The role of the teacher librarian being a hotly debated topic is new to me! As mentioned in my previous post, I used to view the TL’s role as one of simply holding the key to the resources, but not one of being able to innovate, integrate and collaborate. Through my more recent experiences in schools, I know that the TL has the amazing potential to help transform schooling and somewhat dry, synchronous learning activities into exciting, educative and worthwhile learning experiences for students. The question of the TL primarily being a teacher, a librarian, a manager, an expert in children’s literature, a cataloguer, an information technology expert, staff developer, an information leader, a combination of these, or something quite different is an interesting one. However, in Australia, it seems to me that we certainly assume that the TL is at least in some part a teacher. If not from the title itself, or the minimum double degree qualification, then certainly by the fact that TLs will be required to address the AITSL standards. The ASLA Evidence Guide demonstrates how a TL may demonstrate meeting these standards. As a person who thrives in team environments and enjoys collaborating with others, and who has experience across a broad domain of subject areas, I am excited by the opportunities for TLs that are suggested by the evidence guide. Being able to use my teaching skills to optimise student and teacher experience, as well as learn new skills is an exciting prospect.

Are school librarians an endangered species?

With the ever-changing infosphere allowing fast, easy and global access of information for anyone with a device, why do schools need invisible, expensive and unnecessary TLs? In the 21st century, do we really need to employ someone who knows how to genrify the fiction section? In Karen Bonanno’s reflection, she addresses the inquiry and research into the role of the TL in schools. The evidence presented demonstrates that school libraries provided with adequate funding and staffing have a direct and positive impact on student achievement. However, due to the continually changing information landscape, education and educators need to continually change and adjust too to best prepare our students for the world they will exist in. It is a very difficult world to predict. The challenge for educators, and indeed TLs, is to continually engage in professional development to stay up to date, and to be consumers of and contributors to professional conversation to justify the value of our role in the school.