by the California School Librarians, is a snapshot into the daily lives of school librarians.

What Does a Teacher Librarian Really Do? Ask a TL!

We all strive to make our library programs exemplary.  This article from the most recent issue of School Libraries in Canada outlines some key factors that go into developing an exemplary library program: An Exploration of Exemplary School Library Programs.

Doug Johnson, Director of Media and Technology for the Mankato (MN) Public Schools, describes how a school’s philosophy may well be determined by the kind of library it has.  His vision is one we should all aspire to I believe.

Read it here:  What does a good library tell you about a school?

The B.C. Teacher Librarian Association conducts an annual survey of school libraries.  The most recent one has been posted and a Startling Change in BC School Library Staffing has been noted in the BCTLA blog.  The full Working and Learning Conditions report has been posted as a pdf file here.

Note in the Student FTE, reported budget, and dollars per student FTE, 2008–09 report (page 26) that N. Vancouver libraries ranked 10th lowest of the 53 districts reporting.  We have consistently ranked in a similar position in previous years.

In the book Achieving Information Literacy: Standards for School Library Programs in Canada recommendations are given for size of collection (page 28) and funding (page 35).  If I compare my own library to these standards I see that for a school of our size,having fewer than 15,000 items is considered below standard.  We have a little over 8,000 items.  For funding, the recommendation to maintain an acceptable collection is $36 – $45 per student.  Last year we were funded at $8.57 per student.

Nearly all libraries in the district have recently undergone rigorous weeding in preparation for automation.  This process has left collections that have holes or only a couple of books on any given topic.  What happens when a library is chronically underfunded?

- As even good books can go out of print quickly librarians may miss the opportunity to purchase some titles.

- Books that are lost or discarded may not be replaced.

- If a good basic collection cannot be maintained it affects the success of classes coming to the library for research purposes.  For example, when new topics are introduced or when a teacher touches on a subject every few years it is less likely they will find a current, vibrant selection.

- Schools with strong Parent Advisory Councils may receive extra funding for their libraries.  This creates a discrepancy across the district as some libraries flourish with additional funding and others flounder.

Studies conducted in both the U.S. and Canada have found a strong correlation between student success and the presence of a well-stocked library run by a trained teacher librarian.  A summary of these studies can be found here: School Libraries Work!

In light of our ability to meet the educational needs of our students these are sobering statistics.

Welcome to our teacher librarian sharing space!

The purpose of this space is to highlight school library programs in North Vancouver.

The instructional practice of school libraries is outlined in School District #44’s library service delivery model Libraries: Literacy and Literature in the Information Age: A Framework for Library Programs and Services in the 21st Century. The document states that a library program assumes the responsibility to ensure that students and teachers are effective users of ideas and information. The focus of the library program is to encourage the development of independent life-long learners with the ability to adapt in the face of an information and communication rich society. The library program is an integral part of the school community and focuses on the encouragement of the development of independent learners, while providing for students and teachers in the four areas of Curriculum Support, Literature Appreciation, Information Literacy, and Library Administration.

Read on about the instructional practice provided by teacher librarians.