Forum 1.2 

Are teacher librarians an endangered species?… and other thoughts… (Forum 1.2 post)  

My move to choosing to study librarianship was not sparked by a desire to move up the career ladder, I just really enjoy being in libraries. Looking at images of school libraries, who would not? (Chrysanthos, 2020).  In the UK, budget constraints and shifting priorities (and neo-liberal policies!) have reduced the number of libraries, and also their quality; and I was stunned at the quality of public libraries in Sydney (even though the news in complaining that they are dying over here) (Hefferman, 2023).   

I also could predict the confused reactions of friends when I said I had to study for an MA to be a teacher librarian. I think it is impossible to shake the stereotype of a librarian as a ‘spinster book worm mouse’. I remember the joke in ‘The Mummy’ where Rachel Weisz’s character lists the achievements of her family, and then proudly says she wants to be a librarian. But I understand where Rachel’s character was coming from. Especially if the new role for the TL is accurate: A role that works technology integration and information literacy into students’ study, and the opportunity to work alongside classroom teachers.   

References  

Chrysanthos, N. (2020, November 23). “It’s a crucial role”: Teacher librarians push to boost their numbers in schools. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/it-s-a-crucial-role-teacher-librarians-push-to-boost-their-numbers-in-schools-20201110-p56dbi.html  

Heffernan, M. (2023, July 15). School libraries in Victoria suffer from shortage of resources, qualifications. The Age. https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/school-libraries-in-victoria-suffer-from-lack-of-resources-qualifications-20230612-p5dfxo.html