School library staff, key agents of change through Service-Learning

Abstract

School libraries are undergoing a transformation in their role as learning centers. Today, this shift is driven by various proposals, such as their conversion into Teaching and Learning Resource Centers; however, there is still a long way to go. Despite the fact that the school library coordinator should be a key figure within the educational framework, their role remains unclear in the current Spanish education system. This situation could be reversed if active and collaborative methodologies—such as Service-Learning—were implemented through the school library, becoming a powerful tool for fostering critical thinking through Service-Learning projects based on critical reading and school libraries. This study presents the current situation of this role in secondary schools in the province of Soria (Spain) during the 2024–2025 academic year and aims to highlight the potential for connecting this methodology with the use of the school library, thereby enhancing its educational value and making it a more useful space for the entire educational community.