David+Loertscher

David Loertscher

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David V. Loertscher is a professor of Library and Information Science at San Jose University. A former president of the AASL, Loertscher worked with Libraries Unlimited for a decade, and currently serves as President of Hi Willow Research and Publishing. Loertscher earned degrees from the University of Utah, University of Washington, and earned his PhD from Indiana University. He has worked as a library media specialist in the elementary and secondary school levels. ======

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Loertscher’s research includes work on the “Virtual Learning Commons,” an effort by Loertscher to meet the needs of 21st century learners who feel the library is outdated, and often turn to google for their research needs. Last year on his blog, Loertscher wrote: “ The Virtual Learning Commons replaces the library web page which has always been a one-way form of communication between librarians and their patrons. The Virtual Learning Commons aims to create a giant school-wide conversation where students, classroom teachers, teacher librarians, teacher technologists, administrators, other school specialists, and parents are creating and constructing a giant information space, work space, and museum” (2009). In addition, Loertscher’s website features Knowville: A Quest for Children and Teens of the World in which the creator invites visitors to “Read a Billion Books, Write a Billion Books, Do a Billion Projects,” and then share the experience on the website. ======

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Loertscher has written a number of books on the importance of the library media specialist, including // Ban those bird units: 15 models for teaching and learning in information-rich and technology-rich environments //, which seeks to encourage teachers and library media specialists to collaborate to create high-level, meaningful projects for their students, and is based on Loertscher’s research in which he asked school personnel to create such projects and share their results. ======

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My reaction: Loertscher has been working in this field for a long time, and is an amazing advocate for the library media program in the public school system. Though I was impressedwith his publications, what really intrigued me was the Knowville initiative on his website, was wonderful space for teachers and librarians to share their strategies and successes for keeping students reading and writing. The contributions to the site were dated, but I think it is a great idea, and the postings are a valuable resource for teachers and librarians to find great ideas for lesson plans. I was intrigued by Loertscher’s work on the Virtual Commons idea, and interested in his view that school libraries should go to the client, and not make the client come to them when it isn’t always accessible. I’m curious to know how the work he is doing with his graduate students to create a Virtual Commons will be received by students and library media specialists. [Bethley] ======