Teaching What Machines Can’t: Human Skills in School Libraries

Abstract

As artificial intelligence and automated systems become increasingly integrated into modern educational landscapes, school libraries are evolving from traditional repositories of physical resources into vibrant, community-oriented centers for human development. This paper explores how school libraries can intentionally cultivate empathy, emotional awareness, active citizenship, and cross-cultural communication. Drawing from empirical practice at Osnovna škola Dobriše Cesarića in Zagreb, this paper examines three experiential frameworks: outdoor urban gardening with European Solidarity Corps volunteers, bibliotherapy, and student-led community problem mapping. Furthermore, the paper demonstrates how empowering young learners to identify and address real-world local challenges cultivates civic responsibility, agency, and collaborative problem-solving skills essential for the future workforce.