The NSW Department of Education Library Policy – Schools (“Library Policy – Schools,” n.d. para. 6-7) says that Teacher-librarians collaborate with teachers on teaching and learning programs (including ICT and literacy) and assist students with the development of information skills.
My experiences with teacher librarians is limited, both currently and historically. I have only just returned to teaching (casually) after a break of 15 years. Prior to my break I taught casually for a number of years before being employed as an English as a Second Language Teacher (ESL).
In my position as an ESL teacher I utilised the library and the librarian a lot. The school librarian was my go to person for information and books. When doing a unit of work I talked to her about what we had in the library that I could use, what resources were around and if there was anything else available we could get hold of. She was a wealth of knowledge and I was her willing student. I never thought too much about what she did for other teachers or her role in the school as general. I know her teaching role was based on relief from face to face taking classes and teaching students information skills. I know she stored resources for the school community both student and teacher and I saw her shine when the school library burned down and it had to be rebuilt from the ashes.
Move forward fifteen years to my return to (my old) school. One of my first stops was to the library to see the librarian (who is still the same). Her surroundings have changed – a beautiful purpose built library replacing the interim demountable – but she is much the same, a wealth of knowledge for those who are willing to take the time to ask.
Her role in the school has also changed, thanks to the thinking of the current principal. The current principal realises that a school librarian is an expert teacher. As Lupton states principals believe the teacher-librarian “needed to be an expert teacher, manager of resources, and someone who is a good collaborator” (Lupton, January 2016, p. 52). Her role has morphed to collaborator and support teacher, as well as the person managing the resources.
Library is no longer RFF, the class teacher goes with the class to the library and together the teachers determine what that hour will be for. I spent a morning with her prior to returning to teaching and discovered the librarian is currently teaching upper primary ways to gather information from books and online at the same time, doing science experiments with year three and author studies with year one. She is managing, creating and circulating resources throughout the school. She is involved in promoting the library to the wider school community. She is a teacher librarian (“What is a teacher librarian?,” n.d., para. 1-4). I see her as a conduit of knowledge; a role that may not know everything, but knows enough to take the learning journey with you and point you in the right direction when you get stuck.
My school librarian is a role model and hero and my inspiration for returning to study.
References:
NSW Department of Education Library Policy – Schools (n.d.) Retrieved from https://education.nsw.gov.au/policy-library/policies/library-policy-schools?refid=285776
Lupton, M. (January 2016,). Adding Value: Principals’ Perceptions of the Role. School Libraries Worldwide, 52 (1) 49-61.
What is a Teacher Librarian?(n.d) (Retrieved from http://www.asla.org.au/advocacy/what-is-a-teacher-librarian.aspx )
Overall, I thought that your blog was well thought out and well written in an easy to read and personalised style. Personally, it was a lovely change to read and critique an assignment without the urge to reach for the red pen to correct spelling and grammar.
You clearly have an understanding of what a Teacher Librarian is and should be. You have read and referenced appropriate documents and literature and applied them to your previous and current experiences in school libraries. How fortunate for you that you are able to make a comparison on the same library with the same Teacher Librarian over fifteen years: even to the point of it moving from a demountable to a purpose-built space It would be interesting to know how long it would have remained in the demountable if it hadn’t burned down.
It would have been a great addition to your post to have had a statement from your mentor about what she thinks about the changes in libraries and the differences in her role since she started. It also would have given more insight if you had mentioned if she was the only staff member in the library or part of a bigger team and if this had also changed over the years.
Your blog design was simple and easy to navigate with colours appropriate for this forum.The Superman figure for your post is so perfect for our role as educators, regardless of what area we teach in. I like the picture of the foot (yours?) in your Header Title. For me it either meant that it was the first step in a journey or putting your best foot forward, unless it is just that you really like that shoe.
Finally, I would encourage you to show your post to your mentor. We all need to know if we inspire others.
Hi Debbie,
Thank for the comment. I appreciate you taking the time out to read and comment on my thoughts. I smiled at your ‘red pen’ comment. I think we are quite similar in that respect – typos drive me a little nuts!.
The school I am presently at was lucky to get a new library built. We were also lucky in that the demountable we were provided after the original weather board building burnt down was a big purpose built one, not just a standard classroom.
I have spoken to the Librarian and told her she was my inspiration – as the sole TL I think it is good to remember to credit her for all her hard work.
And yes, the foot is mine – the first step on the long journey ahead.
Hi Gillian,
Your peer review of Jessica’s blog was encouraging and thoughtful, as well as asking her some questions about how the culture of the library can be changed. Your reflection on the role of the TL is well written and supported. Your blog is attractive and well organised, and includes a link to an explanation of the CC license for the blog. You are using sources correctly, and it was lovely to read of your long standing admiration for the TL who is still in your school, and has always been the very model of a modern teacher librarian. You are getting a clear idea of the potential of the role, and are researching well, and using academic conventions appropriately.
For the literature review, the tone required will be more scholarly, and the sources used will be a mixture of scholarly (in particular, research studies carried out by university academics), TL practitioner articles, and public commentary. The information access issue you choose needs to be broad enough to facilitate your search for literature, e.g. digital literacy and information access; poor digital access in schools vs those with good access; physical layout of the library, print and electronic, etc.)
Come to the meeting Thursday night 3 August, for more direction with this task, quite a demanding one.
Well done on a great start!
Lee
ETL401 Subject Coordinator
Hi Lee,
Thanks for the feedback. I am not sure whether to look forward or dread tomorrows online meeting!
Time will tell.
Gillian