Learning from BCTL conference

Wow, my brain is full of new ideas to try in the school library and also different approcaches I need to take to encourage students and teachers to use the Inquiry process, and teaching kids about how to find, sort and manage information. I really like to idea of making the library a sharing space where learning happens both out loud, with groups and online - ie move towards a Learning Commons (David Loertscher, The Learning Commons: Moving to the Center of Teaching and Learning, BCTL conference keynote speaker Oct 19, 2012).  In particular I realize I need to collaborate more with the teachers in the school,  and to find ways to make the library a more welcoming place.  My first will be to talk to my principal to see if I can change my duty time to open library time. 

I will be challenged to get use technological resources to support student learning (Creating Collaborative Projects with Technology Integration, Susan Henderson, BCTL conference Oct 19, 2012).  I can see I approached library as too much as a subject to teach and not enough about collaborating with the teachers to create a learning space.  I liked the suggestion of one presenter to make my library club leaders in this area and have them help around the school.

I did see a small ray of light that I had learned something about this all encompassing job when I could help a TL who was buying books .  We had been in a session together where she shared her challenges of poor funding and support.  I was able to tell her to buy books from booksellers who sold MARC records too!  It was easy for me to explain how cheap a $1.50 MARC record is compared to the 1 hour of her clerk time to entry a book in her database.  I knew she just needed to do a test run to make sure the records she was buying would match her system.  Right away she checked with her District Librarian and then paid for the MARC records for her purchase.  I realised I needed to be doing the same type of reflection - what processes can be done by someone else easier or cheaper so I can support collaboration between students for their learning.  I realise if I had more time I would have talked about all the free record sites we are learning about in class.