Throughout this subject I have become even more aware of the important role that Teacher Librarians play in the school learning landscape. I have also become acutely aware of how time poor library teachers can be as they juggle a teaching load as well as the important library work. This library work, creating pathfinders, assisting with research skills, running workshops etc is crucial to the success of the library and it often involves collaboration with other faculties and staff members- all which takes considerable amounts of time.

One of the most crucial realisations to come out of this subject and especially while creating the pathfinder is just how important it is to have good relationships with other faculties. At the heart of effective collaboration are shared values, good communication, complementary expertise, and enthusiastic partners (Perez-Stable, Arnold, Guth & Fravel Vander Meer, 2020). So, while there are some faculties where I have a natural relationship it is the other ones where I need to focus my efforts- I need to put in the effort to hopefully reap the reward of a successful working partnership. Tools such of the pathfinders will only be useful to students if they are relevant and promoted as part of their learning. Teacher Librarians need the collaboration with other faculty members so that the resources that they create match the users needs and requirements.

An important consideration is the time commitment it is to prepare these resources. This task has made me aware of how important it is to ensure that my library hours are protected. This is a difficult task considering the current climate and the increased pressure on schools to be as economical as possible. I will need to demonstrate the infinite worth of having an information specialist that can dedicate time to assisting staff and students in a meaningful way. Glassman and Sorensen (2010) also acknowledge the time-consuming effort of creating pathfinders but that this process helps to streamline the research process for the user and as a result, the time in creation is worthwhile.

Going forward in my role I am going to continue to build and foster close relationships with other faculty leaders and teams. I cannot simply think that staff will come to me when they need assistance. I need to be proactive in reaching out and offering ways in which I can assist. I also need to listen to my most important users- the students. I need to talk to them frequently and listen to how they use technology, this will help inform how I can best reach them with information literacy skills. The final focus going forward needs to be on self-learning. I cannot rest on my laurels, I need to make sure I am continually seeking out best practice and talk to my library peers to see how others are working in their libraries.

Nancy R. Glassman, N. R. & Sorensen, K., (2010) From Pathfinders to Subject Guides: One Library’s Experience with LibGuides. Journal of Electronic Resources in Medical Libraries, 7:4, 281-291, DOI: 10.1080/15424065.2010.529767

 

Perez-Stable, M., Arnold J., Guth L, Fravel Vander Meer, P. (2020) From Service Role to Partnership: Faculty Voices on Collaboration with Librarians. Libraries and the Academy. 20:1 pp. 49-72