The Role of the Teacher Librarian
The Role of the Teacher Librarian
The overall role of the Teacher Librarian is to deliver a successful school library learning commons program; a sequential kindergarten through grade 12 program that is planned and implemented by a teacher librarian working collaboratively with the school’s administrative and instructional staff.
The program will vary from school to school. Each teacher librarian, in consultation with their administrative team, should create a plan to implement the five strands of the school library commons program:
Engaging Multi-Literacies
Building Partnerships
Participating School Development & Advocating Leadership
Co-teaching & Instruction
Designing Flexible Learning Environments
Engaging Multi-Literacies
The TL collaborates with instructional staff to
Help lead the design of information literacy learning strategies and processes
Teach students to become critical consumers and creators of information and media
Teach students digital rights and responsibilities
Design and apply learning experiences to nurture all literacies, including traditional print, information, media, visual, digital, critical, and cultural literacies
Ensure the program infuses cultural diversity and builds connections to Canadian identity
Engage students, based on their interest, in face-to-face and virtual book clubs
Work with the community to develop and promote literacy for all
Building Partnerships
The TL
Partners with teachers, families, students, and community to help others learn
Collaborates with administration to engage the school community in participatory learning
Collaborates with District staff to develop and promote school library learning commons as a catalyst for 21st century learning
Participating in School Development & Advocating Leadership
The TL collaborates with school administration to:
Develop clear goals to align programming with school goals
Support all staff in working collaboratively with the TL, using programs, spaces, resources, and technologies for learning
Develop short and long-range plans for LLC facilities and programming to address school development goals
Co-plan, teach, and assess learning experiences using the school library learning commons
Prepare and share reports (e.g., circulation statistics, collaborative teaching partnerships), document progress, and advocate for budget and TL staff allocation
The TL collaborates with District personnel to:
Develop policies for selection and reconsideration of school library learning commons materials, confidentiality of student library records, and legal and ethical use of information resources
Implement collection development policies and procedures in the school library learning commons
Develop learning environments in the school library learning commons to support all curriculum areas
Co-teaching & Instruction
The TL collaborates with instructional staff to:
Understand, plan, teach, assess, and reflect on inquiry models in the design of effective learning experiences
Map information literacy and technology curriculum to classroom curriculum
Prepare learning experiences that are co-designed and planned with students
Ensure that learning experiences support the differentiation of learning for all students
Utilize evolving technologies to empower participatory learning within and beyond the school
Guide students in self and peer assessment
Build and share professional knowledge of approaches and environments
Designing Flexible Learning Environments
A physical space allows the TL to:
Design a flexible, inclusive, and accessible physical space to facilitate spontaneous groupings and participatory learning opportunities
Design a virtual library learning commons (LLC) space that supports the information needs of students and teachers
Ensure that physical and virtual spaces encourage participation of all learners in working with information and enjoying reading activities
Build, in consultation with staff and students, print and digital collections that ignite knowledge building and a love of reading.
Build, in consultation with staff and students, print and digital collections representing the diversity of our population
Design learning experiences that develop creativity and innovation
Encourage and facilitate participation in school organizations and clubs