Accessit Library, part of the Follett Software family of school solutions, has been growing in the international school space during 2024, and key to this is their focus on support for librarians. With over thirty experienced librarians based around the world, they have the passion, connections, and experience to provide ongoing professional development for librarians.
This article highlights the key learnings from the latest webinar, part of a free series provided by Accessit, hosted by renowned library consultant Sarah Pavey. Supported by Accessit, Sarah will be joining ISC Research in March for an exclusive webinar looking at AI in the library. Join the ISC Community here for more details.
Read more from Sarah and a range of library leaders at accessitlibrary.com and watch the webinar recording here.
As international school librarians, we navigate a unique landscape of challenges and opportunities. In the recent webinar presented by Accessit Library, “Multilingual Challenges and Cultural Sensitivity in International School Libraries,” I offered invaluable insights into addressing these complex issues. If you missed it, I’ll explain how we can implement the best practices suggested in the talk and use our library management systems (LMS) to maximum effect.
The webinar tackled three critical areas: multilingual environments, cultural sensitivity challenges, and managing transient student populations. Each of these issues present distinct hurdles, but with the right strategies – and clever use of our LMS – we can transform them into opportunities for growth and innovation.
Source: Accessit Library
Multilingual environments: Supporting language diversity
Our libraries serve students speaking a multitude of languages, and research shows that strong home language skills positively impact students’ overall academic performance. The webinar emphasised the importance of supporting both mother tongue development and proficiency in the school’s language of instruction. Practical strategies included using multilingual databases and e-book platforms, collaborating with local libraries and cultural institutions, and developing home language programmes with community involvement.
So how could we use our LMS within this context? We could consider:
- Tagging resources by language, making it easy for students to find materials in their mother tongue.
- Generating reports on language diversity in your collection and identifying areas for expansion using data–driven analysis of the findings.
- Creating multilingual interfaces to ensure that all students can navigate digital resources comfortably.
By highlighting the inclusivity of multilingualism and celebrating home languages, we can ensure that our libraries are a welcoming environment for all students.
Balancing intellectual freedom and cultural sensitivity
In the webinar, we also looked at crucial guidance on navigating the delicate balance between intellectual freedom and cultural sensitivity – a challenge unique to our international settings. For starters, having a clear collection development policy is key to success. We can initiate diverse library committees to underpin inclusivity in this respect. During the talk, we also examined the importance of staying informed about local laws and cultural norms, particularly those condoned by an education authority.
Again, we could use our LMS to support these strategies by:
- Maintaining detailed records of collection decisions and any challenges.
- Allowing for the flexible categorisation of materials to reflect cultural sensitivities.
- Providing data on usage patterns to inform collection development decisions.
In international schools, we often find that the curricula we follow can be at odds with acceptable content within the school’s host country. This, in some cases, can have heavy financial implications if infringements are found during an inspection. Through international librarian groups such as The Librarian’s Peace, schools and librarians can reach out to others experiencing similar dilemmas to find solutions.
Source: Accessit Library
Managing transient student populations
In international schools, there is inevitably a high student turnover as parents move between jobs in global markets, and this can disrupt our library services. To ensure continuity, I suggest using a streamlined library induction session that could be used whenever a student joins the school. Another strategy would be to create a ‘Library Buddy’ initiative where established students show newcomers the ropes. School leavers pose yet another challenge, so having flexible loan periods and establishing a good relationship with the school administrators is crucial.
However, this is where your LMS really shines and can be your ally. We can use it to:
- Quickly generate library cards and user accounts for new students.
- Set up automated welcome emails with library information.
- Create custom loan rules for departing students.
- Track buddy system partnerships and induction completion.
“By highlighting the inclusivity of multilingualism and celebrating home languages, we can ensure that our libraries are a welcoming environment for all students.”
Opportunities for professional development
Professional development was another key theme of the webinar. We can be so isolated as school librarians, and there is much value to be found in engaging and sharing best practices with global school librarians’ organisations – the IASL and IFLA, for example. We might also choose to present at or attend conferences aimed at our profession and run by educational organisation such as ECIS. Perhaps we can also use our LMS to track professional development activities and set reminders for upcoming networking opportunities.
Continuous learning and adaptation are essential in our field, and such practices keep us informed about global educational trends and student demographics shifts. Our LMS can help by providing data on changing student demographics and resource usage patterns, informing strategical approaches.
I strongly encourage you to watch the webinar if you haven’t already. The strategies and insights provided, combined with creative use of your LMS, can significantly enhance your library’s ability to serve your diverse, dynamic international school community.
Remember, our work has a lasting impact not just on our current students, but on the global community they will help shape. Let’s continue to learn, adapt, and innovate in service of this vital mission. Let’s encourage global citizenship and promote cross-cultural understanding together.
This in an advertorial from Accessit Library.
By Sarah Pavey
Sarah Pavey is an accomplished library professional with over 30 years of experience. As an independent consultant and trainer, she has dedicated her career to empowering school librarians worldwide, running online courses and participating in multinational projects.
