As an Early Childhood specialist with over twenty-five years of experience, my understandings of a teacher-librarian role within a school setting were somewhat limited. In fact, I only ever referred to them as “Librarians”.

To me, Librarians, especially within the school environment, were the custodians of books and a fountain of knowledge, presumably from reading the books that lined the endless rows of books on metal stacked shelves all ordered according to the Dewey Decimal System, (or more recently, was it from “Googling” the answers like the rest of us?)

Whole classes were shuffled to the library for their allocated library lesson time. Often the class teacher would disappear to catch up on marking homework, lesson preparation or maybe a well-deserved coffee?

In between reading books to classes and helping children search for an interesting book for home borrowing, the librarian would be entrusted with organising a book fair and, of course, the annual book week parade.

When I initially thought about studying to become a Teacher Librarian, I didn’t understand the scope of the role. I have always been interested in young children’s literature and supporting learning through collaborative and inquiry-based learning. Still, as I read through the introductory material, I am becoming more aware of the Teacher Librarian’s role within the school community.

According to the Australian School Library Association (ASLA), the Teacher Librarian takes on three primary roles:

1)      As a curriculum leader

2)      As an information specialist

3)      As an information service manager.

Before starting this degree, I hadn’t considered these three specific aspects of a Teacher Librarian’s role. How will I do all of this when I begin working in a school library? After all, I have over two decades of Early Childhood experience and none within a Primary school environment.

First and foremost, I will draw upon my commitment to collaboration with colleagues. Working within a school community alongside teachers and executive teams will provide valuable insight into how the school delivers the curriculum. I want to become a significant contributor within the school community, not just during book fair fundraisers and running the book week parade, but as an advocate for developing individual students’ ability to become critical and creative thinkers.

My passion for collaborative learning spaces and creative classroom environments lends itself to promoting the physical library as an innovative learning hub. A Teacher Librarian who strives for a library environment that supports literature and provides a creative and collaborative learning space to explore, imagine and think sets students on a positive path, preparing the twenty-first-century learner for the challenges that lay ahead.

Learning about the role of the Teacher Librarian throughout this degree will help me become a positive influence by engaging students in critical and creative thinking and effectively using information and communication technologies to support their learning and understanding of how to engage in the world around them.

Australian School Library Association. (2014). What is a Teacher Librarian?https://www.asla.org.au/what-is-a-teacher-librarian