Library Media Programs and Connecting the Curriculum

The school library media program is both connected and connective. It is naturally connected with the entire curriculum, since its resources and services relate to every discipline and grade level. But it also enables connections among disciplines in a number of ways. 

1. In library resources, unlike textbooks, information is found in a naturally multidisciplinary form. This helps students to see the information in its real world context, not restricted to one grade level.
2. Library media staff have an ideal opportunity to know the scope of the curriculum. They can observe the natural links, and can help teachers design multidisciplinary activities that are interesting and based in the real world.
3. The flexible atmosphere of a library media center (LMC) can accommodate cooperative projects for large or small groups as well as individual students. The openness of the LMC supports student-selected reading, listening, and viewing.
4. The library concept encourages learners to develop systematic information searching strategies, and then to reflect on what they have read or seen, evaluate it, compare it with the expression of other authors, link what they have learned to previous knowledge, and create new information to share with others.
5. An information skills instructional unit or component can easily relate to any subject or combine two or more subject areas. (Examples: Dewey classification and math, science and biographies, auto repair and reference manuals, history and almanacs, the Internet and copyright law.)
6. The library media program's links to a virtually unlimited range of information sources, especially via electronic technology, allow teachers to explore ways to expand instructional units and engage students in realistic learning activities.

But, to realize its potential, all aspects of the library media program--resources, staff, facility, instruction, and technology--need to be integrated with the entire teaching and learning program. 

For example, teaching information searching strategies in isolation has little impact or permanence, but integrating information skills naturally into classroom units can develop comprehensive information literacy. A team made up of the library media specialist and the classroom teacher can open the LMC's window on the world for all students. As with traditional resources, electronic resources ranging from instructional software to Internet access will affect learning most positively when they are incorporated into daily teaching and learning activities. Teachers need to plan consciously to use the LMC for group research, whole class projects, guided exploration, and collaboratively planned projects. Of course, the library media specialist has a parallel responsibility to become familiar with the curriculum and the content of instructional units. 

For questions about this information, contact Nancy E. Anderson (608) 267-9287

Last updated on 7/23/2009 7:56:47 AM