b"50 2019-2020 | ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 | ANNUAL REPORT 51DIGITAL LIBRARY VISITOR NUMBERS JUMP OFF THE PAGESince 2012, the Louis Riel SchoolWith hundreds of new users and thousands of digitalMy three kids love to read and when public libraries closed,resources in circulation, the LRSD digital libraryI wasn't sure how to fill their desire for new books. Luckily, Division (LRSD) Digital Library hasresponded to an emergent need to expand and diversifythe LRSD Digital Library had tons of titles that kept their a contemporary virtual library collection.love of reading going, said Rachel Boone, MY THREE KIDS LOVE TO attracted a loyal following acrossa parent in LRSD.the division, but when schools, Powered by Overdrives kindergarten to Grade 12 digitalTo assist students, parents and staff who are new usersREAD AND WHEN PUBLIC reading platform, the online curation of the digital library collection is a collaborative and participatory effort.of the LRSD Digital Library and its SORA app, school public libraries and bookstoresLRSD school library staff are dedicated to customizinglibrary staff provided personalized instruction andLIBRARIES CLOSED, I WASN'T a contemporary collection of learning resources andtroubleshooting services for digital devices such as closed in March 2020 due to therecreational titles that meet the individual needs andlaptops, tablets, and smart phones. Both teacher-librarians interests of our 40 school communities, as well as theand library assistants created and shared SURE HOW TO FILL THEIR global pandemic, online traffic ondivisions professional learning library. With the increasedmade-in-LRSD documents on how to access the demand for digital resources this spring, a team ofdigital library such as step-by-step written instructions,DESIRE FOR NEW BOOKS. the site skyrocketed to an average annotated screen shots, how-to videos, and posts on teacher-librarians and library assistants was recruited to of 10,000 active user visits per week, research and organize the requests of students, parentssocial media. Feedback from LRSD families has beenLUCKILY, THE LRSD DIGITAL and divisional staff into virtual book carts. Real-timeoverwhelmingly positive, as students continue to have which was a 525 per cent increaserequests from people were reviewed, and those titlesthe opportunity to access quality learning resources in aLIBRARY HAD TONS OF were uploaded and ready to borrow within a couple ofvariety of digital formats.from the year prior.hours. The online library offers LRSD patrons eBook, read-along, audio and video formats that support diverseJust thought Id tell you that my daughter freaked out thisTITLES THAT KEPT THEIR learning styles in both English and French. morning because she said a whole bunch of new graphic novels appeared in the online library. Shes so pumped! LOVE OF READING GOING.In the absence of access to physical resources, LRSDssaid one parent who emailed their enthusiasm about the digital library has become an invaluable resource innew book additions to LRSD library staff.supporting the remote learning effort across the division- Rachel Booneby providing additional copies of books for onlineA library learning commons balances access to both literature circles; providing alternative audio formatsphysical and virtual resources, encouraging all learners to meet individual needs for students; ensuring theto develop confidence in navigating from one to the availability of new releases for recreational reading;other with ease and purpose. The LRSD Digital Library sourcing non-fiction titles for student researchhas thrived in recent months because it has continued to and inquiry-based learning; and offering access toevolve and remain relevant to the needs of students and professional educational resources to support teachers,staff transitioning to new learning environments. administrators and school trustees."