The education system of the 20th century was designed during the Industrial Revolution and informed by the Enlightenment (Robinson, 2010). The societal and cultural climates of that time impacted how it was structured and the outcomes achieved. As we move into the 21st century there are new societal, cultural, and structural pressures on schools today. Teacher librarians (TL) need to be aware of these influences and be ready to respond.

TLs need to know and understand the structure of the school they work in. This will enable them to position themselves in areas where they can be informed and support change within the school. Modeling best practices is a good starting point as well as developing and running professional development sessions for staff. In the growing globalization of our world, it is important to keep and celebrate our individual, community, and Australian culture. TLs can support this through displays, clubs, and the resources we choose to acquire for the school library and read to the students. As wider society influences our schools we can contribute to committees within the school and community to make sure the best interest of students are represented.

Robinson, K. [RSA Animate]. (2010, October 14). Changing education paradigms [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U