From Information Reserve to Media Literacy Learning Commons: Revisiting the 21st Century Library as the Home for Media Literacy Education

Abstract

Media literacy, while growing considerably during the past three decades, remains on the margins of educational establishments in the United States. Its interdisciplinary nature and broad definition have caused some confusion as to how best it can be utilized in school systems. At the same time, the school library has had to reinvent itself rapidly for a digital media age. Reconceived as a “learning commons,” the school library of the twenty-first century is no longer seen as simply a repository for information, but as a center for knowledge. This article will outline a framework for the media literacy learning commons designed to help students navigate information in a digital age. The school library, repositioned in this way, can excel as a place where students are free to express, explore, and empower themselves to become more active and engaged participants in their daily lives.