Changing the Shape of the Library:

Shaking it up and Putting it Down

Abstract

Whilst teaching years 5 and 6 I was once asked to describe my library. My response to this was ‘it rocks’. The staff viewed me quizzically and subsequently moved on to their lunchtime conversation. Little did I know this would be the theme of the 2015 conference?

In 2013 I inherited my current library as the stereotypical ‘quiet’, very structured environment of the past century. It was visited by few students during their lunchtime as they required a lunchtime pass (only 6 per class) which was given to them by their classroom teacher. These passes were then collected by library monitors at the door - no pass, no library!
Library lessons consisted of 30 minute sessions whereby books were loaned, returned, a story read and the class departed and then the next class arrived to repeat the procedure regardless of age. The schedule was busy as there are 24 classes. There were occasions whereby a book was recommended as a great read and short listed books from the Children’s Book Council were shared. How to change the mind set of both staff and students to see the library and its potential was both my challenge and my goal. It was time to move towards 21st century learning whereby students can develop the skills of creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking. This is not rocket science as this is every teacher librarian’s goal. I can successfully say that 2 years later my library rocks and this sentiment is wholeheartedly shared by students, staff and the community.
‘So much time and so little to do. Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it. Thank you.’ (Willy Wonka, 1971) That was 2014.