The iCentre: The School Library of The Future

Google Glass image from: http://www.teachthought.com/technology/how-schools-can-respond-to-the-age-of-information/



In Postman’s “Five things we need to know about technological change” (1998), he asks the reader to consider that technological change is not additive but instead ecological – that is to say that a new medium does not add something but instead changes everything, and this prompted me to consider what the advances in technological change would mean in the school library.

Before continuing, let me just say that I believe that the school library will never disappear rather, it will blossom into something exciting and new in response to information demands of today’s digital natives. I believe one of the most obvious trends will be the fast paced integration of technology which will see literature brought the masses using a variety of new mediums and fingertip access to information.

Which brings me to the next point; I believe that the school library will become more of a community space or iCentre for students - it will become the information-technology learning hub, a high end multimedia production facility and the technology engine of a networked school.

The school library of the future will be a flexible learning space designed on fluid design principles, which will look different on a daily basis. It will support connectivity, collaboration, critical engagement and creativity, construction and consolidation. The pedagogical fusion within the school library will be obvious; it will be about integrating and aligning information technology, people and instruction.

And with this change, so too will the role of the teacher-librarian change. Teacher librarians will be looked to, to become the information and learning leaders of the school – where the role of information technology specialist and curriculum specialist will combine in order to consolidate support across the school community.

Change is inevitable and schools libraries and librarians need to adapt in order to better meet the needs of their students, what do you want your school library to look like in the future?

References

Heick, T. (2013). 12 Things Digital Natives Want From A Library. Retreived March 11, 2013 from http://www.teachthought.com/technology/12-things-digital-natives-want-from-a-library/

Postman, N. (1998). Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change. Retreived March 11, 2013 from http://www.lorien.nsw.edu.au/joomla/images/ReferenceMaterial/neil%20postman,%20five%20things%20we%20need%20to%20know%20about%20technological%20change.pdf