Why CIS School Library Integral to the Teaching and Learning Process?
Our school library is an imperative part of our school structure. Libraries and librarians facilitate the work of teachers by ensuring that each student has equitable access to resources, irrespective of home opportunities. While the role of the school library has always been a part of schools, its design, digital platforms, strategies, and use has evolved over time to reflect the changes in teaching and learning practices. We have been involved in this evolution to transform our library into a “hub of learning” for our students, teachers, and CIS families.
Like most school libraries, ours is furnished with a vast collection of books. Canadian International School (CIS), one of the top schools in Bangalore, is equipped with an Elementary as well as a Secondary library with a consolidated collection of over 15,000 books. We continue to add new titles and access to digital resources every year. As a repository of knowledge, the CIS libraries have books on a wide range of non-fiction topics such as history, geography, politics, and math, and other research essay topics, as well as fiction books for pleasure reading, developing creativity, and sharing the human condition. These books are readily available to our students to support their learning and understanding of various subjects. Students also have access to these resources for their independent studies and group projects.
Teaching and learning at CIS are based on a process of continual interaction in which the library, teachers, and students are partners. The librarians play a role in supporting students by guiding them to master their learning and research skills necessary to use these materials effectively. Our teachers also collaborate with librarians to plan out lessons and gather the necessary resources required for the topics they will be discovering in their classrooms with students.
CIS also hosts an annual Banned Books Week to actively promote and celebrate the freedom to read. This year’s Banned Book Week is from Monday, 24th September through Friday, 28th September 2018. The week highlights the value of free and open access to information and brings together the entire book community at CIS including librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types. Students are encouraged to seek and express ideas, even those some consider unpopular. CIS also invites several authors to visit the school to lead interactive and participatory activities with students. A recent study by the American Association of School Librarians have provided compelling evidence that school libraries have a positive impact on student achievement. At CIS, our libraries play a significant role in helping students improve reading and build positive attitudes towards learning. As we further develop our library into the hub of learning for the school, building collaborative skills, community, and communication will also be day-to-day functions of our school library. Our library also provides an environment for flexible learning and blended teaching approaches, catering to a broad spectrum of students and helping them grasp information faster.
We invite you to visit Canadian International School (CIS), one of the true, forward-thinking international schools in Bangalore, and see how our facilities support student learning. Email us here: enroll@cisb.org.in or call us here: 080 – 6759 4444 to book an appointment.