Library Support Services: Resources That Power Learning

Picture a typical day in school: Early Years students working on their reading skills, Middle Years students experimenting with robotic kits, and Senior Years learners practicing for their next band performance using Canadian music compositions.

Behind these moments, Library Support Services (LSS) serves as a central resource hub for the division, supporting teachers, students, and administrators with all sorts of materials and tools that enhance learning.

At the core of LSS’s work are our school libraries, which remain essential to the learning experience. That’s why the department also trains library technicians who support schools across the division.

The role of libraries and library technicians

Libraries do more than support assignments and lessons; they connect students and teachers with new ways of exploring knowledge and identity. Library technicians can tailor a collection to reflect their schools’ communities, languages, cultures, and interests, helping students see themselves in what they read.Library technicians in training use specialized equipment and resources to learn how to manage, curated, and catalogue resources.

Trainings for library technicians, often offered in collaboration with Red River Polytechnic and R.B. Russell Vocational High School, support those who have never worked in a library before, such as former EAs or clerks. “Our goal is to make sure that we can provide all these skilled people and equipment,” explains Lorna McLarty, Acting Service Director at Library Support Services.

Lorna McLarty, Acting Service Director at Library Support Services.

The impact of these efforts is most visible in schools where revitalized libraries have transformed student access. McLarty recalls schools where collections once sat unused. “They didn’t have a library; it was books in a closet, and nobody had taken out books in years,” she says. With trained staff and refreshed collections, those same spaces are now active, welcoming hubs of learning.Harrow School Library.Wellington Library. Library spaces are carefully designed to spark curiosity, featuring diverse collections and flexible learning spaces for students. Resources To Boost Learning

Library support extends well beyond books. Educators can access audiovisual equipment, themed learning kits, music collections, cataloguing expertise, and archives. The music library, in particular, is extensive, featuring compositions by Manitoba composers and bringing local creativity into students’ learning experiences.

Music resources are used by teachers across the division to support student performances and lessons.

Today, the divisional library’s collection includes over 288,000 books and 13,000 additional resources, along with more than 11,000 eBooks and audiobooks through Sora, all available to educators and their classrooms.

Adapting to new realities

Library support has also evolved alongside technology. Digital reading access through Sora allows entire classes to read the same title without waiting for print copies, and in multiple languages. “Technology is huge in the world,” McLarty says. “If you want to do a book study with your whole class and can’t find enough hard copies, we can get them on Sora, and the kiddos can read on their devices.”

Schools can also borrow hands-on science and robotics kits, giving students interactive ways to explore STEM concepts and bring learning to life. 

Hands-on robotics kits are available to all schools, giving students interactive ways to explore STEM concepts and problem-solving skills specific to their ages.All library resources are carefully curated, revised, and regularly updated to meet the evolving needs of students and educators. The divisional library also features special collections for teachers, curated from award-winning books at the provincial, national, and international levels, ensuring classrooms have high-quality materials that inspire learning every day.
The divisional library features award-winning books that inspire reading and learning across grade levels.

The message for educators

As I Love to Read Month approaches, Library Support Services invites families, students, and staff to recognize the vital role libraries play in learning and belonging. “We’re here,” McLarty says. “We’re here to serve you.” Print books, digital titles, and hands-on resources all invite students and educators alike to open a book, explore, and let learning come to life.

Library Support Services is a central hub of books, digital resources, and learning materials supporting students and educators across the division.