Welcome to Elizabeth Barrett's Learning Commons
What is a Learning Commons?
The goal of the learning commons is to enable all students to be engaged thinkers and ethical citizens with an entrepreneurial spirit. The concept of a learning commons is a shift in thinking from a library as a physical space that is a repository of books, to an inclusive, flexible, learner-centred, physical and/or virtual space for collaboration, inquiry, imagination and play to expand and deepen learning. A learning commons is an agile and responsive learning and teaching environment available to individuals and groups to use for multiple, often simultaneous, purposes. It supports literacy, numeracy, competency development, and student learning outcomes through access to an instruction in the effective use of print and digital resources.
Circulation Policy
- Library materials are available for staff, students and parents to sign out
- Kindergarten to Grade Four may sign out 2 books (French Immersion students need to sign out an equal number of French Book).
- Overdue Fines: In case a student's library books are long overdue please bring a non-perishable food donation along with the books and fines will be pardoned.
- Lost Book Charges: In case a student lost a library book, we would like it to be replaced with a book from the student's personal book collection that is appropriate for our school patronage.
Book Fairs
Book Fairs are one way of bringing the book store right to the school. A book fair promotes love for literacy, the joy of reading, and many more memories of browsing books that spark curiosity and enthusiasm to read and gain knowledge. It is an exclusive opportunity for children to talk to their peers, teachers, and learning commons facilitator about their reading interest. I enjoy the one on one interaction with every child that would like to talk about their favorite book. These interactions give me a clear direction in developing our school library collection which defines the school population's literacy needs. Every Year we bring two top children's publishers, Scholastic and Usborne book fairs right to our school Learning commons during our Student-led conferences in the evenings. These book fairs sales directly benefit in replenishing our library and classroom collections. The door prizes and classroom wish list grants make our book fair an invaluable experience to the whole school community.