Despite their prior experiences with technology, students do not arrive at Andover with these skills. Worse, they arrive not knowing what they don’t know. They are not scheduled for classes devoted to the acquisition of the skills—rather, we partner with faculty members in many academic departments to teach students how to identify a rich array of resources beyond the Internet, and how to effectively and ethically use those resources. If we are not yet working with your classes, we’d like to invite you to explore with us how we might reinforce your curricular objectives while supporting our students in building an information skills toolkit.

We can work with you whether or not your kids are engaged in a formal research project. Information is almost always needed to support critical thinking in life and in scholarship. We have some self-contained sessions in which we can teach your kids a useful skill (like how to become a Google power-searcher) or give them supported time to explore an excellent resource (like our new collection of 48,000 electronic books.) While we prefer that you attend the class with your students, we can often accommodate a class on short notice in your absence. We can provide a value-added alternative to a “free-cut.” So think of the OWHL when you are putting together a list of topics to engage your students after the AP test. Think of us when you need a back-up plan. And especially, think of us when your curriculum requires the students to engage in critical thinking about unfamiliar material. We are teachers, and we’d love to be your partners.

The goals of the Masifunde Sonke book project are to:

• Increase literacy and a joy of reading among students in rural and township public schools in South Africa
• Foster an appreciation of South African children’s books in the United States
• Facilitate contact and exchanges between South African and U.S. schools, educators, and learners
• Stimulate economic development in South Africa through purchasing books directly from South African publishers

Stop by the OWHL to see our display of the books.  Check one out to read with your own children.  And when you are choosing holiday gifts, consider a purchase of one or more of these books. 

Among the friends that I made on that trip, none impressed me more than Nooruddin Merchant, my  contact in Karachi for the Agha Kahn Educational Program.

I have returned home and the work of the Academy has carried me forward.  Nooruddin remained in Karachi, his home, though he has since left the AKEP.  As the situation in Pakistan has deteriorated, I have often thought of my friends, and have maintained email contact with Nooruddin.  Recently, he sent me a 23 page proposal for my “input.”  He is helping to design a “Learning Commons” for a new University of Science, Technology and Society, and, because his training is not in library science, he wants to know what I think about his ideas.

I have finished making my notes on his document, we will soon discuss it in “real time” using Skype.  You have got to love this technology!  Thank you Skype, for making it possible for me to continue an important collaboration even though it is not currently safe for me to travel to Pakistan.

I spent hours talking with them, and gave them an extensive tour of the OWHL facility.  In addition, we went to the Pike School (an independent K-9 school in Andover) where we spoke with with Ms. Fran Mellin and Ms. Linda Griset, the Pike librarians.  As we talked, Craig and Malik marked up their blueprints to reflect new understanding of the demands that excellent instruction programs place on facilities.  Later, back at the OWHL,  Sara Ciaburri,  a member of our instructional team continued the conversation, resulting in additional notes on the blueprints.   Perhaps the highlight of the day was the opportunity that the visitors had to ask questions of a panel of Andover students that I had hastily assembled. Both visitors expressed appreciation for the opportunity to reflect on their plans with library professionals, and enthusiasm for continued collaboration.

The Aga Khan Academies are affiliated with Andover through the International Academic Partnership, (IAP.) His Highness the Aga Khan has been the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims for fifty years. The Academies project, which will include 18 residential campuses throughout the developing world when it is completed, reflects the belief of His Highness that education is the key to social change. In his recent remarks as the Peterson Lecturer on “Global Education in the Developing World,” he stated,

“Our Academies Program is rooted in the conviction that effective indigenous leadership will be the key to progress in the developing world….The Academies have a dual mission—to provide an outstanding education to exceptional students from diverse backgrounds, and to provide world-class training for a growing corps of inspiring teachers.” Read the full text of the remarks here.