In considering the reflection prompt, ‘are school librarians an endangered species?’ Bonanno, in her keynote address at the 2011 ASLA Biennial Conference, offers a powerful “game plan” to ensure the survival of the teacher librarian species. Bonanno (2011) identifies teacher librarianship as an “invisible profession” amongst the teaching vocation at large, at a “tipping point”, with reports that many internal and external educational stakeholders see the profession as obsolete, with a failure to see a direct connection between school libraries and the improved difference in student learning and outcomes.
Bonanno (2011) applies Trump and Kiyosaki’s Five Finger Plan to Success to equip teacher librarians with a simple, yet effective plan to make improvements for themselves and the profession at large. This Five Finger Plan comprises of:
- The thumb which represents “strength of character”. This is about establishing your “pre-eminence”, ie. the ‘you’ who shows up before you show up.
- The pointer finger identifies the F.O.C.U.S. – Follow One Course Until Successful. This involves knowing your outcome, take action, find out what works and what doesn’t and re-align until you achieve 1.
- The middle finger is about your brand. Who are you and what do you stand for? Having the label of teacher librarian is not enough!
- The ring finger is all about relationships. Who is in your circle of influence? This is who you should focus your energy on in assisting in your sphere.
- The little finger is about identifying and making all of the little things count. What is it that you can do for others? Make it about the ‘other’ and fulfilling their needs; How can you help students achieve? How can you assist teachers in developing information-rich resources and environments?
The conclusion… we, as teacher librarians needs step up and get in the game… We need to: make ourselves known, make ourselves heard and make ourselves relevant! We need not be a dying breed!
References
Bonanno, K. (2011, October 2-5). A profession at the tipping point: Time to change the game plan. [Keynote address]. ASLA XXII Biennial Conference, Sydney, Australia. https://vimeo.com/31003940