Coming soon to a school near you!

The 21st century school library: It’s a hub of creativity, collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Like their municipal counterparts, school libraries are seeking their place in an era of overabundance of resources and Cloud-based information networks accessible from any mobile device. Getting together to examine their role in 21st century education, library media specialists from more than 50 school districts from Putnam/Northern Westchester and Southern Westchester County BOCES met earlier this month at a conference themed School Libraries: Innovative and Engaged Learning.

While library media specialists learned about maker spaces, flipped classrooms, Google schools and the latest in iPad apps and curriculum it was clear that a new era has begun for the school library, which, among other roles, can take the lead in keeping schools abreast of everything technology has to offer.  

No longer the hushed workspace of times gone by, school libraries today are poised to become active informal cooperative learning centers, stocked with 3D printers, robot sets, and invention kits for everything from art to engineering. It is here that students can be introduced to new technologies designed for enquiry based learning and innovation.

Some school libraries have already taken on that new role. “We are trailblazing,” said Yorktown’s Mildred Strang Middle School library media specialist Donna Barratta. “We’re bringing new resources into the schools and we do a lot of professional development with the classroom teachers. Libraries are very active and dynamic.”

She believes library media specialists can help classroom teachers get a handle on innovative developments. Ms. Barratta said that the school library media specialist also can play a big part in showing students what technology can do for them. “The misconception is that kids know technology, but most of them don’t; they don’t know where it can take them.”

Keynote speaker Bill Derry, assistant director for innovation and user experience at The Westport Library, shared his experience as a national leader in MakerSpace, a work area where people with common interests, often in computers, machining, technology, science, digital art or electronic art, can meet, socialize and collaborate. “It’s a place designed to foster creativity rather than consumption; it is for expanding imagination and learning how to create,” Mr. Derry explained.

A former elementary teacher and library media specialist, Mr. Derry believes that a school library is a natural place for this type of function. “I think it’s important for kids to get their hands on quality tools to understand how things work; how to think critically and problem solve.” 

He pointed out that a MakerSpace-type area is particularly appropriate for educators seeking to enhance their STEM programs, (science, technology, engineering and math), which have become a focus in today’s education.

The day also touched on Socratic Seminars, the practical work of librarians, the use of iPads in the classroom and the power of Google Drives.

John Jay High School librarian Lauren Carrigan said the conference was very valuable, and believes technology has a vital role in school libraries. “The flipped classroom concept is really applicable for librarians, using technology to convey information makes very efficient use of my time.” 

In flipped classrooms, students are introduced to new concepts through videos that are viewed for homework, while classroom time is spent expanded on the concept, answering questions and practicing.

The event was the first joint conference between Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES and Southern Westchester BOCES and made for a valuable networking event. 

“Most of us are a department of one; we don’t see each other often, so this kind of event is a great way for us to share experiences and see what each other is doing,” said Brendan Breen of Brewster High School. 

Brewster’s Mary DeBellis, library media specialist at Henry H. Wells Middle School agreed: “It’s a great way of recharging our batteries and seeing what other schools are doing.”

Joseph Mannozzi, coordinator of Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES school library system, said “The school library is the learning hub of the school building. It is through innovative and engaging library programs led by certified school library media specialists that the most positive impacts on student learning are realized.”

Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES is co-sponsoring a regional conference on June 2 entitled Uncommon Approaches to the Common Core to enable school libraries to partner with local cultural institutions to build curriculum units that tie in with the Common Core Learning Standards. For more information go to.http://nycdoe.libguides.com/content.php?pid=580312&sid=4782856