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In 2010, the book The Learning Commons Where Learners Win promoted the transformation of the traditional school library into a vibrant learning space that would be at the heart of teaching and learning in the school. It called for flexible physical learning spaces, a virtual community to replace the library website, the banning of bird units to be replaced by deep learning experiences partnered by librarians and teachers, and a wide variety of strategies instead of the single umbrella of inquiry as presented by AASL in its standards. More recently has been the proposed solution to the fixed/flex argument for elementary school libraries from an either/or position to a both/and stance.
The learning commons concept flourished in Canada but was more slowly adopted in the United States. Simultaneously, the number of credentialed school librarians began to wan across the U.S. Professionals began to be replaced by support personnel who maintained and circulated printed book collections. Many schools eliminated the library altogether as other demands upon finances such as school security and rising costs of testing increased.
In many conversations, administrators, parents, and teachers liked the idea of the learning commons but asked to see one in action. Instead of trying to mount a major initiative to set up exemplary schools as had been done in the Library Power Project, the idea came to take exemplary places and professionals to everyone interested via virtual technologies. Thus the ALiVE! Library Initiative began and interviewed over thirty world class school librarians and provided Think Boxes of ideas to start local conversations.
Then as Leap Year approached, an international conference was envisioned, and it can now be enjoyed both on Leap Year Day, and long after. And, unlike many conferences, attendees can experience a few or every presentation. International speakers range from Australia and Canada to England and Europe, and many
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presenters accepted the challenge to present their major ideas in just twenty minute sessions. The entire cast of stellar expertise has been a joy to assemble as you will learn as you pursue your preferences in the table of contents.After brief introductions to the conference and a short message from Mathew Nosanchuk of the U.S. Department of Education, do enjoy two keynotes: the first by Keith Curry Lance and David Loertscher on the state of library staffing in the U.S. which is followed by a lively, humorous and informative presentation by Superintendent Buddy Berry from a rural school district in Kentucky that has been turned into an EdHub. After this, you will be able to visit twenty minute presentations on five themes: Technology, Community, International, Instructional Design, and Management. After the conference, you can open any of the presentations and are invited to contact the presenters as you would like to do so.
Thus, between the ALiVE! Library website and this Leap Into the Future of School Libraries Virtual Conference, you can build your own professional development sessions locally and use any of the presentations in advocacy efforts.
Do enjoy the conference and share its contents widely. It is free thanks to the generosity of all our celebrity presenters to whom we and the profession owe a deep debt of gratitude. Enjoy.
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