For the module on hyperlinked environment, I chose to focus specifically on school libraries. As a school library assistant, I find myself at an intersection of tradition and transformation and find it important to understand how the field can transform in regards to the hyperlinked environment. Schools have operated within a relatively fixed framework, but there is a growing recognition that the world is changing and that education must follow. The traditional system is increasingly mismatched with the lives students are preparing to lead and educators should be called on to respond.
The Web and its accompanying technologies have shifted old boundaries, giving students unprecedented autonomy and access. In this new landscape, information is abundant. This means that the school library, once an arbiter of information, must revolutionize its role in student life.
Our role must evolve accordingly. Librarians are no longer just keepers of books but facilitators of change—collaborating with teachers, guiding students, and modeling lifelong learning. We are uniquely positioned to lead this reinvention in schools. Embracing change must become part of our core skill set. Education is not a fixed practice but a dynamic one.
To serve our communities well, we must resolve to think like patrons—not just providing resources, but truly understanding and responding to what people need in the present and in the future.
References:
https://www.slj.com/story/flip-this-library-school-libraries-need-a-revolution
https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/reinvented-school-libraries-unleash-student-creativity
https://medium.com/modern-learning/16-modern-realities-schools-and-parents-need-to-accept-now-64b98710e4e9#.h2ihabdc5
Hi Layla,
I enjoyed reading your post about school libraries. I am unfamiliar with them as I work in public libraries, so it was nice to learn more. I like how you noted that the internet has changed the typical school landscape. It was a big shift for me when we learned cursive and never used it much because we transitioned to typing. I cannot imagine how much the Internet and technology are incorporated into schools. I like that you are open to collaborating with teachers and students, as that is important to address the school community’s needs.
@ldegani. This: “Education is not a fixed practice but a dynamic one.”
So true! It’s the “I am still learning” piece that I think is imperative for info professionals and the mindset should be instilled in our organizations too.