Growing as a Professional:
Inquiry Blog 2
Teacher-librarians are expected to collaborate with teachers of various subjects in the school community and to be proficient in skills across the curriculum. They are also expected to maintain expertise, not only in information literacies, but also in related technologies. It is therefore vital that teacher-librarians commit to being lifelong learners and sustain professional growth. Luckily, there are plenty of resources available to assist in that.
The roles of teacher-librarians (American Library Association, n.d.)
Professional Resources
Post Secondary Institutions
The most significant avenue for professional development is programs and courses taken at post secondary institutions. I’m currently enrolled in UBC’s Diploma in Teacher-Librarianship because I needed more expertise in administering a School Library Learning Commons. University programs and courses are some of the most comprehensive and relevant options for professional growth. UBC, UofA, and Queens are all notable for offering programs and courses relevant for teacher-librarians, including Masters, Diploma and Certificate Programs.
Post secondary institutions are also educational leaders, and often ahead of secondary schools when it comes to emerging issues. When it comes to topics, such as the use of generative Artificial Intelligence, post secondary institutions are already creating resources to address how they’re used. For instance, here is Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s guide to APA citation for the use of generative AI LibGuide.
District Learning Commons
As a new teacher-librarian, I’m still learning tasks and processes related to operating a SLLC. Our district has a District Learning Commons, and they provide a lot of support and expertise. They have produced numerous Library Guides related to my professional practice, covering topics such as best practices, weeding, and inventory to name a few. (SD 57 DLC, n.d.). It also houses our district teacher-librarian and two senior library technicians, who are available to answer questions and provide assistance. They also provide professional development to assist in the development of specific tasks.
School District 57’s LibGuide page (SD 57 DLC, n.d.).
Microsoft 365
There are numerous ways to network with other professionals online. Our district mainly uses the Microsoft 365 suite of tools, especially Outlook and Teams. In Outlook, there is a private group of teacher-librarians, and emails can be sent to all members in the group. This is most often used when new resources are available in the district, or when a teacher-librarian is asking for assistance with a very specific issue. In Teams, there are larger discussions regarding ongoing topics in SLLC, for instance on the benefits and disadvantages in genrising the collection.
IRL
Online interactions still remain different from those in the physical world, and meeting in real life is important to grow as professionals. Collaboration is important within school communities. In Collaboration Works – When It Happens!, the authors note that when collaboration occurs between teacher-librarians and classroom teachers, students are more likely to master standards and improve assessment scores (Lance, Rodney & Schwartz, 2010). As already mentioned, our DLC sponsors library professional development sessions, which not only help develop those discrete skills but also offer the opportunity to network with peers in other SLLCs. Finally, there are also professional associations. Locally, there is the Prince George District Teacher Librarians Association (PGDTLA). This organisation meets approximately once a month, usually at different locations (most recently at the University of Northern British Columbia University Library and the Nechako branch of the Prince George Public Library. This offers the opportunity to examine other spaces as well as to network with other librarians.
Specific Tools
There are an enormous number of digital tools that support the professional growth of teacher-librarians. This post will only cover those related to SLLC Makerspaces.
Online Courses
FutureLearn
Future Learn offers online courses for educational and business environments. It is a platform of massive open online courses and offers microcredentials in a variety of areas. They offer a three week program titled Build a Makerspace for Young People. This course offers to teach “how to create and run a makerspace for young people” and to “look at the pedagogy and approaches behind digital making” (FutureLearn, n.d.).
Webinars
Making the Most out of MakerSpaces WEBINAR
This Webinar is hosted by EBSCOhost. It starts by defining and explaining Makerspaces, before continuing on to explain the rationale for their creation, and listing various projects that are possible. It discusses how to create a Makerspace from the ground up in a fair amount of detail (EBSCO Information Services, 2026).
Tutorials
Adam Savage’s Tested
This Youtube channel is hosted by Adam Savage, a former Hollywood special effects artist and host of Mythbusters. Its content is fairly broad, with videos on how to build specific items, while others cover specific technologies, techniques, and materials. There are also videos covering movie props and convention visits.
Flitetest
Flitetest is a channel dedicated to the Remote Control (R/C) Hobby. They are notable for introducing the use of simple and low cost materials, such as foam board, in an effort to introduce more people into the hobby. The channel hosts a variety of videos, including ones on R/C basics, build videos, product reviews, and crazy projects.
Bill Making Stuff is a channel that is based on creating visual art objects, mainly through sculpture and kit bashing. Various pieces, usually in fantasy or science fiction themes, are made from found objects combined with foam, epoxy putty, and other sculptural elements.
Works Cited
American Library Association. (n.d.). Roles and strengths of teaching librarians. Roles and Strengths of Teaching Librarians. https://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/teachinglibrarians
Bill Making Stuff (n.d.). Bill making stuff. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/@BillMakingStuff
EBSCO Information Services. (2016, May 20). Making the most out of Makerspaces Webinar. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR1xCbAnOqM
Flitetest. (n.d.). Flitetest. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@FliteTest
FutureLearn. (n.d.). Build a makerspace for young people – online course. https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/build-a-makerspace
KPU Library. (2024). LibGuides: APA Citation: Artificial Intelligence: ChatGPT etc. Kwantlen Polytechnic University. https://libguides.kpu.ca/c.php?g=713337&p=5281556
Lance, K. C., Rodney, M. J., & Schwarz, B. (2010). Collaboration Works-When It Happens!: The Idaho School Library Impact Study. Teacher Librarian, 37, 30-36. https://www.proquest.com/magazines/collaboration-works-when-happens-idaho-school/docview/609464978/se-2
Savage, A. (n.d.). Adam Savage’s Tested. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiDJtJKMICpb9B1qf7qjEOA
SD 57 DLC. (n.d.). Libguides. LibGuides at School District No. 57 (Prince George). https://sd57.libguides.com/dlc
Another strong post that outlines excellent strategies. Your multi-layered approach leaves the reader with many ideas and resources to consider. Your embedded links and resources are excellent takeaways for your reader.
Hi Dan,
Thanks for all your great ideas and resources pertaining to STEM and Makerspaces in the SLLC. The links are helpful, as are the explanation of the various resources.
I sometimes wonder how exactly to build enough time into a SLLC to enable the wide use of the Makerspace. That’s something I am interested in researching more.
Anne Appenheimer
Hi Anne,
I think it depends on how the Makerspace is integrated into the library and if you’re talking about elementary or secondary.
Committing to lifelong learning is crucial for teacher-librarians, given the ever-changing nuances of the role. Having a district learning commons and the district LibGuide page seem like great, cost-free, places to continue to learn. They also seem like a great space to be able to reach out to others for specific help and support as needed.
Your array of tools, from online courses to tutorials, are a great way for TLs to master skills relevant to School Library Learning Commons, ensuring continuous improvement in practice.
Daniel, we have like-minded thoughts on post secondary institutions as one of the best sources for professional growth. I also agree with your comments about the educational leadership of these institutions providing access to teachings that are current and relevant trends in education.
I spent a lot of time on enjoying your blog. Using YouTube videos for Maker Space projects wasn’t an approach I had considered before. I thought that each of these videos were brilliant because the projects were something that I could see a lot of boys taking a liking to. In a previous school I was at, the Maker projects tended to have a lot more girls attending (bracelet making and knitting). Of course any gender can been involved in any Maker Space activity but, in regards to my previous school, I do appreciate that the ideas that you’ve presented here may have encouraged more boys to get involved as well. Providing variety and choice in Maker activities can entice all kinds of diverse students to join. Thank you for the new ideas and the Youtube figures to follow. – Elizabeth Vaesen