As schools evolve to meet the demands of the 21st century, one role in particular is changing rapidly—the role of the school library. The purpose of libraries is to provide access to sources of information, but as information becomes increasingly available over digital media, libraries must expand their resources and expertise. Technology is making collaboration and research more efficient than ever, but without a librarian to instruct teachers and students how to leverage this technology, and without the right infrastructure and supplies, schools cannot progress, and students fall behind.
Jen Cannell is the School Library System Director at Questar III. She works with school libraries in the area to facilitate development and functionality by promoting access to information and coordinating the sharing of resources. As she prepared for Questar III’s workshop, “The Print Revolution: School Libraries in the Digital Age,” held on October 22, she noted the importance of keeping up with digital evolution without losing sight of older forms of media. “I strongly believe that each district needs to find the right balance between digital and print resources for their students. There are many benefits to each, so this is not a decision to choose one over the other,” she said.
But it can be tough to find this balance and make this transition without assistance and guidance from outside sources. At last week’s workshop, Cannell discussed the options that are now available to students and teachers for books, textbooks, and research materials, as well as the changing roles of librarians in the digital age. Two important changes that she noted are that libraries are moving from books and artifacts to knowledge and community, as students are moving from being consumers of information to producers of information.
In making these revolutionary changes, schools are are adopting new kinds of resources—“eResources.” eResources can include databases, eBooks, instructional multimedia, and textbooks. These can be expensive, but Questar III is working to help districts cut costs by offering the opportunity to share these resources through its School Library System. All the while, print books remain a necessary and beneficial form of information, as they last long and are most affordable.
With so many options available, Cannell emphasizes that every district needs to figure out what setup fits their needs, and be very deliberate in gathering the resources and knowledge that will help them achieve their specific goals. “It is important for our districts to use a team of experts comprised of administrators, librarians, and technology directors to look at devices and resources and make intentional decisions that positively impact student success,” she says. Without a strong infrastructure and continuous professional development, the positive impact of technology can easily elude libraries. No element is more crucial to a school library, however, than a librarian, notes Cannell.
Librarians have a greater role now than ever in education. The Common Core State Standards call for significant increases in gathering and processing information. Students will be increasingly inundated with information in the digital world that lies ahead. Teachers have more opportunities to collaborate through technology, but much more to learn about the options available to them. Schools are looking to librarians for support, guidance, and services.
Librarians or administrators in Questar’s member schools can access Questar’s new LibGuide at questar.beta.libguides.com to see what eResources are available through the School Library System, and what upcoming events and professional development sessions are taking place. To find out more about the Questar III School Library System, contact Jen Cannell, School Library System Director, at 518-479-6976, or go to old.questar.org/library/.
