Librarians are information professionals who provide physical and intellectual access to information. PK-20 librarians, in particular, serve as knowledgeable facilitators in helping students and staff become effective users and generators of information. In addition, as information professionals, PK-12 and postsecondary librarians can facilitate the articulation of information literacy as they collaborate with each other and their institutional faculty.
This web page, in the form of a “toolkit” was originally created by the AASL/ACRL Interdivisional Committee on Information Literacy, which was dissolved in July 2015. Therefore, the ACRL Student Learning & Information Literacy Committee maintains this web page in order to curate strategies, resources, and examples that may lead to strengthened relationships between educators across the PK-20 spectrum.
Suggested steps for developing collaborative relationships between college and high school educators:
Explore effective and successful programs that support students’ transitions and encourage collaborative practices between high school and college educators. If you are aware of other exemplars, please complete the success story template and email the chair of the ACRL Student Learning and Information Literacy Committee.
Sample 1: Outreach
Kent State University Libraries and Media Services has had a robust program designed to increase relationships between local high schools and communities. These efforts have developed into a collaboration across Ohio, which is funded by Institute for Library and Information Literacy Education (ILILE) and a Library Services Technology Act (LSTA) grant.
Sample 2: Targeted Programming
This article describes a partnership between librarians at Sarah Lawrence College with the international baccalaureate high school program, and local public libraries. The program structure includes three interactions between students and librarians: 1) orientation day 2) topic day 3) research consultations. The authors highlight the program’s success as well as some considerations for other institutions: time required, cross institutional coordination, evaluating/ assessing the program, deficient time spent with home students.
Readings:
Sample 3: Professional Development
Metronet Information Literacy Initiative (MILI) is a collaborative in the Twin Cities area comprised of the multi-county library system and schools. The program offers professional development opportunities designed to enhance information literacy initiatives and collaborations. It is a ten month program during which teachers and media specialists meet twice a month to discuss topics such as appropriate learning materials, supplemental tools, and assessment design.
Readings:
Informed Transitions by Explore an Extensive bibliography which includes success stories, assessments, examples, and core readings.
