Introduction to LIBE 461

I am a mom of two wonderful kids, one of whom just started Kindergarten, and the other is to follow next year!  I am a TL working in Surrey at Pacific Heights Elementary this year, which is a change in schools from last.  I have been working as a TL for 6 years and love my work!  This is my third course on route towards my TL Diploma.

I have had the pleasure of working in 3 Libraries all existing in different places on the Library-LC spectrum.  I have discovered that students enjoy being a part of the Library community and most of it depends on the relationships that I am able to create.  I view the Library to be a safe space for all people to come to and to use for many purposes.  Creating, reading, interacting, observing, researching, experiencing, reacting etc...and all free from evaluation.

I started in a more traditional setting and had the opportunity to set up my first Learning Commons space with technology and furniture that was supplied to create this new vision.  I enjoyed learning about and incorporating the use of iPad apps such as Book Creator, Keynote, Pic Collage as a format for students to show their learning.

I then moved to a school where the Library needed updating, curating and passion.  I spent two years here working with the school community to breath life into this Library by incorporating student reading programs, using technology and creating relationships to show the value that the Library could have in the school.  

Now I have again moved into a Library that has been newly renovated and is stocked with technology that I have yet to learn.  I am looking forward to working with the students this year who are fluent with coding and robotics as a medium for their learning.  I am going to get them to teach me how to use some of these things very soon, and am curious where the teaching and learning will go this year.

I value students ability to be able to create and think outside the box.  Something I most enjoy is "making" and the school I'm at this year has a maker faire so it's going to be great!

As a student I don't have many memories of being in the Library.  Distant ones include finding information in the card catalogues and enjoying the space listening to stories or finding a quiet place to work.

I now have a much broader view of Libraries and visit my Public Library regularly with my children as well as check out other Libraries and LCs whenever I can.  Just recently this summer I visited the tiniest Library I have ever been to down in Point Roberts and enjoyed all that it had to offer with my kids playing with toys and reading stories to them while they played.  They kept saying "read another one mom" because they knew the more I read the longer we could stay!

Looking forward to getting to know you all.