Transitioning a Traditional School Library to a Dynamic Learning Commons

AGENDAWhy a new model?Going booklessCurated learning resourcesBuilding a better mousetrapPredicting the future

Robin CicchettiConcord-Carlisle Regional High School Learning Commonsrcicchetti@colonial.net

Why talk about a new model?

• Managing systemic transition

• Clear signal• Support• Expectation• Central to mission• Student and faculty centric

• Reorient thinking

What is a library?

Cultural associations

Telephone

Telephone?

What it is, what it isn’t

• Teaching space• Doing space• Performance space• Communications space• Digital space• Social space • It isn’t a quiet space• It isn’t a storage space

Library Learning Commons• Silent individuals • Active groups

Library Learning Commons• Books on shelves • Reading in diverse

formats

Library Learning Commons• Developing print literacy

• Developing multiple / transliteracies: print, auditory, visual, digital

Library Learning Commons• Term papers • Multimedia and

collaborative projects as well as term papers

Library Learning Commons• Teaching how to find information, books as sources

• Locating and evaluating information from diverse and global sources

Library Learning Commons• Information gathering as a solitary pursuit

• Information gathering as a collaborative and interactive activity conducted with global partners

Library Learning Commons• Faculty retrieve information

• Faculty center for professional development

Library Learning Commons• Organizing information by a set of rules and tools

• Helping users organize information and tools in ways that make sense to them

Library Learning Commons• Serves students in finding resources

• Students learn the skills to successfully navigate the digital world

Library Learning Commons• Librarian as copyright enforcer

• Librarian as intellectual property counselor

Library Learning Commons• Order, rules and policies

• Comfort, service and meeting individual needs

It is not about the books

What is a library collection?

Diverse formats

Curated Resources

Institutional Change

NEASC Exemplar

New Canaan NEASC:

https://sites.google.com/a/ncps-k12.org/nchsneasc13/

Michelle Luhtala’s Blog

http://bibliotech.me/

Urgency

Common Core

Reading Standards =

Skills-based Standards

http://www.ala.org/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/commoncorecrosswalk

We got this.

Benefits to faculty

• Resistance to change• Implied expectation• Mourning• New skills• Professional development

• Valuing risk

Predicting the Future

The Transition 2007 - 2011

• Ripe for change• Supportive administrations• Occasional bumps• Long term planning

Staffing

Head librarian and generic support staffEvolved to:Information Specialist / LibrarianStudent Accounts SpecialistMedia Production SpecialistTech Specialist

Priorities

Technology

Space

• 1st - social/tech/instructional

• 2nd - group study• 3rd - silent study, Media Lab, instructional

• Space hierarchy

Before / After 3rd floor

Before / After Media Lab

Before / After Reference

Student CenteredStudents see themselves reflected in the space

• More activities• Wii Game Days• Teen Tech Week• Media Projects

Collaboration and Social Media

Data

Today

Concord-Carlisle HShttp://concordcarlisle.net/> Learning Commons

Credits• Brandy night (http://www.flickr.com/photos/13095013@N06/4621669502)• The Whole World in My Hands (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobs_d40/4584201769/)• Southland Paper Mill, 1943(http://www.flickr.com/photos/8623220@N02/2179910918)• Timken Roller Bearing Co., 1950 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7167652@N06/3333259091)• Its Future is in our Hands-Live Earth (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14516334@N00/759309122)• Theology books, Bristol Library (http://www.flickr.com/photos/99861378@N00/8815257)• Personal Ecosystem (http://www.flickr.com/photos/32729422@N00/2367540964)

• Through a Child’s Eye (http://www.flickr.com/photos/21681746@N00/867883420)• Getting ready for OLED Technology (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16077535@N00/199892187)• Community Virtual Library (http://www.flickr.com/photos/94125987@N00/5053110201)• Shhh (http://www.flickr.com/photos/81619620@N00/3297040703)• Universe in a magic drop (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16230215@N08/4675654961)• Hands (http://www.flickr.com/photos/24742305@N00/2344975342)• Library books - shelving stacks (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29817792@N08/3554627444)