Samuel Marsden Collegiate School iCentre
As a teacher librarian, I was interested to learn how the current Head of Library, Karen Richards has worked over her tenure to modernise the senior school library space and meet varied student and staff needs for its use. Staff observations, and student feedback indicate that creation of welcoming spaces, arrangement of furniture, use of monochrome colour palate, mobile shelving, and flexible study and classroom spaces have resulted in increased use of the library. This has been supported by collection development focused upon procurement of fiction, with nonfiction maintaining a strong curriculum relevance. I was interested in the focus on a dynamic e-resource component across fiction and nonfiction collections. These are practices that I wish to integrate at my school library, particularly the selection and use of e-resources, which are largely non-existent in our current collection.
To develop a future focused library like Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, I should continue to establish myself as a technology leader and the library as a hub for information and communication technologies. Integration of the Australian Curriculum cross curriculum priorities such as sustainability, creative and critical thinking, and literacy within the library teaching and learning program is the main way that this could be achieved. Moreover, collaboration and capacity building with staff and the wider school community is essential to build the user community and advocate for the Library as the heart of the school. For example, dedicated Google Classroom platforms, Twitter or library events such as the Library High Tea Karen mentioned, the profile and functionality of the library could be increased.