Roles of a Teacher Librarian
My Standards
I have a specific set of standards, too! According the American Association of School Libraries, a librarians' duties fall under four main domains: Think, Create, Share, and Grow. Within each of these domains, we carry out our duties and shape our libraries under the following six foundations, from encouraging inquiry to cultivating engagement. For a more complete explanation of AASL's standards, visit their online pamphlet or their website.
My Role as a Teacher
A librarian’s primary responsibility as a teacher is to ensure the library is a safe and comfortable space for students’ studying and learning needs; such an environment is accomplished through flexible, moveable furniture, teacher/student relationships, and providing a wealth of unbiased information. First, library furniture reflects a comfortable student environment that allows for collaboration and easy access. Stern rules make students feel uncomfortable. The article, “The New School Library,” explains it is not “hot” to fill the library with “inflexible learning spaces.” Instead, libraries provide “powerful WiFi, numerous outlets, whiteboards, moveable furniture” (Abarbanel, et al., 2013). Another teacher responsibility is cultivating teacher and student relationships. The school library is not a comfortable space for students without positive relationships and smiling faces. Weisburg and Toor (2015) explain in New on the Job, “The simplest way to make a connection is to smile… A friendly face is a comforting sight, making them [students] feel safe” (p. 74). Finally, teacher librarians ensure student comfort by providing unbiased resources. The library is a safe place to explore multitudes of ideas and opinions; libraries with biased or one-sided information create an uncomfortable learning environment. The AASL National School Library Standards (2018) states that students should be able to “[Adopt] a certain stance toward points of view and opinions expressed in information resources and learning products” (p. 35). Only an unbiased library can cultivate this type of learning and intellectual comfort.
Catalog Lessons
We've had numerous catalog lessons with the 4th and 5th grade during library special. The goal is to teach students how to find books once they look them up in the catalog. Here is a review students took of one aspect of being able to use the catalog: understanding how books are arranged and coded.
Comfortable Space
I have been busily writing grants and putting out donation requests for comfortable seating for the elementary, middle, and high school libraries. The elementary and middle have a great start for comfortable seating. The high school needs more development. This is one aspect of teaching in the libraries that is important.
Library Special Lessons
My role as a teacher is clearly shown in my lesson planning for K-5 Library Special for the entire year. There was no curriculum previously; this will be implemented during the 2020-21 school year. This is a working document, still being drafted. It includes lessons and activities for the entire year.
My Role as a Partner
A librarian is a partner to teachers, administration, and the district. As a partner to teachers, librarians are prepared to assist them with curriculum, materials, and instruction. Librarians serve as an instructional partner in areas like online research, digital citizenship, and information literacy. The AASL (2018) Engagement domain explains that libraries partner with teachers to “[Educate] the school community on the ethical use of information and the intellectual property of others” (p. 113). Librarians also partner with administration when it comes to technology use. Librarians work with school administrators to “advocate for administration-adopted policies” (AASL, 2018, p. 117) pertaining to challenged resources and how best serve the school with technology. Together, the librarian and school administration create policies that are “transparent, objective, and easy to follow” (AASL, 2018, p. 99). Finally, librarians are partners to the district. Librarians partner with districts to demonstrate the library’s ability to improve the district overall. Districts achieve more when educators operate in partnership with the library. The AASL (2018) explains, “These improvements result when the school librarian designs and leads professional development opportunities that articulate the positive impact of the school library’s resources, services, and programming” (p. 90). In partnering with the teachers, administrators, and the district as a whole, librarians play an integral role in students’ achievement.
5th Grade Collaboration
I visited 5th grade classrooms this year to demonstrate how to use two AEA databases and how to cite book sources. We used a simpler version of MLA citations. Above is the typed lesson of how I explained citations to students and how we practiced it together.
6th Grade Collaboration
I worked with Mrs. Wood's social studies class as they researched landforms in various countries. I gave direct instruction about how to use multiple databases, and I joined class for an extra day to help students get unstuck as they were exploring. Visit the landforms page of our library website to see what I set up for her class to explore.
HS Collaboration
I gave support to Mr. Hegwood's Animal Science class as they pursued a research paper about GMOs. I provided direct instruction about how to use databases, compiled a list of relevant web sources, and delivered direct instruction on APA citations. I added comments regarding APA citations to final papers. Above is the resource I use to teach APA citations.
My Role as a Leader
A librarian demonstrates her leadership skills by being the champion of literacy and digital citizenship, by allowing 24-7 access to resources, and by promoting the library to the community; the leadership of the librarian creates tech-savvy students, fully utilized resources, and purposeful programs that involve families and businesses. First, a school librarian is a leader in literacy and in digital citizenship. A librarian acknowledges that the world of online learning is challenging to maneuver; the librarian teaches necessary digital skills such as: smart search terms, credible sources, and online reputation awareness. A school librarian leads in these skills through teaching and modeling. AASL's National Library Standards (2018) explains, “School librarians promote ethical and legal guidelines for gathering and using information by … modeling the understanding of ethical use of information, technology, and media” (p. 112). A librarian also leads the district by offering support and resources to students beyond regular classroom hours. Libraries are accessible at any time through their online presence, digital resources and social media, which are “available 24-7 so that users can identify and suggest needed sources, engage with digital content, and request further assistance” (AASL, 2018, p. 101). As the library’s materials are connected with the curriculum, the school library program truly leads the district in available resources and access to information. Librarians teach students to fully use these resources so that students are better prepared to face college and work. Finally, a school librarian leads by promoting the library’s programs and successes. Libraries engage in community outreach with public information promoting “Who we are, what we do, when and where, and for whom” (AASL Advocacy Committee, 2018). Weisburg and Toor (2015) explain that librarians lead community involvement by partnering with parents, community organizations, parent groups, and business organizations to create programs and receive materials that are beneficial to the library and district (p. 138-139). In this way, librarians have the opportunity to promote the district positively through their leadership.
AEA Databases
I have had the opportunity to present to teachers various resources available to them, including AEA databases, ebooks, and effective usage of our catalog. Here is a teacher handout that spotlights the many uses of Britannica at the middle school level. I demonstrate my role as leader when I provide professional enrichment opportunities like this.
Book Fairs
I take a direct leadership role by hosting book fairs. By the end of this year, we will have accomplished two at the elementary level and one at the middle school level. I serve as a leader by providing positive press and community interaction through fundraising efforts, letters home, advertisements on social media and local outlets, and our actual book fair, which is open to the public.
Newsletters and PR
Library programs and ongoings are spotlighted and published on the library website and are sent directly to teachers and staff in print or digital formats. These types of public relations demonstrate my leadership role in communicating to the district what is happening with the library program. A January newsletter is shown above, and a Black History Month digital newsletter can be found here.
My Role as an Information Specialist
The librarian expertly combines her roles of teacher, partner, and leader in her overarching role as an information specialist. The librarian delivers direct instruction to students about finding appropriate information and using the best sources available. AASL National School Library Standards (2018) explain that librarians directly encourage students to use a variety of resources in various formats, and to use resources that display diverse perspectives (p. 94). Librarians partner with educators to insure library materials support and enrich classroom curriculum. The AASL describes the librarian’s role in this as “maintaining a collection of sufficient breadth and currency to be pertinent to the school’s program of studies” (p. 95). Finally, librarians use their leadership role to enhance teacher and district knowledge of new and appropriate resources for a district’s educational needs. The AASL explains, “The school librarian designs and leads professional-development opportunities that articulate the positive impact of the school library’s resources, services, and programming” (p. 90). Using their roles as teacher, partner, and leader, librarians comprehensively demonstrate their most well-known role as information specialists.
Informed Purchases
As we update our collection, I make critical decisions in what we need to purchase based on EBSCO's Core Collection, awards granted to books, reviews, and student interest. The list above shows the process of updating the astronomy and general fiction section for grades K-5. Books include notes about their recommendation levels and awards.
Organizing Databases
I demonstrate my information specialist skills in organizing and providing 24/7 access to databases available to our district. Instead of using the state website, I compiled a list of databases for each school with their logo and a short descriptions for students and teachers to use them with confidence! Visit each school's research tab to see the databases.
Resources by Request
As an information specialist, people come to me with requests for certain materials or resources. Above is an email from a 3rd grade class requesting books about specific animals for a research project. We were able to fill all these requests or offer suggestions of similar animals if there were no books about it. With 5th grade classes, we added databases to compliment books for their animal research project.
References:
Abarbanel, E., Davis, S., Hand, D., & Wittmer, M. (2013). The new school library. Independent School, Summer 2013. https://www.nais.org/magazine/independent-school.
American Association of School Librarians. (2018). National school library standards: For learners, school librarians, and school libraries. Chicago, IL: ALA Editions.
American Association of School Librarians Advocacy Committee. (1996-2018.) What is advocacy?Retrieved from: http://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/definitions.
Weisburg, H. K., & Toor, R. (2015). New on the job: A school librarian’s guide to success. Chicago, IL: ALA Editions.