AASL Shared Foundation: CURATE

 

CURATE: Make meaning for oneself and others by collecting, organizing, and sharing resources of personal relevance.

https://standards.aasl.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/180206-AASL-framework-for-learners-2.pdf

            For the Shared Foundation of Inquire, I interviewed Blacksburg High School librarian, Tina McDaniel.  BHS is the school in which students attend after leaving the local middle school.  Ms. McDaniel facilitates the library and interacts with 9^th, 10^th, 11^th  and 12^th graders.  Here are the questions that guided our conversation:

a.             What are some examples of the ways in which you are implementing making meaning for oneself and others by collecting, organizing, and sharing resources of personal relevance in your library program?

Ms. McDaniel implements this domain in her library by maintaining a close relationship with our local public library system, the Cherokee County Library branches in Gaffney and Blacksburg, SC.  They work closely together to implement and complement each other’s current programs and areas of emphasis.  She then in turn shares this knowledge with her students and teachers.

 

b.             What are some of the resources in your library program that you are using to implement these competencies?

As the time is near for summer break for school, our local public library system is gearing up to jump start their Summer Reading Program and their extensive list of summer activities for all ages (infant/early childhood, elementary, and teen).  She will be heavily promoting this information as they head into the summer break.

 

c.             Do any of the competencies that you are implementing include collaboration with classroom teachers?  If so, please provide examples.

Yes….their teachers encourage participation in the public library’s programs and some have even offered extra credit for students’ participation.

 

d.             What are some of the challenges that you face when trying to implement these competencies?

Due to the public library’s activities being off campus and during the summer break, teacher and student participation cannot be required.  Also, some students do have transportation issues that making participating problematic.  Thankfully, all of the public library’s summer programs and activities are free of charge so there is no cost prohibitive issues for participation.

 

e.  Are there any other comments that you would like to make regarding the Shared Foundation / Competencies and Domains that we have discussed today?

Ms. McDaniel encourages everyone to visit your local public library!  She truly strives to make the BHS school library and our local public library extensions of each other.  Their programs run independently but do complement each other.

After our interview and taking some time to reflect on our conversation, I will definitely incorporate some of Ms. McDaniel’s ideas to my library setting.  I would like to reach out to our local public library to join hands and support the children and families we serve at Blacksburg Primary School.  I may could even invite one of the public librarians to our school to talk to my classes about their upcoming Summer Reading Programs and initiatives rather than simply trying to tell them myself.  I will definitely promote their Summer Reading Program on our school’s website as well as our school Facebook page.