Librarian-Counselor Collaborations: Building a Culture of Information Literacy and Holistic Student Support

Type of Presentation

Individual paper/presentation

Conference Strand

Outreach and Partnership

Target Audience

K-12

Second Target Audience

Higher Education

Location

Ballroom A

Relevance

This proposal looks at information literacy not as an academic skill–it is a lifeline. Students are not just looking for information to finish a project, they are searching for answers to deal with the challenges outside of the classroom of stress, relationships, and the everyday challenges that are impacting their own well-being. Critical information literacy informs teaching information literacy as a liberatory practice that encourages individuals to employ information skills beyond academic and professional contexts for personal empowerment. School counselors and school librarians are uniquely positioned to help students discover reliable and practical tools strengthening their coping skills and building their personal toolboxes of self-care. The collaboration between school librarians and school counselors is essential for students to develop critical thinking skills to make informed, healthy choices for their emotional and mental well-being. Information literacy becomes more powerful than just teaching research skills as a school requirement, it becomes a pathway for building empathy and resilience that supports the holistic development of students.

Proposal

In these tumultuous times, schools face increasing challenges in supporting students’ social and emotional wellness alongside academic growth. School librarians and school counselors play a vital role in addressing these needs. School librarians are experts in fostering research skill and multiple literacy development. School counselors focus on the students’ academic success which guides their career exploration and promotes social and emotional well being. Despite both roles frequently collaborating with teachers, school librarians and school counselors rarely partner directly, missing a valuable opportunity to support students holistically. This session co-presented by a school librarian and school counselor, will present plans to research effective school-level collaboration strategies that promote information literacy and student wellness. As we initiate research to hone practices, we will recommend ways to start developing counselor-librarian collaborations. We will highlight ways librarians can work with counselors to improve the library collection and help to get the right books to students who need them. We have recommendations for supporting SEL professional development for teachers and administrators. In addition, we will suggest opportunities for sharing resources with their office and starting an information campaign on a wellness topic relevant to a particular school’s needs. Finally, since counselors and librarians are always busy, we offer a roadmap for building a foundation for collaboration. Ultimately, we believe when school librarians and school counselors join forces, a stronger safety net for students that promotes literacy and well-being together. Attendees will have actionable strategies to begin building this vital partnership within their schools, thus enhancing support for students’ academic and emotional success.

Short Description

Discover how school librarians and counselors can join forces to support students’ academic growth and social-emotional wellness. This session offers practical strategies for collaboration, including enhancing library collections, promoting SEL professional development, and sharing resources. Learn how partnering across these roles creates a stronger safety net for students—fostering both information literacy and well-being in today’s challenging school environments

Keywords

information literacy development, collaboration, school counseling, school librarian, social and emotional wellness

Publication Type and Release Option

Presentation (Open Access)

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Feb 6th, 1:00 PM Feb 6th, 1:45 PM

Librarian-Counselor Collaborations: Building a Culture of Information Literacy and Holistic Student Support

Ballroom A

In these tumultuous times, schools face increasing challenges in supporting students’ social and emotional wellness alongside academic growth. School librarians and school counselors play a vital role in addressing these needs. School librarians are experts in fostering research skill and multiple literacy development. School counselors focus on the students’ academic success which guides their career exploration and promotes social and emotional well being. Despite both roles frequently collaborating with teachers, school librarians and school counselors rarely partner directly, missing a valuable opportunity to support students holistically. This session co-presented by a school librarian and school counselor, will present plans to research effective school-level collaboration strategies that promote information literacy and student wellness. As we initiate research to hone practices, we will recommend ways to start developing counselor-librarian collaborations. We will highlight ways librarians can work with counselors to improve the library collection and help to get the right books to students who need them. We have recommendations for supporting SEL professional development for teachers and administrators. In addition, we will suggest opportunities for sharing resources with their office and starting an information campaign on a wellness topic relevant to a particular school’s needs. Finally, since counselors and librarians are always busy, we offer a roadmap for building a foundation for collaboration. Ultimately, we believe when school librarians and school counselors join forces, a stronger safety net for students that promotes literacy and well-being together. Attendees will have actionable strategies to begin building this vital partnership within their schools, thus enhancing support for students’ academic and emotional success.