October 23, 2023
As teachers, how can we utilize the public library?
How can we use the library in lesson planning?
Often times, we have resources and knowledge holders in our vicinity that we did not know existed but can make the biggest difference in how we form and execute our lessons. Once we become aware of what we have access to, why would we not take advantage of it for ourselves, but also promote the resource for our students. Local public libraries are a perfect example. Public libraries facilitate collaboration, are home to endless resources, possess an external space apart from school, and are a source of inspiration.
Collaboration is an essential element of the teaching profession; it is what makes our job more enjoyable and unique in a sense. Through building a relationship with our local libraries, we create space for more collaborative work beyond our colleagues. Of course, discussions with colleagues is important, but sometimes it is nice to gain a new perspective outside of schools to keep learning. Something I noticed right away at the Prince George Public Library was the creativity that the librarians were bringing to the table in planning their youth activities and in how the library was arranged. They also were clearly passionate about their work at PGPL which is the same kind of passion that I want to bring to my future classroom. In addition to these clear benefits, building relationships between schools and local libraries opens our students’ horizons in terms of exploration and resources.
The variety of resources at PGPL was incredible. They truly thought of everything from book club sets to movies, to the kits in many different subject areas; it was amazing. What PGPL had access to, many schools do not have the storage or the budget to carry all of the resources that a public library can facilitate. Even the mere access to space that schools do not always possess, has the potential to be extremely influential in a student’s learning environment. Alongside the expanse of resources, public libraries offer students’ new ways of demonstrating their learning in a way that works for them, that schools may not be able to facilitate. An example of this is the access to the colour printer that is free (within reason) for students and members of the public to use. There was also access to inclusive resources such as the talking books and the exploration books which encourage students who struggle with reading while helping them develop literacy skills.
The public library provides a space away from school that perpetuates learning in alternative ways. Places such as the PGPL also provide a safe space for students who do not have an ideal home life where they can decompress, learn, and socialize. The PGPL does an amazing job of creating spaces for teenagers to be teenagers which is important. As a future, teacher I would highly recommend to my students that they participate in the activities offered by the library. While it is important for students to be actively and intentionally learning in schools, have these spaces apart from school for them to be learning on the fly and socializing is also crucial to a student’s development.
During my visit to PGPL (and maybe this is also the excitement of being a Block 1 Teacher Candidate), I was really inspired by what I learned. I would consider myself a creative person and everywhere I looked there was a resource that sparked my imagination. I constantly was thinking about what I could do in my classroom, how I could teach the lesson, and what I could possibly include. Beyond my future classroom, it inspired me to think of what resources such as those offered by PGPL in rural schools. Often times, rural schools do not have access to this expanse of resources, and it was exciting to learn that provincial libraries collaborate therefore allowing these incredible resources to be more mobile. Aside from the physical resources, I thought the Homework Help program was really incredible and I was imagining ways that this could be executed in smaller places. Although I do not have the experience or knowledge to execute something like this quite yet, my visit to PGPL sparked my interest in incorporating public libraries into the learning process and I look forward to collaborating with them throughout my future career for the benefit of my future students, and for my learning journey as an educator.
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