Dear Librarian: How do I make a 21st Century Library? (1 of 2)

Here is a question I received from one of my blog readers last year:

Good evening po  

Gusto ko lang po sana mag ask ng opinion niyo po or suggestion on what else can I do to make our library more like 21st century? Technology aside po, are there any other ways po kaya para maaddress yung 21st century needs ng patrons?

There are two concerns in the message namely, how to create a 21st century library and how can librarians address the 21st century needs of patrons. These are valid concerns and very relevant. Any well meaning librarian would be thinking of these concerns. There are many ways to innovate and reform library programs and services to fit the times and to meet the needs of readers. Strategic planning is essential and the support of the school leadership towards the changes can make a big difference.

Specifically, here is my advice to the blog reader.

I suggest you do research on 21st century skills and 21st century learning. There’s an entire new educational philosophy about it and how this philosophy translates to pedagogy. The next thing you can do is to understand them and connect them to school library services and programming. Find out if you can see or develop criteria, or draft questions to use as basis for assessing and evaluating current library services and programs that you have whether these are 20th century or 21st century skills/learning. 

You may be surprised to find out that what research tells us about 21st century learning/skills has been thought about, discovered and created by philosophers of long ago.

Do not follow trends to easily.  

Once you have done your research, present your findings to the head of school, including your recommendations. Another good resource to use is the IFLA Library Report of 2017-2018 where directions and prospects, focus and pathways are identified. These are presented in broad strokes so you would have to contextualize them for the school library. 

Understand what 21st century learning/skills are, how your school actualizes these skills in curriculum and pedagogy. Then, use all these elements to assess and evaluate existing library services and programs.  

Show your school head that you are taking careful and well thought out steps to manage the change. Communicate to her your research plus, recommendations for new projects or programs in the library.