Café in a school library: to strengthen links with school and society.

Abstract

A collaborative initiative between school librarian, professional consultant, Principal, teachers and local community in a public high school aims to support students who are low-achieving or belong to low-income families in Japan by setting up a café inside the library. The importance of a cafe in school libraries are revealed from the three point of views; Ibasho, Youth support and Information literacy education. 1) Piccari Café is a value for students not only to add the choices of ibasyo in school but also to let them know about ibasyo outside school. 2) Piccari Café works as a platform for each three levels of prevention interventions: universal, selective, and indicated. 3) Piccari Café potentially provides students information literacy education without teaching. This case revealed that school library with a meeting, learning and creative function has the potential to generate a platform for students to strengthen links with school and society.