Showing posts with label school libraries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school libraries. Show all posts

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Review of Related Literature: Aklatan Ko'y Kanlungan

 I am leading a panel/round table discussion in June - a month away. The topics that are up for discussion are safe spaces; inclusion and diversity; multicultural programming in school library and children's library services. Setting the tone of the panel is crucial so I am gathering articles, resources and materials.

My guiding questions are:

1.       What is safe space; inclusion and diversity?

2.       How are the concepts of safe space, inclusion and diversity present and applied in the school library and in children’s library services?

3.       What are evidences of safe space, inclusion and diversity in libraries – in general?

4.       What is the “ideal” safe space for children?

5.       How can libraries create, manage and sustain a library collection that is inclusive and diverse?

My keywords are: school libraries; children's library services; safe space; inclusion and diversity; school library programming. I use Wakelet to dump articles I browed through online. After three days, I go back to Wakelet and read - in depth and more deliberate. I begin to take notes.

This is what my Wakelet looks like:

Saturday, July 3, 2021

PASLI's Top 5 School Library Programs in the New-Normal

 And here's another "little project" I am very much proud of. This one is with the Philippine Association of School Libraries, Inc. (PASLI).

Thursday, June 18, 2020

PASLI Statement: School Libraries Are Essential

This is the draft statement of the Philippine Association of School Librarians on the relevance of school libraries and the valuable role of school librarians especially in the time of pandemic.

As school leaders, teachers and parents prepare for the opening of school year 2020-2021 under the circumstances surrounding the country and the world, webinars and varied literature and media that lend advise, guides, protocols and support for the transition to Blended Learning are in abundance. The DepEd has identified different ways for which learning can be delivered in this time of COVID-19 namely, Home Based Learning, Online Learning, Flexible Learning or a combination of all three into a Blended Learning approach. Whichever the parent or the school chose to facilitate the continuity of learning, school librarians play a relevant role in this experience of continued growth and development of children, the parents who care for them and the professionals who teach and mentor. It is at this time of crisis and unprecedented challenges when the expertise of school librarians is essentially needed by learning communities.
The Philippine Association of School Librarians (PASLI) holds the position by the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) that the school library provides information and ideas that are fundamental to functioning successfully in today's information and knowledge-based society. The school library equips students with life-long learning skills and develops the imagination, enabling them to live as responsible citizens (School Library Manifesto 2006). The association further believes that, being licensed professionals, school librarians are the qualified personnel to actualize the ideals stated above by the IFLA as mandated by law under the Philippine Librarianship Act of 2004 also known as RA 9246. Furthermore, the School Library Guidelines of the Department of Education (2011) stipulates the specific duties, financial support and requirements in resource, media and collection development for school libraries that school librarians are bound to adopt and adapt as dictated by the context of their learning communities. 
PASLI advocates and asserts these identities of the school library.
    • The school library is an institution of human rights, specifically, children’s rights.
    • The school library is an agency of lifelong learning.
    • The school library is a learning commons for the growth and development of human capital.
    • The school library is an essential social infrastructure, but in the “new normal” it has demonstrated that social infrastructure extends to online social infrastructure as well.
    • The school library bridges the digital divide.
    • The school library is a safe space.
    • The school library promotes inclusivity and diversity.
    • The school library recognizes mutliculturalism and multimodal learning.
    • The library is a universal classroom with resources and programs online to support K-12 education, distance learning, workforce skills, and much more.

School librarians assume varied roles such as a manager of information systems and structures of thinking, a reading and literacy advocate, a teacher and mentor, a counselor, a confidant to colleagues and a community developer. These identities and roles are espoused and endorsed by PASLI so that school librarians have an anchor of principles when designing and implementing programs and services in the new normal. It is highly recommended for school librarians to communicate this position, the identities and roles presented in this statement to school leaders, teachers, parents and partners in the formation and learning of children and young people.
References
The School Library in Teaching and Learning for All. IFLA 2006. Retrieved June 12, 2020 https://archive.ifla.org/VII/s11/pubs/manifest.htm
The Philippine Librarianship Act of 2004 RA 9246 . The LawPhil Porject. Arellano Law Foundation. 2020 Retrieved June 10, 2020 https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2004/ra_9246_2004.html

Prepared by PASLI Officers 2019-2021 / Version 1

June 17, 2020 

Monday, March 18, 2019

Singapore Sunshine Day 3: IBAP Workshop for Librarians 2

The sessions on the second day of the International Baccalaureate Asia Pacific (IBAP) workshop were all about Inquiry, Approaches to Teaching amd Learning (ATL) the DP Core namely Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Extended Essay (EE), and Community Action Service (CAS), and a visit to the libraries of the Canadian International School. Iman Ragab, our workshop leader, connected the ATLs and the DP Core to library services and functions that cater and support the DP curriculum. We read a lot of IB documents, discussed current library practises in our schools that support the DP, unpacked the EE criteria and accessed MyIB, the IB portal for all authorised schools and IB applicant schools.

During the session in accessing documents in MyIB, we were made to skim and scan pertinent documents to the ATLs and the DP Core. I had a review of my role as EE Coordinator this year. I told my workshop leader how, as a librarian coordinating the EE, I would get derailed from the expected roles I am meant to play. 80% of my efforts go to administration and procedural functions. To this, my workshop leader gave me an empathetic smile in recognition of my frustration.

I mean to do something about this sooner or later. There has to be a balance between running a program and teaching skills so students can meet the requirements and standards of the program. 

The day ended with a visit to the CIS libraries which lifted my spirits. The smell of books reminded me of the Children’s Media Center of the International School Manila. Ah, memory of my childhood! 

The librarians who welcomed us, were warm and friendly. Lisa Miller, the Library Coordinator shared valuable experiences in teaching research skills. What I found common to their experience with ours is the ladder approach to skills instruction. In each grade level beginning in 7th grade, a research skill is put into focus for instruction. For example, search strategies are taught alongside extracting information, concepts and content from sources as applied to tasks in different subjects. In 8th grade till 9th, focus on skills like evaluation of sources, in-text citations, knowing the right sources to use in a research paper, following a process of inquiry are mapped until the DP. The expected output from students in the EE is 4,000 word essay with a focused research question and evidences to back it up. Imagine the skills a 17 year old would need to learn and apply at the same time. The key is to prepare them early and nip the problem in the bud.

The Bulletin Board at the Canadian International School promotes the Extended Essay a a journey.

Research is a big concept that involves global and unitary skills. To teach it, a knowledge of its parts and the micro skills of research helps the teacher or the librarian make students understand them better. Teachers must recognize the support librarians can offer them and librarians must listen to teachers and students to be able to provide this support in very complicated and cognitive tasks.

Sunday, August 28, 2016

Support Systems for School Libraries: Technology Department and Communications Team

Study Skills and Recommended Reads
Where I work, I am a one-man/woman librarian. I have a staff, though, who assists and helps me in all administrative, clerical and technical matters of library work. Early on in our journey of setting up the library, it had been our agreement to start right. This meant, setting up systems and structures that are efficient and productive so that, we can concentrate on readers' services and user education.

My staff and I have been together for the past five years and so far, we have been doing pretty well. The work doesn't end there since we are to evaluate the systems and structures we set up. While we get feedback from the community, a formal evaluation is necessary. Annual reports are there to qualify the numbers, but I am looking for a more client centered method. More on that in a future post as this would involve Design Thinking for school libraries.

This academic year is also our International Baccalaureate (IB) authorization process. In some ways, it is a way of analyzing and evaluating our library services and programs through the lens of outsiders, otherwise known as IB evaluators. For the past few weeks, I have been deep into writing reports, reviewing statistics and attending meetings. Did I say that there's been requests for Information Literacy sessions, acquisition and cataloging work, management of technology and teacher - librarian collaborations?

More Recommended Reading
Yep. I am a busy bee!

What helps see us through, is the supportive people in our learning ecosystem. Ah, the advantage of working in a small school. One of these people happens to be the Communication Associate who is always on the ear for good news to share with our community. Since school started in August, the library is getting space in the weekly school newsletter. Students, teachers and leadership are regularly informed of our new titles, events and activities and updates in art and culture through the school's mailing list. There, another system that supports the library - the Tech department!

The inclusion of library updates in the weekly school newsletter is one way of putting a face of the library to the bigger members of our community: the parents, the alumni, possible donors and organizations to partner with. In a bigger sense, the library is seen as a part of a bigger whole that belongs to a school community and its ecosystem for learning.

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Reconnecting with PASLI: Learning with Colleagues

With young school librarians who asked for an autograph
My last speaking engagement with PASLI was in 2013 in Baguio City. Three years after, I was back to reconnect with colleagues in PASLI as facilitator for two sessions during the 38th National Conference and General Assembly in Iloilo City. This reconnection with my PASLI friends is one for the books.

To briefly share with you, I had a medical crisis a day before the PASLI Conference. I thought I was going to be admitted to the hospital, but my urologist cleared me safe to travel. I had to rest the following day to prepare for the flight on Wednesday morning. PASLI Officers Rhodora Espiritu and Gemma Murillo-Cuna did everything so I can come and deliver my seminar-workshop at the conference. It was bad enough that I missed the PLAI Congress due to a medical crisis (again). I know I had to do the PASLI Conference.

And so, with God's grace, I came. I delivered. I did my job.

What joy! While participants posted their photos on FB showing the fun they had during my sessions, I admit that I learned from them. This is what I always look forward to in speaking engagements: the insights and learning experience I derive from interacting with delegates and colleagues.

I realized that there are school librarians who have shown leadership in their learning communities. Their stories of best practices must be heard. This implies the changing role of PASLI. Apart from the conduct of conferences, perhaps, it will help Filipino school librarians to see and hear more stories about best practices from colleagues. PASLI can be a platform for them. So, PASLI is taking on a mentoring role to its members, peers and colleagues.

With delegates and PASLI Officers
The program boasted of esteemed speakers from the academic libraries. Their presentations are products of research and scientific study of LIS. I imagine now a PASLI Conference, where papers, thesis and research are presented alongside best practices. This can firm up the practice of school librarianship as well as discover topics for further study that will enrich the LIS literature in the country.

In my session, I discovered the possibility of doing a research on professional competencies and continuing professional development of school librarians. During the session, I posed a challenge to the delegates to look at the extent of impact a Personal Learning Network can do to a school librarian and its effects on the school library he/she works in. We have always talked about improving our school libraries. It is time to focus on personal and professional development because, school libraries will not grow if school librarians are not growing.

Ready for a workout?!
I also noticed the number of young school librarians in attendance. I wondered how many of them will stay as school librarians in the next ten years. Because, I have seen good school librarians quit the profession due to varied reasons. Again, this is an avenue for research. Oh! If only I have the time! Lastly, being with colleagues last week made me see hope. Hope for the profession. Hope for Philippine School Librarianship.

I am grateful to my own learning community, The Beacon Academy, for allowing me to be involved in my professional community. I am thankful for PASLI for sending me the invitation as early as February and assigning a topic they know I can handle well. In the middle of the three day conference, I asked myself why, despite the infection and stones, I continue to do this. Many reasons surface. But this one, I will say it here: I do it because it is my way of giving back to the profession who has given me so much!

Photo source: Thanks to Mae Pagatpatan Diesta and Rhodora Espiritu for the photos

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

The Makati Library Hub Steps Up on Professional Development for Teacher Librarians

With Phia Delfin
The Library Hub in Makati City is alive and functional. Catering to more than 40 schools in the division, it is manned by a licensed librarian, Ms. Phia Delfin and aided by a library staff. I first met Phia in 2010 during a workshop for librarians and teacher librarians (full time teachers assigned to do library duties) who were assigned to run the hubs.

It was a workshop sponsored by Adarna House. I have blog entries about it. One is about the outline of my seminar workshop while the other post featured Mrs. Digna Aquino who was then the assigned teacher librarian in the Pasig Library Hub. At the time, the library hub in Pasig was the exemplar of best practice. Now I wonder what has happened to the library hub in that city. Mrs. Aquino is a retired teacher who made wonders for the library hub. She is probably in her 70s now. Is she still working as a library hub teacher librarian? If not anymore, who replaced her? Is the hub being sustained as an exemplar of best practice? The challenge of succession, leadership and sustainability are issues that many libraries and communities willing to have functional reading centers, at least, face constantly.

Since Phia has been with the Makati City Library Hub for six years now, she has been able to build relationships with the teacher librarians in each schools. The workshop she organized last Friday, February 5 at the Makati Elementary School was the first for the year. I got the impression that there will be more in the months to come.

Here is the presentation I used in the workshop.



Teacher Lorima read aloud their book to a listening adience.
I live blogged the morning session of the workshop. It was an input session on basic library organization and programming. In the afternoon, Mrs. Leonila Galvez of the Library Hub DepEd Central shared more reading promotions and projects. After an hour of sharing exciting activities on reading, I was back to facilitate the book making and story writing workshop. These are staple workshop activities I do in all my teacher librarian workshops. It may not be a new activity since they have had experience with this kind of workshop before.

As a storyteller and published author, I believe that creating stories, writing and reading them aloud to an audience is a creative experience. The exercise will not lead them to publishing instantly. The point is for participants to look at themselves as a collection of stories. A living and human library. With in them are life stories that are worth sharing to others. To code and write down these stories into self made books empowers them to create and communicate. What happens when there are no books? The answer is, tell stories. Life stories.

Tell personal stories. Code it. Write it. Read it aloud.

Friday, February 5, 2016

Live Blogging: Seminar Workshop on Organizing the Library at the Makati Library Hub

Presenting right now is Ms. Leonila Galvez, consultant for Library Hub, DepEd Central Office on best practices, reading activities and programs for the school library. We are here in Makati Elementary School where the Library Hub workshop on Organizing a Library is being held. We are speakers to sixty teacher librarians.

This morning, I did a perspective taking on library concepts and emphasized the important role that librarians do in learning communities. I gave them basic principles in organizing a library and provided steps in setting up a book collection. I showed samples of online directories and e-book collections. Wikis. Pathfinders. LibGuides. Librarian made online directories via google sites.

The participants enjoyed my read aloud of Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk using an ebook. I couldn't find my print copy so I bought on Amazon. I got the same response from the teachers. They were engaged and entertained. Because the ebook was projected using a LCD, everyone can see the colorful visuals of the illustrated story books.

After Madme. Leony Galvez, I will be working with the teachers for a book making project.


Saturday, January 30, 2016

PAASCU Accreditation Visit: Another Way of Learning

Teacher and artist, Rolly Delos Santos
My recent PAASCU Accreditation visit to De La Salle Santiago Zobel (DLSZ) was a learning experience, as all accreditation visits are, at least for me. For newbies to the PAASCU visit, this would seem like an inspection done by experts. For the seasoned ones, the PAASCU experience is an exercise where both parties, the school seeking accreditation and the accreditors, learn from. It is, in one way, a means toward professional development. Looking at the bigger picture, the accreditation process can be likened to a conversation and colloquim of educators seeking ways to learn continuously in an ever changing world.

This PAASCU experience made me think of the future of school libraries and how technology is changing its purpose as fast as drifting sand. How are LIS professionals, the young and especially the seasoned ones coping? This is a question that can't be answered in one sitting. This would require a connect the dots process and tons of research, on the field and in libraries.

I share with you now what I took with me after this PAASCU visit.

For one, reading through the report is an analytical task. One way to develop critical thinking is to look at criteria and read reports that justify, qualify and explain the evaluation rating assigned per criterion. Going through exhibits and conducting interviews are additional tasks that further lead to this kind of thought process. As I tend to think globally on most times, depending on my emotions to make decisions and feeling my gut to take on an action the analysis work of accreditation provides the needed balance in thought and thinking. The brain has the left and the right sides. Learning how to tap into both hemisphere takes time to develop and practice.

Visiting different libraries through PAASCU work gives me a sense of how things are in Philippine school libraries. This is a big data I often file somewhere in my mind. I pull some of it out when the need arises. Like, when I give talks and conduct workshops. I see many kinds of school libraries. I talk to many school librarians. The experience is both amazing and overwhelming. I come face to face with problems of many school librarians. The challenges are huge. I tell myself to hang on because, really, there is no better time to be a school librarian in the Philippines but today. A lot of things are happening. Giving up is not an option.

Jay Diola, Librarian of DLSZ
Meeting friends and making new ones are experiences I enjoy during a PAASCU visit. In DLSZ, I met librarian friends and colleagues. I met Tito Rolly Delos Santos, finally. I first learned of him ten or eleven years ago during the first iBlog. He attended the iBlog conference as a newbie. We both were green horns in the conference among younger bloggers who have taken into blogging like fish to water. Thank God for the blogosphere and social media, we are able to keep in touch. I asked him for how long he has been with DLSZ. With a proud smile, he said he has been teaching in DLSZ for three decades already. That is a lifetime! It was nice of him to bring me to the grade school library to meet another good friend of mine. We did not miss the collage of St. John La Salle in the high school library though. This work of art is his masterpiece!

I have also picked up some marketing ideas along the way. Asking permission from librarian friends there, I will adapt and modify these strategies.

Since DLSZ is subscribed to Overdrive, their shelves have bookmakers on books that have ebook versions and audio book counterparts in Overdrive. The DLSZ library also has a Learning Commons. While some may think that this is merely a space or a room for interactivity, there is a philosophy and a pedagogy behind its presence and practice. I think this is another trend that needs thinking through before implementing and adapting it in school libraries. Will I put one in our school library? Study the possibility.

Book Menu of the Day
 What I find cute and easy to do is the Book Menu. This reading promo/display can actually be a bibliotherapy book promotion. What the DLSZ librarians did was to set up the Chicken Book for the Soul series like a menu from a restaurant or cafe. Imagine serving books as food for the soul? Sounds exciting, right? I can get to talk about books I have read that have bibliotherapy value to readers. I will be definitely be blogging about these reading promos and how I adopt and adapt them in my work place. Watch out for it!

Apart from these reflections and experiences, I had a closer look at Blended Learning, UbD and the outreach programs of DLSZ. Big ideas that need to be eaten like an elephant.

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Creative Reading Activities

The three day workshop on Creative Reading Activities sponsored by Educo and Adarna House in Naga City, CamSur ended yesterday. There were two batches of teachers who attended the workshop. Along with these teachers are their school leaders: reading coordinators, division and district supervisors, and regional supervisors. The three day workshop consisted of topics on Creative Play and Movement, Developing Creative Connections (which focus on literacy and thinking skills) and Library Improvement. Apart from myself, Teacher Pam Razon and Teacher Michelle Agas were the two workshop facilitators.

In my workshop, participants recalled their reading history and identified their reading beliefs. I had an input on library concepts and the role of books on national development. In the afternoon, I conducted a workshop that allowed teachers to create books and assemble a classroom resource center. Since the theme of the workshop is creativity and connections, I instructed the teachers to save their output from Teacher Pam's and Teacher Michelle's workshops since these will be place in the classroom resource centers that they will set up.

The participants had a working knowledge of the topics I covered thus, the different groups of teachers produced wonderful outputs. What I enjoyed doing the most with them was the book making activity. Teachers made mini-books. They wrote, illustrated and read aloud their stories. Using story prompts, they were all able to finish one after an hour and a half of work. Teachers who read aloud their stories were very proud of their work. Indeed, reading, writing, speaking and listening are empowering skills to have!



I then reminded the teachers to keep their books since they can build a collection of mini-books in their classrooms. They can do this project with their students. So, the concept of the process of creation is an experience that both teacher and students experience. Keeping these "self published" books in the classroom as a collection is one way to CREATE a LIBRARY. After this activity, the groups of teachers assembled a classroom library where, apart from the books available in their school library, can have the self published books, and visual aids made by the teacher.

In this time of budget cuts and limited resources, creative ways to set up libraries as literacy centers must be thought about. The how-to can come easily, but it is the concepts and principles that would hold the steps and process in creating libraries as literacy centers together.

In a lock-in session I had with the school leaders during the workshop, I learned how they cope and survive with the challenges of limited resources. Activities and programs like, mobile libraries, reading marathons, volunteer storytellers visiting their schools came up as sustainable projects. Sadly, there was no mention of the library hub in the region. Though the presence of the library hub is recognized, it does not seem to make an impact on the identified recipients. I see this as an opportunity to study the operational model and socio-cultural factors that affect its success, to some communities, and its failure in others.

For now, it is good to know that there are committed school leaders who will try their best to supervise and mentor teachers in developing creative literacy activities by bridging books to children through programs, working with the DepEd and making linkages with NGOs.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

A New School Library Grows in Sta. Cruz Laguna

Look at these photos:




This is the new school library of the Laguna Sino-Filipino Educational Foundation. The school library was set up by Ms. Yasmin Ong, Language Teacher and the designated Library Coordinator. She is not a librarian. But, she loves books and she is an avid reader. Yes, my dear librarian friends, we are not the only ones who can set up and organize libraries.

Nope. This is not an April Fools' Day joke.

When Ms. Ong was introduced to me via Facebok by a common friend, she and I started a three month long conversation on setting up and organizing a school library. This all happened in Facebook! Last March, she sent me these pictures of the library. How lovely!

Our initial "convo" was about the Dewey Decimal Classification. We librarians learned the DDC in university for one semester. So what I did was to explain the concepts of library organization to Ms. Ong in the most practical and simplest of ways. Uniformity, Accuracy and Reliability are key concepts "to live by" when organizing a library collection. The rest, procedures and structures, will follow. I also recommended her some reading materials like the IFLA-UNESCO Manifesto and School Library guidelines. Since Ms. Ong is a teacher, I encouraged her to work with her students when dividing and organizing the books by genre: FICTION and NON-FICTION. It is in fact ideal if students can be given a role in helping set up a system of organization since they are the immediate beneficiaries of the library. Teachers can take part too, as they are involved in teaching and learning. The library is a place where learning and teaching are nurtured and developed. Much of library development is anchored to its community's context and culture.

For librarians who are helping teachers, community developers and people in Non-government organizations set up libraries, remember to begin with the knowledge of the community and their experience of libraries. We are creating learning spaces and avenues of thinking. The books and formats of information we organize must be contextualized to a philosophy and a culture. That culture and philosophy is in part found in the community to which the library belongs to.

This is going to be a running post so do watch out for more tips on library set up and helping library advocates organize reading centers and libraries.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Library Hub News From the Field

In my visit to three public schools in Batangas last weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting two teachers who are in charge of the distribution of Library Hub books. I did not know that the stacks of books placed on a shelf were Library Hub books until I asked the teachers what these were for.

Only two copies of these books for a population of 300 students.

In one school, there were only two titles of books but in multiple copies. These books were read by grade two students. The next grade level who will read the books are grade three students. When they're done, books move up to grades four, five and six. Students from grades two to six will have read two illustrated story books in a span of three months. Students will get a chance to read other titles when the Library Hub coordinator pulls out the bin and replaces it with a new set. The book bins are routed to different schools. This rotation and exchange happens twice or thrice a year. This is the same system followed by another school in the district. Personnel assigned in the routing of book bins are English Coordinators or District Supervisors who, like the full time teachers in charge of the Library Hub books, are full time administrators and supervisors.

This is the situation I encountered in my trip to Tanauan, Batangas last weekend as far as the DepEd's Library Hub is concerned.

Related Library Hub posts done in the past:

Librarians Missing Ingredient in Library Hub

Naga City Library Hub

Librarian from Koronadal City Library Hub

Hub a Library

Sunday, July 21, 2013

My Author Visit in PAREF Woodrose

Thank you very  much to librarian Gay Reyes of PAREF Woodrose for inviting me last July 12 as librarian and published author. I had a wonderful time sharing with grade school students of Woodrose my books, the creative process of writing integrating it with the Big 6, an Information Literacy model. I had two sessions: one for grades 3 and 4, and another for grades 5 and 6. I prepared two different presentations.

The girls asked a variety of questions. They were smart and articulate. One grade 6 student asked how much I make as a published writer. I answered by giving her, with all honesty, the percentage I get from the total sales of my honorarium. They thought it was pretty small. So I quickly added that the reward for writing is not always measured by percentages and honorarium.

Sorry girls, I'm not JK Rowling.

At lunch time, I stayed a bit at the Woodrose library. It was small, cozy and snug. There, I signed autographs for eager grades 5 and 6 students who patiently lined up for a message of inspiration and my initials. Yes, I felt like a rock star.


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