Charles Sturt University (CSU) educators are using their own internet experiences over the past 20 years to help school librarians around Australia better communicate with each other.

 

“Technologies and social media platforms are driving an unprecedented reorganisation of the learning environment in and beyond schools. These are reshaping the skills required by teacher librarians and establishing the need for lifelong learning by this group, and Charles Sturt University is helping them gain those skills,” said Ms Judy O’Connell, the Course Director for Teacher Librarianship with CSU’s School of Information Studies.

 

“Social media is a perfect way to encourage discussion and share resources while also demonstrating the daily activities and achievements of a school library in the 21^st century.”

 

Ms O’Connell believes understanding the breadth of technology change, and its impact on school libraries, is an essential step in helping school libraries to meet the challenges of new learning. In 1992, CSU established the Australian Teacher Librarian Network ‘listserv’ – an online discussion group - as a professional service to the school library sector.

 

The University recently re-launched the network - OZTL_NET, with the original discussion group as well as a daily digest of messages, improved access via mobile phones and tablet computers, and access via RSS feeds, Facebook and Twitter.

“Social media can provide new avenues for thoughtful leadership and innovation, and contribute to the strategic futures of school libraries,” Ms O’Connell said.

 

“Teacher librarians often work alone and are faced with many challenges in the changing media landscape. We want to provide teacher librarians and school library staff with a facility that allows ongoing professional conversations through various channels to help them adapt to the new digital needs of their students.”

 

Ms O’Connell said teacher librarians need to be visionary and take the opportunity to use emerging devices, tools, media and virtual environments, as they can create new learning communities for students and teachers in their schools.