The Role of the Teacher Librarian

Can you remember the teacher librarian at your school?  My Primary School had Miss Patterson who was terrific.  She read us stories and helped find the cards when returning our library books (pre-computer days).  She also introduced me to the books of Laura Ingles-Wilder and Enid Blyton as well as assisting in locating information in non-fiction books on her neatly stacked shelves.  My secondary school librarian was a touch more rushed in her approach.  Computers were introduced at this time but not as a working system in the library.

Fast forward to 2011 and the teacher librarian no longer manages a simple library full of books but a digital resource centre without boundaries. The teacher librarian role has developed, changed and transformed.  They must now assist the school community in functioning in an increasingly complex world (Purcell).  They must also  assist students in becoming information literate.  Not to mention becoming ethical information users.  There is the expectation that as an information specialist the teacher librarian must stay ahead of the school community in digital information.  While grounded in sound teaching pedagogy.  As much as I love reading for enjoyment and as much as I hope to instill that love in my students, a teacher librarian has much more to do than this.  And, to be honest, I find that an exciting prospect!

As for personal reading, I have been far too busy completing a uni assignment to finish Lord John.  However, a little while ago I was invited to read The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler and to be part of its review process.  Mystery/thriller is generally not my choice of books.  Surprisingly I really enjoyed this and couldn't put it down.  I look forward to his next book.