NEAR NORTH DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
NNDSB library team named Library Professional of the Year

Every year, the Ontario Library Association (OLA) honours one exceptional individual with the Ontario School Library Professional of the Year award in recognition of leadership in the facilitation and management of a school library collection.

Nomination criteria for the award include making a positive impact on students' and teachers' use and attitude towards the school library learning commons, a nominee is innovative and actively works on improving student engagement and works to create a rich learning environment which promotes student engagement.

This year, OLA council members were so impressed by the work of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) library services team the rules were modified to allow for the entire team to be nominated and by unanimous decision, the NNDSB library team was awarded Ontario School Library Professional of the Year.

NNDSB library services is comprised of four full-time secondary librarians, two librarians who divide their time between a secondary and elementary school, and seven itinerant elementary librarians who are responsible for a family of schools. In addition to the school libraries, NNDSB is also home to two classroom support centres that are responsible for creating and loaning curriculum-based resources and technology to educators.

Jessica Feick, library services and classroom support centres supervisor, said library services have evolved over the years from simply circulating books to being an integral part of the school community with many responsibilities. School librarians have worked hard to build partnerships with community libraries and work as liaisons to bring exciting new opportunities for NNDSB students. These include but are not limited to author and illustrator visits, working with community libraries on reading celebrations, and bringing in community helpers for read-alouds.

Librarians continue to keep pace with changing times by teaching digital literacy. NNDSB librarians instruct students in essential skills such as effective internet searches, how to spot "fake news", how to use Gale databases, plagiarism, bibliographies, copyright, and critical thinking skills.

NNDSB library services offer technical support to students and staff with printing, password management, using school-based applications and audio-visual equipment. The team works hard to maintain culturally relevant collections in support of equity, diversity and student well-being.

"NNDSB library services also maintains a current and relevant virtual library with access to reputable resources to support students in their learning journey," Feick said. "Secondary librarians also circulate technology for student use during the school day, and collaborate with other school departments to circulate textbooks and novel studies for students."

The team's accomplishments will be featured in the spring issue of Teaching Librarian and the team will be honoured at an award ceremony in Toronto on Jan. 30.

"Two of our team members, as well as myself, will be in Toronto during this time for a conference and will be able to attend the award ceremony. Karen Upper, who is an exceptional librarian and advocate for library, will accept the award on behalf of the team," Feick said. "NNDSB is honoured and grateful for being selected as the Ontario School Library Professional of the Year and would like to thank the Ontario School Library Association for this wonderful award."