The Instructional Resource Centre provides curriculum appropriate materials to the First Nations schools in Manitoba. As a lending library, all materials are available to teachers, principals, and staff within the First Nations educational system.

 

 A dynamic school library program includes the integration of information literacy skills with those skills being taught in the classroom. The library program is in fact an extension of the classroom and when teacher-librarians and classroom teachers work together our First Nation students will benefit.

A dynamic school library program must be supported by the technical component of a library program. This technical component includes cataloguing, processing, circulation and shelving.

The Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre through the Instructional Resource Centre/Library in Winnipeg and Thompson is pleased to offer training in basic cataloguing, processing, circulation and shelving. At this time we are unable to offer this training at the Dauphin IRC/Library due to the library assistant position at that office just recently being filled.

Virtually all public, university, college and provincial school library systems are automated, and our First Nation students will encounter these systems. Also, if you were thinking about automating your school library, this would be the perfect opportunity for someone from your school to do some basic library training.

Our IRC/Library have staff who are trained in these procedures and our IRC has all the resources one needs to learn the basics: binding tape, stamps, barcodes, barcode scanners, library software, book jacket covers, computers, printers, and Internet access.

There is no charge for this “hands-on” training, but participants are requested to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements. Training would include 1 or 2 day sessions at the Thompson office or the Winnipeg office. Up to two trainees from your school or community may sign up at a time. Sorry, this training is not accredited.

 

  

SCOPE OF MATERIAL
To date we have over 4900 records on our database. The subject scope includes subject areas such as; Math, Science, English Language Arts, First Nation Languages, and Special Education. The I.R.C, has several items in various formats of kits, a wide array of reading materials, CD-Rom’s, videos and audiocassettes. We also have Reading Recovery Kits, Reading Intervention Kits, Phonics Kits, and Novel Study Kits. Aside from the regular library materials we have recommended textual materials from the Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth.

 

 

LENDING PROCEDURES
To borrow materials, please call library staff in your area. The materials can be mailed, sent by bus, or with a visiting specialist. MFNERC will cover the cost of shipping the materials to your school, but it is your responsibility to send back the material. Below is a table that outlines the length of materials that may be checked out. There is a limit of 10 items per/patron.