Page 46 - Technology Plan for School Years 2017 to 2021

The school library media center should be the Learning Commons space that empowers
and engages learners through information in
multiple and varied formats that go beyond the
limits of traditional print material. The 2014
Aspen Institute report “Rising to the Challenge”
outlines three key assets of public libraries;
People, Place, and Platform. These three
assets are germane to school libraries as well.
Changes related to these three assets are
essential to the process of transforming media
centers into Learning Commons.

People are of central importance to the mission
of any type of library. In school libraries the
significance of people is threefold. First, the
new Learning Commons must be appropriately
staffed by a certified library media specialist
and capable paraprofessional staff. The media
specialist must be skilled not only in developing
both digital and print collections but they must
also be well-versed in teaching with technology.
They must be the lead technology integrationist
on their campus. Secondly, the students must
be the focus of not only the design of the space
and the collection but every aspect of the
Learning Commons must be designed with the
goal of supporting the student both as a
consumer of content as well as a creator of
content. The Learning Commons focuses on
the personal learning needs of the student.

Consideration of the library as a place is
essential to the development of the Learning
Commons model. The space must be
collaborative and flexible by having mobile
furnishings and technology. Tools such as
interactive displays, whiteboard walls, and
tablets should be readily available for student
use. The space should accommodate both
quiet study and noisy collaboration. The space
should encourage creative thinking and sharing

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