Sutherland Library: Library Program

Hello!
Here’s a bit about me!

I was born in Kootenay country, but I have called North Vancouver home since 1977.  I have two citizenships, Canadian and Australian, and I am very patriotic.

I completed a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in technology in Education, from SFU, in 2006.  My Bachelor of Education is from UBC, with a major in Library Education, and minors in English and History.

I have worked in libraries since I was 12 years old.  I was the teacher librarian at Balmoral Junior Secondary for 17 years, where I also taught English and ICT.  I love books.  I also enjoy the challenge of finding the right resources to support curriculum.  I believe in melding technology with tradition.

This is my 12th year at Sutherland.  I am enjoying being a part of the Sutherland family and building a library program in a technology-focused school.

I have been fortunate to have traveled a fair bit. I’ve been to the top of Ayres Rock, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Empire State Building.   I have white water rafted in Austria and Alaska, parasailed in Nice, and eaten Haggis in the Highlands above Urquhart Castle.

I have an artist’s soul.   I find energy in music, theatre, photography, poetry, the colour purple, and butterflies.

Drop by the library and say “Hi”!

Sutherland’s library program assumes the responsibility to ensure that students and teachers are effective users of ideas and information by providing:

• a library that functions efficiently as the information center of the school, both physically and virtually
• intellectual access to a wide array of up-to-date information in both print and non print formats
• physical access to information in an open, flexibly scheduled library
• learning experiences that encourage students to become discriminating researchers and skilled creators of information by providing individual and group instruction
• leadership, instruction and consulting assistance in the use of information and communication technology by providing inservice to teachers and instruction to students
• leadership, instruction and consulting assistance in promoting the value and joy of reading and the appreciation of literature
• resources and activities that contribute to life-long learning through active involvement in curriculum initiatives and individual school programs
• resources and learning activities that represent diversity

The focus of the library program is to encourage the development of independent life-long learners with the ability to adapt in an information and communication rich society.  The library program will provide for the student in these four areas: Curriculum Support, Literature Appreciation, Information Literacy, and Library Administration.

Curriculum Support

• a partnership with classroom teachers to collaborate in curriculum development and implementation
• knowledge of curriculum, resources and teaching strategies to support the needs of students and staff
• knowledge of curriculum initiatives at the local and provincial levels
• an integral participant of the overall school curriculum

Literature Appreciation

• collaboration with the classroom teacher to become active partners in the promotion of literature
• a partnership with teachers to develop planned units in which students react and respond to a variety of literary experiences
• promotion of events and activities that extend and support the development of literacy skills and dispose and motivate students to become life-long readers

Information Literacy

• collaboration with the classroom teachers to develop information literacy skills
• instruction in accessing information effectively and efficiently, evaluating information critically and competently and using information accurately and creatively
• instruction to students in the uses of the tools of information technology, forms, formats, locations, accessing methods and research methods
• guidance to students in researching and producing information in textual and multimedia formats, and adapting to emerging technologies
• teaching of information literacy to students and in-service to teachers