When it comes to staring at a new school, where is your first port of call? Apart from the business manager, it is the library to collect your texts and any other resources you may need for the rest of the year. This would not be possible if it weren’t for the people that worked in the most wonderful place in a school.
As I moved around different schools in my time as a relief teacher, I made some meaningful connections with the teachers that worked in the libraries. This connection grew at my last school where I would find any time to go down to the library and “pick the brains” of the people in the office. These conversations opened my eyes to the world that was out there in terms of running a library and what was involved. Along with the general conversation, I was timetabled on desk duties a few periods a week, giving me that insight into one of the very many duties of a teacher librarian. Having been a relief teacher prior to working full time in one school, I was fortunate enough a varied experience in different schools and was not just limited to the classroom. Working in the library and talking to various teachers sparked an interest in me to step out and possibly pursue this as a career for myself.
The more I dove into what the role of a teacher librarian was, the more I realised that it wasn’t just manning the desk and loaning out books. According to the Australian School Library Association (ASLA), teacher librarians “support and implement the vision of their school communities through advocating and building effective library and information services and programs that contribute to the development of lifelong learners.” (ASLA, 2019). If that is not the definition of was a superhero is, then I don’t know what is. Forget Steve Rogers, Carol Danvers, and Tony Stark, teacher librarians are the true superheroes of the world. Fostering a growth mindset and enabling students with the power to go forth in the world with a thirst for knowledge and the skills to source that out is possibly the most powerful superpower there is.
Having 5 years of teaching experience behind me, the role of the teacher librarian fascinated me. It was something that was so vital to a school and yet in some so under appreciated. Teacher librarians are the backbone of a school and without them, there would be no resources for the students to use, they will not learn the skills to adequately source information, there would not be a place for them to feel welcomed and safe or just somewhere to escape the day to day stresses of school life. To me, a teacher librarian is the true superhero, they have the most valuable power on earth and use it to spread knowledge and an enjoyment of learning in both teachers and students.
References:
Australian School Library Association. (2019). What is a Teacher Librarian? Retrieved from https://www.asla.org.au/what-is-a-teacher-librarian
It is so heartening to hear of those who discover that libraries are more than ‘manning desks and books’ and that you were able to experience a range of people and places to build (or entice) your interest into teacher librarianship. Your thoughts, and your clear writing style, shows that you are able to reflect and respond to what you see around you, and what you study and explore to expand your knowledge. I hope your study program both challenges and excites you as you become inducted into our hall of fame – graduates passionate in the profession.