School Librarians Facilitate Meaningful Learning Despite Massive School Closures...NEW eSchool News Article!

I love being a teacher librarian.  And right now, with school closed and our students learning and teachers teaching remotely, teacher librarians couldn't be more important.  

As I shared in this new eSchool News article, School Librarians Facilitate Meaningful Learning Despite Massive School Closures, 

Shannon Miller, Innovation Director of Instructional Technology and Library Media at Van Meter Community School in Iowa, says school librarians have a remarkable opportunity to not only make a difference in the remote learning taking place now, but to also help shape the change that will inevitably impact education and school libraries going forward.

“We are refreshing and building amazing digital libraries and remote learning spaces and connecting and collaborating with teachers, students and families,” said Miller. “It’s our time to shine, and together, teacher librarians are leading the way.”

Even before the closure was announced at Van Meter, Miller said she was setting up Continuous Learning Hubs for each grade and subject level within the district. These Hubs allow students to connect to library resources through Follett’s Destiny Discover, which provides access to the district’s resources, including eBooks, digital audiobooks, and interactive books. Miller keeps a consistent and popular blog, where she shares much of her work and experiences for others to learn from.

“My best advice is to not wait to be asked what you can do to be part of this change, but to just start doing and make yourself as helpful, valuable and available as you can,” she advised. “This is a great time to learn something new; to refresh and build amazing digital libraries and remote learning spaces; to connect and collaborate with teachers, students and families; and to show them what you got.”

I am so proud of every one of our teachers at Van Meter and an amazed by the students and families every day.  

And I am constantly inspired by librarians such as Traci Chun, Carrie Friday and Craig Seasholes, who are part of this terrific article too.  

Thank you everyone, for all that you do! 

You will find it here on eSchool News.