As a new session of learning begins I am ending my year of classroom teaching in 2021. I am reminded that in 2022 there will be new roles and responsibilities for all staff. Along with the questions in Module 2 I have been pondering the role which I will be taking on in 2022 as opposed to that of 2021. While my role of a job-share classroom teacher, teaching in the midst of an extensive lockdown has been very different to any other year of my career, I too believe that I can see similarities with the new role of teacher librarian (TL) which I will be taking on in 2022.

In both roles I have a responsibility to source materials which assist me in teaching the curriculum. However, as a classroom teacher, that responsibility can be for my own class, or in the collaborative nature of the school, shared with others who may wish to take these resources up. My focus for finding and resourcing the materials was for a specific small group of children for a stage of their education.

A TL is also required to source materials to assist in teaching the curriculum. In contrast, however, they have a broader view of the school, as they are looking out for the needs of all students within the school. So while the eyes of a Year 2/3 teacher is focused on those year levels a K-6 Teacher Librarian is looking for resources beyond these years. The TL will also have knowledge of the resources in the library catalogue and with the training expertise and networks which come with being a TL, perhaps access a new variety of resources.

Another aspect of a TLs role is to work collaboratively with the staff in the school to ensure that the everyday needs of the classes are able to be resourced. This requires a proactive TL, who builds relationship with the community in which they work. In the midst of pandemic times it could be seen to be easier to work closely with the students and staff in the school, however, it is also the wider community which the TL needs to take into account. I guess this is where a TL needs to think differently to a classroom teacher as the TL does not necessarily have the immediate relationship with the parents/carers of students which a classroom teacher has. As the library serves the entire school community I know this is a challenge which I am pondering for a 2022 school environment.