Blog

It would seem, teacher librarians (TL) are an endangered species as many schools have a library and maintain a library collection but no TL, instead a library technician maintains and manages the library. Schools have decided they can do without a TL due to budgetary cuts and, the TL is the first to go in a school. However, are they really an endangered species? With technology advancing so quickly, new concepts coming into play and new ways to research and find information can be very overwhelming for not only students but teachers too. The TL is in a great position to assist classroom teachers and students as information literacy becomes more notable in schools. We are bombarded with data about how students are lacking literacy skills and yet TLs are being cut back. Information literacy needs to be taught rather than learnt and the best place for the school community to do this is through the TL.

At the moment TL are rare commodity in schools but as a TL in training I need to be optimistic and hope that the need for TLs will outweigh the stigma and the financial outlays that are in people’s minds, and the future will bring a new venture. Furthermore, libraries are hubs for both physical and online resources, as well as promoting not only academic literature but reading for pleasure. Promoting reading in areas of interest also increases students literacy, and area that needs more exploring moving forward into other future units in this degree, especially when it comes to reluctant readers. Exploring new initiatives to promote reading in areas students are interested increases pleasure and in turn increases literacy, and reading of more complex texts.

With departments offering scholarships in TL degrees, even they may have some hope that things in the future will turn around and the TL will be seen as an important asset in the school environment. In an ever-changing technological environment the need for TLs in schools can only be seen as paramount to support teachers and students collaboratively and maintain new technologies.

 

Part B: Blog Post

Reflecting 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 TL in schools.

The Beginning

School libraries have always been part of who I am from an early childhood. I used to assist the librarian in the library at primary and high school as I loved being around books. I liked every aspect of books whether they were mini or large books, fantasy stories or of a historical value. However, since becoming a teacher I have noticed the value of enhancing students learning and the importance of inquiry based learning. As a teacher it is difficult to cover everything that the student may require to help them long their journey into learning new concepts, enhancing their knowledge, acquiring new skills and moving onto new ways to resource that learning.

As a Teacher

As a teacher I felt I could always assist students more with their learning, however, I also knew that I lack many of the skills to be able to further their education outside of following the Australian Curriculum and school policies of what is expected that students will be learning and how they will learn. My interest in working in a school library became more apparent when, as a relief teacher at the time, my executive asked me if I could spend a couple of days during the week doing some work in the library. Of course, I was more than willing to do this but it was just straight keeping the library tidy, putting books away after I returned them on the system, covering books and helping the classroom teacher with student borrowing. Although I enjoyed doing this I also knew the library could be used for much more than that!

Additionally, I was speaking to a teacher who had been at the school for years and she told me there used to be a librarian but once she retired the position wasn’t filled and deemed as “unnecessary”. However, beginning this course and going through the readings as well as listening and reading other people’s opinions, it is obvious that a qualified TL can only elevate student learning especially seeing they have the dual skill of being a qualified teacher and a school librarian.

The TLs Role

TLs co-teach and help develop students skills in resourcing the library’s collection and enhancing their information tech skills. Furthermore, the TL can introduce students to a world of reading creating a culture where enriched learning in collaboration with classroom teachers can be achieved. However, current challenges such as artificial intelligence whereby school communities may deem the TL as unnecessary and allow digital tech to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence may be deems as a threat. Although, Kirker (2022), states, “Because of the growing complexity of the information environment, librarians’ roles as teachers have become more integrated  with he academy” (p. 335). Therefore, the TL has the vital role to ensure schools have adequate collections of material for them and their students that are accessible and supported, whilst weeding out any outdated resources that are not longer used.

Reference

Kirker, M. (2022). “Am I a Teacher Because I Teach?”:  A Qualitative Study of Librarians’ Perceptions of Their Role as Teachers. Libraries and the Academy, 22(2), 335-354.