Reflect on your experiences as a teacher before you became interested in working in a school library. Write a 500-word piece about your understanding of the role of the Teacher Librarian in schools.
As a child in primary school, the school library was a place of solace, a place away from the noise of the playground, a place that contained new worlds within its books. The Teacher Librarian was the custodian of these books, with the knowledge to help me find a book to match my every need.
When I became a teacher, the school library I walked into was archaic and uninviting. The students were reluctant to attend library lessons and only a small number actually borrowed books. The Teacher Librarian was still the custodian of the books but was unapproachable. This led me to start thinking about the role of the school library and thus, the role of the Teacher Librarian.
From these contrasting experiences, it is evident that Teacher Librarians can have a significant impact on future generations. As a current primary school teacher, my initial understanding of the role of the Teacher Librarian is to foster a love of reading, to enhance student research skills and to assist students and staff in accessing information. From conversations in the staffroom, it is the view of some of my colleagues that the role of the Teacher Librarian is to simply babysit their class while they have their release from face-to-face teaching time.
In an ideal world of unlimited budgets, time and space along with the support of my colleagues and executive team, I would envision the role of the Teacher Librarian to essentially be one of skill building.
Beginning with the students and the bare bones of the library, it is important that the Teacher Librarian builds students’ skills in finding texts that they can read for enjoyment and to further develop their literacy skills. It is vital that the Teacher Librarian ensures currency in the texts that are available to maintain interest in reading.
In library lessons, it is important that the Teacher Librarian builds student skills in digital literacy. This may begin with teaching Kindergarten students the basic principles of technology, right through to using technology to research, program or code. The Teacher Librarian also plays an integral part in teaching students the skills to effectively search for information and filter according to relevance, whether it be through the use of search engines, databases or library catalogues.
For our colleagues, the Teacher Librarian could assist with upskilling staff in digital literacy so that the classroom teachers can promote these skills in their own classrooms. The Teacher Librarian can also assist classroom teachers in finding rich texts that correlate with units of work that are being taught in classrooms.
Essentially, the role of the Teacher Librarian is everchanging. With the rapid amount of information now readily available, Teacher Librarians are no longer just custodians of books, but the gateway to information in all forms and the builders of skills.
August 2, 2022 at 12:52 am
Thank you Siobhan for sharing your thoughts on how your understanding of the TL role is developing. It always saddens me when I hear stories of unapproachable tls and archaic school libraries but I am heartened by students such as yourself who are passionate about changing the way the role is perceived and enacted.
It is great to see that you mention the role the TL can play in supporting professional learning staff as well as connecting with students across a range of areas. One of the best aspect of the role is the opportunity to work with all members of the school community in different ways.
Your blog is attractive and your choice of theme allows for easy navigation. Well done on implementing categories and tags. these will help you keep your blog organised as you continue to add to it through the course. I noted that you have an empty widget textbox under your latest posts – if you do not wish to use this widget it might be better to remove it as leaving it with the proforma text detract from the professionalism of your blog’s presentation.
You have met the requirements of assessment 1 congratulations! I wish you all the best for your continued participation in the session and the course.
Kay Oddone
Subject Coordinator