The Whole School Library Learning Commons: An Educator's Guide

This thorough guide offers strategies and resources for developing a vision and implementing a plan for a whole school library learning commons approach. Sykes, herself a former teacher, librarian, and school administrator, as well as a project coordinator for the Canadian Library Association, relies heavily on the work of researcher David Loertscher, who also wrote the foreword. Indeed, Loertscher acknowledges that the book is not for beginners. Rather, it demands familiarity with the concept of a learning commons and functions as more of a planning guide than an introduction to the topic. According to Sykes, creating a school library learning commons involves more than just modifying a physical space; it means adopting a pedagogical strategy across the entire school to build a collaborative, participatory culture of learning. The volume is framed by four concepts: mentoring, accountability, research, and community. The author explains the importance and applications of each idea in turn, then offers suggested resources and activities to reflect on current learning models and involve all members of the school community. Sykes outlines the role of all stakeholders, from teachers to administrators, and there is a clear emphasis on the critical position of the teacher librarian.