Standard: Fostering Literacies to Empower Life-Long Learners
Theme: Literacy Partners
Growth Phase: Leading
Growth Indicator: LLC works with the community to develop and promote literacy for all.
Community learning centres in 37 Quebec community schools provide citizens with many resources beyond the school day.
Leading English Education and Resource Network (LEARN). (2014). About community learning centres.
http://www.learnquebec.ca/clc00
“Co-created and delivered by over 2,000 public libraries across Canada”, the TD Summer Reading Club is a free, bilingual summer reading program for kids of all ages, interests, and abilities celebrating Canadian authors, illustrators and stories since 1996. Includes interactive and reflective activities and more. Developed by the Toronto Public Library in partnership with Library and Archives Canada, with sponsorship from TD Bank Group.
TD Summer Reading Club. (2020). About the Club. Retrieved from https://www.tdsummerreadingclub.ca/
Fortin, L. & Roy, J. (2021, May 12). TD Summer Reading Club: Prevent the Summer Slide by Encouraging Families to Join! Canadian School Libraries Journal 5(2). Retrieved from https://journal.canadianschoollibraries.ca/td-summer-reading-club-2021/
As part of an ongoing focus on the role of the school library learning commons in addressing summer reading loss, the co-editors of the Canadian School Libraries Journal invited best-selling author Eric Walters to contribute an article on the topic. The article called for participation in his summer lending challenge, and a wonderful opportunity for Canadian School Libraries (CSL) to investigate whether summer lending programs in Canada’s school libraries could be successful, and if so, what factors would contribute to that success. Working with Walters, the researchers gathered information from participating schools. What emerged very strongly through the research is that losing the opportunity to read to whatever degree is not good for any children. School libraries provide a simple, doable and inexpensive way to make sure that all children have the opportunity to continue reading over the summer or to read more than they would otherwise. School libraries provide access to reading materials, and encourage freedom of choice. A strong theme that emerged through the research was that the fear of book losses which inhibits schools from summer lending are largely unfounded. Students wanted to be trusted, and followed through with their responsibility to return materials in September. Losses incurred through summer lending are minimal, and worth the investment.
Brooks Kirkland, A. & Koechlin, C. (2020). The Eric Walters School Library Summer Lending Challenge: Findings from the Research. Paper presented at the Treasure Mountain Canada 6 Symposium, Toronto, Canada. Retrieved from https://researcharchive.canadianschoollibraries.ca/2020/08/10/the-eric-walters-school-library-summer-lending-challenge-findings-from-the-research/
This paper provides a fine resource for others to use in organizing a Human Library event in their school. The teacher-librarian of a secondary school in Ontario researched and organized a Human Library event where volunteers from the community engaged in small groups with teens about various aspects of the volunteer, or “human book’s”, life including vocation, challenges, accomplishments. Survey responses following the event indicate a high degree of the event’s success from both students and community volunteers.
St. Aubyn, J. (2020). The Human Library at the Louise Arbour Secondary School Library Learning Commons. Paper presented at the Treasure Mountain Canada 6 Symposium, Toronto, Canada. Retrieved from https://researcharchive.canadianschoollibraries.ca/2020/08/10/the-human-library-at-the-louise-arbour-secondary-school-library-learning-commons/
This paper documents the experiences of running an intergenerational book club in an Ontario school library learning commons. Goals, strategies, process and lessons learned are shared in detail as well as helpful artifacts. The teacher-librarian concludes, “The book club has the ability to anchor a community and reinforce the ability of the LLC to be the hub of the school and community especially in schools that might be in locations that have limited social infrastructure and resources.”
Lewis, L. (2020). Ignite a Lifelong Love of Learning: Create an intergenerational book club in your library learning commons and invite your community to explore the diverse world of the human experience. Paper presented at the Treasure Mountain Canada 6 Symposium, Toronto, Canada. Retrieved from https://researcharchive.canadianschoollibraries.ca/2020/08/10/ignite-a-lifelong-love-of-learning/
Canadian School Libraries partnered with TEACH Magazine and Bibliovideo to create The Great Canadian Book Project – an inspiring resource that introduces students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 to a wide range of Canadian-authored books related to three themes: Student Well-Being, Indigenous Voices, and Global Issues; with 8 short videos where teacher-librarians and other educators from across the country introduce the books and make connections to learning opportunities. Read the article for project background and how to use this amazing resource.
Canadian School Libraries. (2021, November 8). The Great Canadian Book Project. Canadian School Libraries Journal 5 (3). Retrieved from https://journal.canadianschoollibraries.ca/the-great-canadian-book-project/