Literacy, Libraries, and Learning: Using Books and Online Resources to Promote Reading, Writing, and Research

Anne Hutchings, a former elementary-school teacher-librarian with the
Durham Board of Education, is an educational consultant.

In recent years, underfunding has created a crisis in school library
personnel and collections. For example, in 1997–98, 80 percent of
Ontario elementary schools had a full- or part-time teacher-librarian
compared to only 54 percent in 2005. Thus, Literacy, Libraries, and
Learning could not have been published at a more opportune time. Ray
Doiron and Marlene Asselin, both experts in the field of literacy
education, have compiled this valuable guide for utilizing the resources
of the school library and the expertise of the teacher-librarian to the
fullest.

The first chapters deal with the school library and the partnership
between the teacher-librarian and the classroom teacher. The benefits of
the Collaborative Program Planning and Teaching (CPPT) process are
clearly illustrated in the sample unit, “Bridges.” Much of the
material covered in this section is not new and will be most useful to
those just starting out in the profession; “Tips on Reading Aloud”
seems a bit redundant for experienced teacher-librarians.

Of greater interest and value to both new and experienced
teacher-librarians is the chapter entitled “Exploring Diversity,
Culture, and Social Issues with Children’s Literature.” The
excellent bibliography and suggestions regarding the school environment
and outside resources are especially noteworthy. Equally useful are
Chapter 5, which suggests strategies for using informational texts
(complete with lesson plans), and Chapter 6, which includes several
models for teaching information literacy.

The book’s concluding section, which deals with the use of online
resources and online learning environments, features a treasure trove of
websites, interesting ideas, and original project ideas. Two charts
reproducible for classroom use, a list of professional resources, and an
index round out this valuable resource.