Prof. Daniela Benincasa, Headmaster of Vivona Grammar School in Rome, explains what strategies a School Principal/Headmaster can put in place for the construction / enhancement of the School Library both for the school community, teaching and learning activities etc., and the territory, the local community Abstract The experience of the “F. Vivona” from the creation / motivation of the work team - with the training and enhancement of the various professional skills - to identifying the Library as the fulcrum of the School Improvement Plan (PDM) and the shared definition of the vertical curriculum on the Net; from involvement in the network of local authorities and institutions - Bibliopoint - to the functional redefinition of spaces and the optimization of resources with a view to teaching, promoting reading and the territory.

1. INTERNATIONAL SEMINAL MEETING ON “THE EVOLVING CONCEPT OF ‘SCHOOL LIBRARY’ AND ITS PROFESSION” – ROME 02/04/2020
Department of Education
School Library,Teaching and Reading: Exploitation Strategies.y, g g p g
The Experience of “FrancescoVivona” Grammar School of Rome
Daniela Benincasa – School Headmaster,“Francesco Vivona” Grammar School, Rome
In collaboration with
#RomaTredoesnotstop

2. INTERNATIONAL SEMINAL MEETING ON “THE EVOLVING CONCEPT OF ‘SCHOOL LIBRARY’ AND ITS PROFESSION” – ROME 02/04/2020
O2
D. Benincasa - L.Cl. Vivona
BIO
Daniela Benincasa
G d d i Phil h d i li d i Lib i hi
2
Graduated in Philosophy and specialized in Librarianship at
SSAB - Sapienza in Rome, she taught since 1983 to 2006.
Since 2007 she has been a school headmaster.
Nowadays, she directs “Vivona” High School in Rome.y , g
She holds Master's degrees from the University ofTuscia,
EducationalTechnologies Laboratory - University of
Fl rence and Milan P l technicFlorence and Milan Polytechnic.
Member of the Miur - Mibact Commissions for School
Libraries and “Libraries 21”.
She has always dealt with the organization and
enhancement of school libraries by establishing and
coordinating various networks and projects.
02/04/2020

3. ABSTRACT
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAL MEETING ON “THE EVOLVING CONCEPT OF ‘SCHOOL LIBRARY’ AND ITS PROFESSION” – ROME 02/04/2020
02/04/2020D. Benincasa - L.Cl. Vivona
3 ABSTRACT3
What are the strategies that a School Manager can put in place for the construction /
enhancement of the School Library for teaching and the territory?
The experience of the “F. Vivona” from the creation / motivation of the work team - with
the training and enhancement of the various professional skills - to identifying the Library
as the fulcrum of the School Improvement Plan (PDM) and the shared definition of theas the fulcrum of the School Improvement Plan (PDM) and the shared definition of the
vertical curriculum on the Net; from involvement in the network of local authorities and
institutions - Bibliopoint - to the functional redefinition of spaces and the optimization of
ith i t t hi ti di d th t itresources with a view to teaching, promoting reading and the territory.

4. OUTLINE
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAL MEETING ON “THE EVOLVING CONCEPT OF ‘SCHOOL LIBRARY’ AND ITS PROFESSION” – ROME 02/04/2020
02/04/2020D. Benincasa - L.Cl. Vivona
4 OUTLINE4
1. Introduction
2. The work team: identification of professional resources, training and organizational lines
3. The construction of the Library as a complex reality: PDM
4. The construction of the library as a complex reality: institutional collaboration networks and
territory
5 O i i i f d f i li f5. Optimization of resources and functionality of spaces
6. The Library in teaching and planning: from the promotion of reading to the Paths for Cross
Orientation Skills
7 Final remarks7. Final remarks
8. Contacts

5. INTRODUCTION
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAL MEETING ON “THE EVOLVING CONCEPT OF ‘SCHOOL LIBRARY’ AND ITS PROFESSION” – ROME 02/04/2020
02/04/2020D. Benincasa - L.Cl. Vivona
5 INTRODUCTION5
The “F. Vivona” Grammar School boasts a consolidated tradition not only in the teaching of classical
languages but also in scientific disciplines. Many “alumni” have emerged over time in all professions
reaching positions of importance and responsibility in the legal, medical-health, scientific fields; one for
all the mathematician Alessio Figalli Prize Field 2018. Today the school, while maintaining its ownall the mathematician Alessio Figalli Prize Field 2018. Today the school, while maintaining its own
rigorous academic profile, has opened up to numerous innovative projects such as mathematical /
scientific enhancement, the development of language skills (CAIE Language Project and CAIE sections
with teaching of Latin, Geography, Biology and Chemistry), internationalization which over time has
h i f h i h E d E iseen the creation of exchanges with European and non-European partner countries.
Upon my arrival at the “F. Vivona” Grammar School in 2013 I found a splendid library, full of
prestigious books, unfortunately little used, relegated to spaces that did not help its use for both
teaching and reading promotion activities for both internal users and for the territory. From this pointg g p y p
on we are using targeted strategies for the library enhancement.
Today the Library is Bibliopoint and it is at the center of some cultural and educational activities.
The recently established reading corners, allowing to go beyond the usual spatial/functional limits,
represent the arrival point of this process and the beginning for further innovative pathsrepresent the arrival point of this process and the beginning for further innovative paths.

6. THEWORKTEAM IDENTIFICATION OF PROFESSIONAL
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAL MEETING ON “THE EVOLVING CONCEPT OF ‘SCHOOL LIBRARY’ AND ITS PROFESSION” – ROME 02/04/2020
02/04/2020D. Benincasa - L.Cl. Vivona
6 THEWORKTEAM: IDENTIFICATION OF PROFESSIONAL
RESOURCES,TRAINING AND ORGANIZATIONAL LINES
6
a) Establishment of a working group of teachers representing all disciplines (first to second
and third to fifth years) and the two librarians teachers
b) Reconnaissance of the existing (catalogues, types and arrangement of collections)
c) Convention for targeted training activities with University of Roma Tre - Librarianship,
t l i d l ifi ti th d t h icataloguing and classification theory and techniques
d) Investments in the renovation of collections, purchase of bibliographic and furnishing
materials, instrumental equipment with optimization of the existing spacesmaterials, instrumental equipment with optimization of the existing spaces
e) Organization and regulation of activities

7. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LIBRARY AS A COMPLEX
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAL MEETING ON “THE EVOLVING CONCEPT OF ‘SCHOOL LIBRARY’ AND ITS PROFESSION” – ROME 02/04/2020
02/04/2020D. Benincasa - L.Cl. Vivona
7 REALITY: THE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND
THE LIBER@BIBLIOTECA PROJECT
7
Start point of institutional network relationships withVivona in a leading role and BiblioRoma
Network, for the realization of the biennial Liber@Biblioteca Improvement Plan (2014/15 and
2015/16 academic years) which included:
• planning of didactic activities for the definition of a vertical continuity curriculum between
terminal classes of the 1st grade secondary school and 1st and 2nd year classes of the 2nd
grade secondary school;g y ;
• cooperative realization of didactic units to be experimented with students from different
classes aiming to better their text comprehension and logical/mathematical skills;
• training for teachers through professional updating workshop activities by experts in didactic
planning, pedagogy and evaluation, expressive reading, use of e-learning platforms, library
science.

8. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LIBRARY AS A COMPLEX
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAL MEETING ON “THE EVOLVING CONCEPT OF ‘SCHOOL LIBRARY’ AND ITS PROFESSION” – ROME 02/04/2020
02/04/2020D. Benincasa - L.Cl. Vivona
8
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LIBRARY AS A COMPLEX
REALITY: INSTITUTIONAL COLLABORATION NETWORKS
ANDTERRITORY
8
Meanwhile, contacts with various entities were activated:
• MIUR - Mibact - Interministerial Commission and Libraries 21
• Roma Tre University - Department of Education - Library Science
and signed different Memoranda of Understanding with:
• Libraries in Rome for the establishment of the Bibiopoint “Vivona”
• Network of Lazio Libraries (formerly Bibliorete Ostia)
• Appia Antica Regional Park and IPSEOA Tor Carbone - Ancient Modernity Protocol for
ASL routes

9. OPTIMIZATION OF RESOURCES AND FUNCTIONALITY
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAL MEETING ON “THE EVOLVING CONCEPT OF ‘SCHOOL LIBRARY’ AND ITS PROFESSION” – ROME 02/04/2020
02/04/2020D. Benincasa - L.Cl. Vivona
9 OPTIMIZATION OF RESOURCES AND FUNCTIONALITY
OF SPACES
9
Over the years, the Institute Council of the “F. Vivona” Grammar School supported the
investments necessary to the transformation of the former Library into a multifunctional
space for cultural animation and reading promotion, meanwhile the school was equipped
with IT equipment (strengthening of scientific and linguistic laboratories, LIM in every
classroom) and increasingly powerful and effective connectivity capable to support the
various activities.
The books collection is housed from the ground to the second floor. The designed reading
corners underline and connote the common spaces at the entrance and on the different
floors waiting to complete the Aula Magna’s restoration a space that will be improvedfloors, waiting to complete the Aula Magnas restoration, a space that will be improved
and equipped with modular furniture, soundproofed reading areas and common work
areas.

10. THE LIBRARY IN TEACHING AND PLANNING: FROMTHE
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAL MEETING ON “THE EVOLVING CONCEPT OF ‘SCHOOL LIBRARY’ AND ITS PROFESSION” – ROME 02/04/2020
02/04/2020D. Benincasa - L.Cl. Vivona
10
THE LIBRARY IN TEACHING AND PLANNING: FROMTHE
PROMOTION OF READINGTO THE PATHS FOR CROSS
ORIENTATION SKILLS
10
Countless cultural animation initiatives focused on the promotion of reading, conferences,
seminars and training activities, concerts, organized in collaboration with the “F. Chopin”
Association directed by the internationally famous M. Marcella Crudeli, cineforum, eventsAssociation directed by the internationally famous M. Marcella Crudeli, cineforum, events
with personalities as protagonists of the world of culture and entertainment.
The contribution of the students who over the years worked on the online cataloguing by
implementing the OPAC is fundamental, thanks to an important agreement between “F.
Vivona” Grammar School and Roma Tre University in order to make possible the
Alternation School and Work, today Paths forTransversal Orientation Skills.Alternation School and Work, today Paths forTransversal Orientation Skills.

11. FINAL REMARKS
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAL MEETING ON “THE EVOLVING CONCEPT OF ‘SCHOOL LIBRARY’ AND ITS PROFESSION” – ROME 02/04/2020
02/04/2020D. Benincasa - L.Cl. Vivona
11 FINAL REMARKS11
Targeted management synergies, training, enhancement and/or construction of specific and
motivated professional resources, together with the optimization of resources, made it
possible to build the "F Vivona" Grammar School library over the time still in the processpossible to build the F. Vivona Grammar School library over the time, still in the process
of expansion and improvement.
As proof of how energies collected with perseverance, systematicity and sharing of
purposes and methods towards common objectives can produce tangible, functional and
rewarding results, even in complex contexts.
""Founding libraries is like building public barns, amassing reserves against the winter of the
spirit that I see coming from many parts in spite of myself"
From Memoirs of Hadrian by M YourcenarFrom Memoirs of Hadrian by M.Yourcenar

12. CONTACT
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAL MEETING ON “THE EVOLVING CONCEPT OF ‘SCHOOL LIBRARY’ AND ITS PROFESSION” – ROME 02/04/2020
02/04/2020
12
D. Benincasa - L.Cl. Vivona
CONTACT12
https://www.liceovivona.edu.it/
E-mail:
• rmpc09000t@istruzione.itp @
• dirigentebenincasa@liceovivona.edu.it