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:

1. Engaging Multi-Literacies

2. Building Partnerships

3. Participating School Development & Advocating Leadership

4. Co-teaching & Instruction

5. 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