Assignment 1: What I thought I knew

Task Description: Reflecting on your experiences as a teacher before you became interested in working in a school library, write a 500-word piece about your understandings of the role of the TL in schools.

I first became aware of Teacher Librarians (TLs) when I undertook my two teaching placements as a Master of Teaching student in 2016 (I ended up teaching at the first placement school the following year). Both of the schools I taught at had thriving school libraries staffed with a variety of librarians and technicians but, most importantly, were headed by a passionate and qualified TL. Unfortunately, the first TL has just recently passed away from cancer. I wish I had had the opportunity to learn more from him while he was still alive. He remains the single most extraordinary person – enthusiastic, supportive, resourceful – I have met during my five years in education.

During these two placements I loved spending time in the libraries, and often took my classes for reading or research sessions. I once put on a podcast exhibition event with a Media class, supported by the library team, and we invited the whole school to attend – putting on a delicious spread and showcasing exciting student learning. On my second placement I saw the library come alive with poetry readings, music events and fierce chess competitions. Teachers often visited for support and there was a constant flow of students in and out.

I remember the TL on my second placement commenting, “I’m one of the few surviving TLs. They are as rare as hen’s teeth these days. Their expertise just isn’t appreciated any more.” Upon hearing that, I essentially dismissed becoming a TL myself, mistakenly assuming that the qualification no longer existed or was fast becoming extinct.

I look back on these experiences fondly because they showed me what an effective TL can be and the incredible impact they can have on the whole school community, through the library environment they cultivate. They open the door to the physical library space for students to read, learn and inquire, but they also open doors in the digital landscape; modelling information literacy skills, supporting student learning and connecting the community with quality resources. As Hill (2017) summarises, they oversee “places where the letter ‘C’ is key: create, connect, collaborate, communicate, care and change with your community.”

Interactions with library staff in schools who are not qualified TLs has only reinforced to me the vital role that TLs play in the school community. As the Australian Library and Information Association (2016) outlines, the “key roles of the teacher librarian are learning and teaching, management, leadership as well as collaboration and community engagement.” As the digital landscape evolves with complex information and resources, necessary for both staff and students to navigate confidently, TLs in schools are, arguably, more important than ever.

References: 

Australian Library and Information Association. (2016). Statement on Teacher Librarians in Australia. https://read.alia.org.au/alia-asla-statement-teacher-librarians-australia 

Hill, A. (2017). Australian Teacher Librarian of the Year 2017: Reaffirming and celebrating the pivotal role of teacher librarians in our school libraries. Access, 31(3), 28-29.

Maridashvili, A. (2021). Young woman in blue jacket choosing a book from a bookshelves [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/gqk2hoqGAL0.