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Harnessing the power of your classroom library

I could easily be frustrated by the number of teachers who ask for resources that I already know they have in their classrooms, instead, I see this as a problem that I can help solve. 

It is all very well repeatedly telling them that they need to use the library catalog more effectively. The fact is, they don't and won't, and why should they? It is the role of the library to provide easy access. Sometimes they need to learn how to do it and other times they just need me to do it for them.

But, what if they could get the information they want at the click of a single link? They would feel independent and be able to access what they need - when they need it.

Every classroom in the primary school at UWCSEA has around 500 books in it. It is not a reasonable expectation to think that every teacher will know every book. Here's how I can help....

I already have a LibGuide explaining classroom collections but is even this too complicated?

 Recently a teacher asked "What is the best way to see the historical fiction books that are available in each class library?" I have created this short tutorial. It is a work in progress. Ideally, there will eventually be links to every individual classroom and, to every topic.

 Will this help? I don't know, but, I do know that my attitude towards the library catalog has changed. I think it is a powerful tool for librarians and some teachers and that it is the role of the librarian to present the information hidden in its depths to the rest of the teachers in the easiest and quickest way. Most teachers don't have time to become an expert themselves and do they really need to?


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