Blog Post 4:Technology Leadership Role of School Librarians

21^st century learners and building a 21^st century learning environment does not happen overnight. Patrons need to understand that librarians are not just the person sitting behind the circulation desk, they are much more.  Librarians hold numerous roles.  Librarians are information specialists who keep up with the constant changes in information and technology. (Mashrigi, 2016)   With the technology age becoming the norm, librarians need to focus on building this community by maintaining the love of books, but also brining in the technologies needed to entertain this 21^st century learner.

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) standards for the 21^st century learner build off of common beliefs of how and why students learn.  With these beliefs the AASL built standards on how learners use skills, resources and tools in these four items.

1.       Inquire, think critically and gain knowledge. 

2.       Draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply knowledge to how situations and create new knowledge. 

3.       Share knowledge and participate ethically and productively as members of our democratic society. 

4.       Pursue personal and aesthetic growth. (AASL, 2007, p2)

Librarians use these standards to help build their collections and activities in their library.  It is their job to make sure that all elements of the 21^st century learner are embedded and utilized.

By carrying over theses 21^st century skills and being a librarian that believes in these skills will show the patrons of your library that it is a place of more than just reading and researching.  It becomes a place of true hands on learning skills.  Students will be willing participants, when their ideas are utilized more than just on paper, giving them an opportunity to make the library their own.  This participatory culture has also transformed learning, particularly in skills that are needed to ensure productive participation such as collaboration, self-direction, systems thinking, information literacy and design thinking. (Subramaniam, 2016)

Learning these aspects and finding ways to use them in the library will benefit all involved.  It will bring people together and help in the common goal of becoming a 21^st century learning environment.

References

American Association of School Librarians, 2007.  Standards for the 21^st century learner.  American

Association of School Librarians.  p1-8.

Mashriqi, K., 2011.  Implementing technology and gaming in a school library.  Knowledge Quest, 40(1).

P24-28. 

Subramaniam, M., 2016. Designing the library of the future for and with teens:  Librarians as the

“connector” in connected learning.  The Journal of Research on Libraries and Young Adults, 7(2). P2-18.