Curating a digital collection for all learners provides students with the opportunity to Think, Grow, Create, and Share. One of the Common Beliefs at the forefront of the AASL Standards is, “Information technologies must be appropriately integrated and equitably available.” This belief serves as the foundation of the articles in this issue of Knowledge Quest. Contributing authors in this issue of Knowledge Quest demonstrate how school librarians can incorporate a growth mindset in developing their digital collection:

• Laura Hicks and the team at the Maryland State Department of Education explore the lessons their team learned when Maryland implemented its repository of openly licensed educational resources.
• Amy Ivory and Lisha Viens, librarians at a high school in northern Virginia, outline database options for school librarians’ digital collections and detail best practices in teaching students to navigate databases.
• Kate Lewallen explores how to incorporate breakout boxes into a school library collection.
• Heather Moorefield-Lang, assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, showcases online tools school librarians can use to develop and market their collections.
• Nikki Robertson shares different strategies for adding a makerspace in your school library and details tips to help get you started.
• Finally, I invite readers to examine their collections for assistive and accessible technology in order to support learners.

A school library is constantly evolving. Jaime Escalante once said, “Ask ‘How will they learn best?’ not ‘Can they learn?’” Purposeful curation enables learners’ personal and academic growth. When you read your Nov/Dec issue, I invite you to note one immediate action you can take to reach more learners as you curate your school’s digital collection.

About the Guest Editor

Schenell Agee has worked in the the field of librarianship for more than sixteen years. She currently serves as the supervisor of library media programs and research with Prince William County Public Schools in Virginia. Schenell earned a Master’s of Library of Information Science degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Master’s of Education in Education Leadership from George Mason University. She is a member of AASL and currently serve as the author co-chair for the AASL National Conference Committee.

Read her Guest Editor Column, “Curate a Digital Collection for All Learners.”

Knowledge Quest, Volume 48, No. 2 – Curating a Digital Collection

Features

Expanding School Library Collections: The Makerspace Edition
Nikki D. Robertson

Databases, Collection Development, and Student Learning
Amy Ivory and Lisha Viens

Equal Access + Equal Opportunity = Success for All Learners
Schenell Agee

Digital Communication for Curation with Your Collection
Heather Moorefield-Lang

Maryland’s Journey with OER
Val Emrich, Erin Senior, Gregg Ford, Laura Hicks, and Brandon Riesett

Curating Breakout Boxes
Kate Lewallen

Article

STEAM + Research = STREAM Centers
Laureen Andria

Online Exclusives

A School Library Diversity Model and Assessment Guide
David E. Robinson, EdD

From Me to We: Seeing Is Believing
Anthony Chow, PhD, Jessica Robinson, Lori Paulus, Bitsy Griffin, Nina Zinicola Smith, and Amy Watterman

Columns

AASL Honors 2019 Award and Grant Recipients

CBC Column
Making Mirrors
David Bowles

Departments

President’s Column
What’s New in Collection Development?
Mary Keeling

Guest Editor Column
Curate a Digital Collection for All Learners
Schenell Agee

Author: Schenell Agee

Categories: KQ Content

Tags: assistive technology, breakout boxes, databases, digital collection, digital communication, digital tools, makerspace, OER