Transforming the school library into a teaching and learning resource center: a model and a method

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present a model and a method with the aim of transforming the school library into a Teaching and Learning Resource Center that will allow advancement in the curricular integration of information literacy within Secondary Education Public Centers of the Comunidad de Madrid, Spain.The said model and method are proposed as a result of a study of the reality and expectations of the local educational community, based on a survey of headmasters, teachers, librarians and students from 10 high schools. The results of the study suggest the need for a Secondary Education Public Centers model that is integrated into the school activity, with a full-time qualified school librarian in charge of it, and able to collaborate with teachers in curriculum development, as well as with other libraries. To implement this model, we propose an evaluation method based on indicators related to key aspects of the Secondary Education Public Centers performance as well as several practical applications in schools. Finally, we conclude that a Secondary Education Public Centers, thus defined, may contribute to foster digital inclusion among students.