What is a teacher librarian?
The teacher librarian is a teacher with added credentials in library media services. The California Commission on Teaching Credentials states that the teacher librarian service credential authorizes the holder to perform duties such as:
Instruct students in accessing, evaluating, using and integrating information and resources in the library program
Plan and coordinate school library programs with the instructional programs of a school district through collaboration with teachers
Select materials for school and district libraries
Develop programs for and deliver staff development for school library services
Coordinate or supervise library programs at the school, district or county level
Plan and conduct a course of instruction for those pupils who assist in the operation of school libraries
Supervise classified personnel assigned school library duties
Develop procedures for and management of the school and district libraries
(Teacher Librarian Service Credential 2022)
In addition to these duties the teacher librarian is the only teacher on campus who interacts with every student on campus across multiple grade levels and subject areas. This makes the teacher librarian one of the most accessible and well rounded teachers in the school.
Why do they matter?
Teacher librarians are the only horizontal teachers who work with every student across multiple subjects and grade levels. The teacher librarian is also the only teacher who is able to truly ask a student what they are interested in, and help them find information about their personal information needs. Whereas the classroom teacher must teach to the state standards, the librarian gets to teach to the individual student. (4CSLA 2014).
Amanda Jones, the 2021 School Library Journal Co-Librarian of the Year discussed five things administrators should know about librarians. She states, “School librarians not only support students, but we also support the faculty, administration, and community.” (Jones 2021). As stated before teacher librarians are horizontal teachers who reach a multitude of people on campus. Second she discusses, “Many studies link strong school libraries staffed with certified school librarians to student achievement” (Jones 2021). In the next section we will further discuss the studies that show strong library programs have a direct link to student achievement. Third she states, “School librarians can help implement literacy initiatives at the school, district, and state level.” (Jones 2021). Because Librarians work with all students and staff members across the school site, it should be natural for them to implement literacy incentives to boost student interest in reading. Fourth, “School librarians need full support from their administrators” (Jones 2021). She then goes on to discuss how librarians, who are also teachers, are often left out of professional development, and are often asked to do “other duties” that have nothing to do with reading, teaching or librarianship. Her last point is, “School librarians are often on the forefront of the latest educational technology tools and best practice research” (Jones 2021). Due to their dual credentials, and the nature of their work, librarians must be at the forefront of information and often technology.
How they help
There is mounting evidence that shows that having certified school librarians positively impacts student academic success. As stated,
According to the April 1 report, “The Washington State School Library Impact Study: Certified Teacher-Librarians, Library Quality and Student Achievement in Washington State Public Schools,” students who attend schools with certified teacher librarians (CTLs) and quality library facilities perform better on standardized tests and are far more likely to graduate.” (Sun 2015).
The study found that, “Facilities with CTLs had an 85 percent five-year graduation rate, vs. 79 percent for those without” (Sun 2015). The range becomes even more significant when schools who service a lower income population are examined. “The impact of high-quality CTL instruction is further heightened among students in high-poverty schools: The five-year graduation rate is 78.8 percent in schools with CTLs and 43.2 percent at those without.” (Sun 2015). These findings further drive the point that having quality credentialed librarians available at a school site regardless of student population will have a positive impact on student achievement.
It is often discussed that library programs are cut to allocate more funds for other areas of student needs. However,
Schools with higher rates of poverty, unemployment, and incidents of child abuse or neglect are less likely to have CTLs on staff.” and also, “Among libraries with CTLs, 72 percent accommodate between 21 and 100-plus students per day, while only 55 percent of libraries without CTLs receive these visits. Facilities with CTLs also have larger collections of print books (67 percent have 10,000 or more, compared to 44 percent without CTLs). (Sun 2015).
The numbers show only a fraction of how important having a credentialed teacher librarian is. Credentialed teacher librarians improve student academic achievement, improve rate of graduation, and help to strengthen library resources and community involvement. Although cuts are typically made from the library, funds should instead be allocated for the library so that schools can benefit from having a certified teacher librarian.
Advocacy and the teacher librarian
Even with numerous studies showing the importance of credentialed teacher librarians, the position of CTL is at an all time national low. States like California and Idaho have cut certified teacher librarian positions by over 70%. This creates disproportionality among access to literacy and widens the information and knowledge gap among the wealthy and those with low income. As stated previously schools with higher poverty levels are less likely to have credentialed teacher librarians and fully stocked libraries. I repeat this multiple times because students in poverty and who come from challenging backgrounds need the library the most, yet they have the least amount of access to these resources.
Advocacy for librarians is an essential part of the profession. However, librarians cannot advocate alone. Parents, teachers, administrators, and stakeholders must advocate for credentialed librarians and library programs. This can be difficult because more and more students are graduating having never set foot in a library, "This then impacts the whole library ecosystem,” says Kachel. “If we are graduating kids from high school [who] have never known a school library or librarian, and then, when they become tax paying citizens, we expect them to support libraries—well, that’s not going to happen.” (Hinton 2021). Furthermore, “School librarians must be bold, organize, and act at the “very local” level and make a clear argument that their position better serves the educational goals of their district than another position would.” (Hinton 2021). Through awareness, advocacy, and building a strong connection with the community, Librarians and the library system can thrive in the 21st century. Libraries continue to help with student academic achievement, and have been shown to be necessary throughout changing times. Providing certificated teacher librarians to all students is a necessity districts cannot afford to ignore.
(2022). Teacher Librarian Service Credential (CL-562). Commission on Teacher Credentialing https://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/teacher-librarian-services-credential-(cl-562)
4CSLA. (2014). Does Your School Have a Teacher Librarian? A CSLA Film [Video]. Youtube.
AASL advocacy brochures. (2011). American Library Association. http://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/tools/brochures
AASL Advocacy Toolkit: educated support for school libraries and school library professionals. (2018). American Association of School Librarians. https://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslissues/toolkits/AASLAdvocacyToolkit_180209.pdf
CSLA Advocacy Toolkit. California School Library Association. http://csla.net/csla-advocacy-information/
Every student succeeds act. (2022). California School Library Association. http://csla.net/csla-advocacy-information/essa/
Hinton, Marva. (2021), Librarians offer personal attention and community to students facing challenges. School Library Journal. https://www.slj.com/story/schoollibraries/librarians-offer-personal-attention-and-community-to-students-facing-challenges
Hinton, Marva. (2021). School libraries 2021: Advocacy is a necessary part of the job for school librarians. School Library Journal. https://www.slj.com/story/school-libraries-2021-advocacy-is-necessary-part-of-the-job-for-school-librarians
Hunt, Jonathan. (2018). Advocate this, not that. School Library Journal. https://www.slj.com/story/advocate-this-not-that
Jones, Amanda. (2021). Dear School Leaders: 5 Things You Need to Know about Your School Librarian. Knowledge quest: Journal of the American Association of School Libraries.https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/dear-school-leaders-5-things-you-need-to-know-about-your-school-librarian/
Kletter, Melanie. (2021). Study finds fewer school librarians in districts that need them the most. School Library Journal. https://www.slj.com/story/schoollibraries/SLIDE-study-fewer-school-librarians-in-districts-that-need-them-most
Lance, K. C., & Kachel, D. E. (2021, July). Perspectives on school librarian employment in the United States, 2009-10 to 2018-19. SLIDE: The School Librarian Investigation—Decline or Evolution?https://libslide.org/publications/perspectives/
Lance, Keith Curry. Kachel, Debra E. (2018). Why school librarians matter: What years of research tells us. Phi Delta Kappan. https://kappanonline.org/lance-kachel-school-librarians-matter-years-research/
Lewis, Melanie. (2020). Advocating for the school library through relationships. Knowledge Quest. 49(1), 46-51.
Sun, Carolyn. (2015). Washington study further ties quality library programs to student success.. School Library Journal. https://www.slj.com/story/washington-study-further-ties-quality-library-programs-to-student-success