Towards Consensus on the School Library Learning Environment: A Systematic Search and Review

Abstract

The school library as a learning environment has been described by some as a dynamic domain where dedicated professionals and students engage collaboratively in an active and evolving educational climate. Although the field of classroom learning environment research can be charted internationally over the past several decades, journal article literature fails to consistently and coherently identify specific aspects of the school library learning environment and methods to evaluate outcomes. A systematic search and review of the literature using the learning environment as the primary search term revealed a set of 10 elements associated with this concept but few evaluation methods. Clearly defining school library learning environments could aid in the development and evaluation of school libraries as places where librarians and teachers transform and influence student lives and learning.