13.3.19 – My Understanding of the Role of TLs

Reflecting on your experiences as a teacher before you became interested in working in a school library, write a 500 word piece about your understandings of the role of the TL in schools

It is a curious thing to reflect on experiences that are limited and think of a time before I became interested in working in a school library. As a student, I was passionate about the library and maintained its abilities to provide a safe haven to a bibliophile like myself. I saw the TL’s role as a “secret keeper”, one who created and maintained this place that helped students find new adventures, worlds and friends.

Reflecting, I believed the role of the TL to hold 3 crucial tasks.

1. To be the keeper and protector of the books.
2. To instigate, kindle and grow a love and passion for books within students.
3. To create an environment that allows students to feel safe.

Nowadays as a teacher, I see that the role of the TL is more expansive and supportive. There is a shift in focus to being an informant and collector to assist in community projects, a place for teachers to gather necessary resources and to supply new technologies and the information necessary to access these resources.

NSW Department of Education, Teach.NSW (2019) (hyperlink) prescribe teacher librarians attributes as

Extremely organised;

 

Resource managers;

 

Information specialists;

 

Quality literacy contributors;

 

Comprehensive technological knowledge to engage and enhance learning experiences.

Similarly Australian School Library Association (2019) segment the role of TLs into three major components:

Curriculum leaders;

 

Information specialists;

 

Information service managers.

Throughout these definitions my current understanding of the role of TLs has a lot of room to grow. My previous conceptions were ignorant of the knowledge and information that TLs present to the libraries. I now understand that TLs role is heavily dependent on providing, interpreting and developing assistance in the transference of information, whether to teachers, students, administrators or the larger school community. The information connected to teachers and students is no longer solely focused on reading, rather evolving resources that shape into the current curriculum and provide learning support for all needs of students.

Another surprising aspect of the TLs role is still relating to space, however, the extent to which the library space is used and the TLs accommodate for various clubs, activities, events and the teaching of collaborative spaces for learning experiences. The learning experiences themselves are focused on inquiry, research and investigation, leading to creation and the TLs role with the students is acting as a guide, skill builder, information supplier and technological developer.

I have a long way to go developing my skills as a teacher and the learning progression of the role I hope to emerge into. The importance of having a clear direction of your dream role cannot be understated and this learning experience will be engaging and challenging. I am beginning from what I feel is the very bottom but I will work my way to fulfilling the invaluable role of TL.

Reference

Australian School Library Association (2019). Retrieved from https://asla.org.au/what-is-a-teacher-librarian

NSW Department of Education (2019). Retrieved from https://www.teach.nsw.edu.au/exploreteaching/types-of-teachers/specialist-teachers/teacher-librarian