If libraries are to be considered as spaces of information then it is logical that a TL must understand both historical and contemporary roles at play within the information landscape. TL’s need to keep up to date and current with technological patterns and practises. Information platforms are constantly changing and the popularity of particular social networking sites cannot be relied upon as a future certainty. This can be understood further in reading Murton (2015) which highlights the downfall of the once popular myspace social networking platform which lost its favourability over Facebook due to being harder to use and less focussed on interactions between friends and family. The popularity of many social networking sites is always in jeopardy due to the ever-changing nature of the digital world. Balea (2016) highlights how the frequency of advertising is having a considerable impact on how users interact with social media: “Interruption is corruption. It corrodes the value of media” (Balea, 2016, para 3). This implication is one developing trend that could foresee changes in how users use social networking and poses the question of whether platforms like Facebook are becoming more of a content stream.

When noting such emerging trends within social networking, a TL is in a stronger position of knowledge to be able recognise how tweens and teens may be engaging within the online world. Importantly, having an understanding of this information landscape can illuminate systems of usage and digital practices of different groups; school students included. Teacher Librarians have the ability to influence how students interact with technology within the school environment and in a broader context within the library space. A TL’s role is increasingly becoming one that is immersed in the curation of digital resource collections as well as physical ones.

Students may be avid users of social networking sites, however, they often have poor knowledge of legitimacy and truthfulness in what they encounter online. The validity of information is certainly becoming a growing concern as the vastness of the digital world continues to explode. TL’s have the crucial responsibility within their role to teach and guide students in filtering information online and being able to critically think and evaluate what they read and decide whether it is quality, reliable information.

Building on this, Merga (2021) reminds us that online social networking could influence reader interest and the old perspective that the online world is “a natural enemy of book reading” lacks credibility in today’s world. The contemporary TL needs to harness and utilise digital platforms to aid in the promotion of reading, as their role is essential to literacy education. Such an example can be seen in the growth of the Booktok community within the popular Tiktok platform: “Booktok offers an intriguing window into the evolving trends and interests in young people’s reading that can be harnessed in libraries” (Merga, 2021, p.8). Thus, it is crucial  that Teacher Librarians keep up to date with new technological trends and student adaptation online.

It is fundamental to the Teacher Librarian role that an open minded approach is adopted, especially when it comes to the future and constant change within the information landscape. The challenge of the TL lies in being skilful and intuitive in knowing how to engage the students that belong to the current school community: “Part of the difficulty in devising strategies to engage young people in reading is that they are not a homogeneous group of individuals with interests that remain static over time” (Merga, 2021, p.2). The TL in practise, should ask the question: in what ways do students use social media and what types of social media are currently in usage? Through this knowledge, the TL will be able to use the most favoured social media platforms to support literacy and actively increase reader engagement within the school setting.

References

Balea, J. (2016). A messaging app will overtake Facebook by the end of next year. Tech in Asia.

http://www.techinasia.com/messaging-app-to-overtake-facebook-as-most-active-social-platform

Murton, D. (2015). The failed social networks, part 1: MySpace.

http://www.blog.marginmedia.com.au/our-blog/the-failed-social-networks-myspace

Merga, M.K. (in press). The role of the library within school-level literacy policies and plan in Australia and the United Kingdom. Journal of Librarianship & Information Science.

Merga, M.K. (2021) How can Booktok on TikTok inform readers’ advisory services for young people? Library and Information Science Research 43(2) 101091.

doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2021.101091