In this episode, we discuss the evolving role of school libraries within the broader educational system. Addressing pressing issues such as the undervaluation of librarians and the alignment of library programs with institutional educational goals, this conversation underscores the library's essential contribution to student development.

With a focus on the IFLA School Library Guidelines, we also navigated the challenges of aligning libraries with the quantifiable outcomes often prioritised by schools. By examining strategies for librarians to articulate and advocate for their role in supporting holistic education, this episode presents a compelling call to action for educational leaders and librarians alike. Listen in as we explore the critical intersection of education, purpose, and the pivotal role of school libraries in shaping informed, curious, and well-rounded individuals.

Membership information https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/aboutmembership

In our last podcast, Darryl and I talked about Douglas Knight’s two major and unique functions of a library and ended up having a great discussion about the purpose and function of our non-fiction collections.

In this episode, we chat about:-

* The similarities with the SLA guidelines, including their bookstock guidance. Stott (1947, 1955), School Libraries: A Short Manual (CUP for SLA) and SLA (1972) | Libraries in Secondary Schools

* Understand the role of the school librarian via the IFLA School Library Guidelines

* Staffing in school libraries

* Collection development and in particular non-fiction. 

Making School Libraries Integral to the Educational Process https://www.sla.org.uk/Services/ItemDetail?iProductCode=8340&Category=GUIDELINES

Membership information -https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/aboutmembership 

Last month's podcast https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/podcast/episode/adf7b60a/fosil-education-and-school-libraries-7

In this episode, Darryl and I continue our conversation about Douglas Knight’s ideas about a library's two major and unique functions, regardless of type. These two functions are:- 

* First, it makes possible meetings of mind and ideas not limited by our normal boundaries of time, space, and social or economic level.

* To say this is to suggest the second great function of a library. It is the institution in our society that allows and encourages the development and extension of ideas -- not their passive absorption, but their active generation. … The technical means of his encounter may be a record, a tape, a film, a print-out or -- most radical of all -- a book. Libraries are not bounded by means; they will and should employ any means to achieve their ends.

Clarification on non-fiction to fiction ratio: NF to F ratio should rise from 50% NF to 50% F through 66% NF to 33% F to 75% NF to 25% F as children move from Primary through Secondary (Darryl)

The link to Douglas Knight's document can be found here https://bit.ly/3ShxMSK 

Podcast - Non-fiction collections in school libraries: Do we still need them?https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/podcast/episode/9d8adc04/non-fiction-collections-in-school-libraries-do-we-still-need-them  

FOSIL forum link -https://fosil.org.uk/forums/ 

Engaging and Empowering School Libraries Membership -https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/aboutmembership

This month Darryl and I are heading back to something we mentioned briefly at the end of last month's conversation which was about reading and making sense of something….

I know that many people associate school libraries with reading… However, the latest Reading Framework produced by the Government in the UK in July does not mention libraries as much as it should have and librarians even less…From a librarian's perspective that is sad but not surprising, so today we help listeners understand the value of the school librarian in reading, especially reading for learning. 

We expand on how reading fits within the FOSIL framework, across the whole cycle. 

More information about this topic can be read here...https://fosil.org.uk/forums/topic/year-9-grade-8-interdisciplinary-signature-work-inquiry-blanchelande-college/

In this post - https://fosil.org.uk/forums/topic/year-9-grade-8-interdisciplinary-signature-work-inquiry-blanchelande-college/#post-80555  

Membership information can be found here https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/aboutmembership 

This month Darryl and I discuss the importance of Blanchelande's Year 9 Signature Work and its impact on student learning. The conversation highlighted the challenges of measuring academic attainment through signature work and explored the difference between student engagement and academic attainment.

Key Takeaways from this podcast

  • The impact of the year nine signature work on student learning and engagement, highlighting the challenges of measuring academic attainment through this approach.

  • The discussion explored the change in students' attitudes towards learning as a result of their engagement with signature work.

  • Future directions and implementation strategies for the year nine signature work.

  • The conversation emphasised the importance of an early introduction to inquiry-based learning and its potential impact on the quality of work and attitude towards inquiry in the future.

  • We covered the role of habit in the learning process, drawing parallels between the development of information literacy skills and inquiry skills.

  • The conversation also highlighted the starting point of inquiry as an attitude of wonder and puzzlement, emphasising the importance of cultivating a desire to learn.

Note: We did not explain fully why it is called 'signature' work. The short and simple explanation is that students are asked to produce something they would be happy to sign or put their signature to... Understanding that this is their work and should be proud to sign it. Darryl's explanation can be found here https://fosil.org.uk/forums/topic/year-9-grade-8-interdisciplinary-signature-work-inquiry-blanchelande-college/#post-81808 

Other resources:

LibGuide NewsLetter: https://blanchelande.libguides.com/LibraryGuide/News/The-Future-Needs-You-Living-Well-in-a-World-Worth-Living-in

see Year 9 Individual Project and Year 9 FOSIL Inquiry Skills Project

Don't forget to subscribe to all of the forum post in order to be notified if there are any new posts or replies https://fosil.org.uk/forums/topic/subscribing-to-the-forums/ 

My membership information - https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/aboutmembership

In this podcast we delve deeper into Darryl’s chapter for the IFLA digital literacy book.

The highlights of this podcast focus on:

* The importance of school librarians gaining clarity about what they do and why.

* The importance of school librarians understanding what education is and their role in it. 

"Our goal is not to get our children to the end of school but to equip them for what happens beyond school" 

Links

Making school libraries integral to the education process https://www.sla.org.uk/product/making-school-libraries-integral-to-the-educational-process

IFLA 2023 WLIC, Digital Literacy: Necessary but not sufficient  https://fosil.org.uk/forums/topic/ifla-2023-wlic-digital-literacy-necessary-but-not-sufficient/

IASL 2023 Recovering the educational promise of inquiry https://fosil.org.uk/forums/topic/iasl-2023-recovering-the-educational-promise-of-inquiry/

Constitute of Knowledge by Jonathan Rauch 

ChatGPT et al https://fosil.org.uk/forums/topic/chatgpt-et-al/ 

Evolution of portraits https://fosil.org.uk/forums/topic/a-theory-of-the-role-of-the-library-in-the-students-intellectual-experience/ 

Membership information https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/aboutmembership

Darryl Toerien and I continue our monthly chat, FOSIL, Education and School Libraries.

This month we are chatting about the IASL conference, the need to have leadership for school librarians and why inquiry skills should support students learning how to learn, as well as learning knowledge. 

IFLA presentation - Digital Literacy necessary but not sufficient https://fosil.org.uk/forums/topic/ifla-2023-wlic-digital-literacy-necessary-but-not-sufficient/

Year 6 (Grade 5) Interdisciplinary Signature Work Inquiry https://fosil.org.uk/forums/topic/year-6-interdisciplinary-signature-work-inquiry/

Membership information -https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/aboutmembership 

Darryl Toerien and I continue our monthly chat, FOSIL, Education and School Libraries. This month we are chatting about what you can find on the FOSIL Group website and developments coming up over the summer.

The topics we cover are:-

- FOSIL Group website and why you set it up.

- What can you find on the website?

- Where would you suggest they start?

- Why is the discussion forum so important?

- If someone wanted to join in a forum discussion what do they need to be aware of? ( importance of subscribing to the conversation to see replies).

- Future developments

Books mentioned:-

Principles and Practice: Learning and Libraries in an Information Age (Edited by Barbara Stripling in 1999!)

Carol Kuhlthau’s chapter is called Literacy and Learning for the Information Age. "Inquiry requires information literacy skills. When library media specialists and teachers collaborate to create an inquiry approach to learning, students develop dual competencies in subject content and information literacy" (p. 11)

Empire State Information Fluency Continuum https://slsa-nys.libguides.com/ifc/gradeassessments

FOSIL explained - Youtube

The FOSIL Group Website overview -

Courses available to explain the FOSIL cycle in more detail - https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/payperview?Category=The+FOSIL+Cycle

Membership information - https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/aboutmembership 

Once a month I'm going to talk about FOSIL, Education and School Libraries with Darryl Toerien originator of FOSIL. We hope to help you engage with the content on the FOSIL Group Website, introduce you to people who are using FOSIL in schools and most of all just have a conversation about the role of school librarians within education. 

The FOSIL Group Website -

https://fosil.org.uk/

FOSIL explained -

IFLA School Library Guidelines - https://www.ifla.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/assets/school-libraries-resource-centers/publications/ifla-school-library-guidelines.pdf 

Engaging and Empowering School Libraries Membership -https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/aboutmembership