Topic 1

The Canadian article is a text that is looking back over the last 25 years in Canada’s education history. It shows the decline in funding for teacher librarians and the effect it is having on their schools. It is a persuasive text that is trying to encourage educators to see the benefits of having trained library specialist in schools. It clearly outlines the positive outcome for students, school communities and staff in having an active and capable teacher librarian. It states a range of research to show the positive impact this can have on academic results in schools. It outlines the essential role of the librarian and the need for collaboration in the school environment. It is primarily written to communicate this decline and to encourage a change in this country’s school system.

Herring’s article on the whole is a more positive outlook. Herring outlines the role of the teacher librarian and library in the school. It communicates what is happening internationally in terms of the role, mission of the school, information literacy, collection development, standards and technology. The article is looking forward to the future and I found it to be a good overview of where this course is going, giving me a small taste of a range of topics that influence school libraries.

Both articles acknowledge the important role libraries play, Herring uses the language that the library is a vital part of the school and the Canadian article acknowledges the library as the heart of the school.

Future Career?I am not a teacher librarian but a classroom teacher working towards the role. I found the Herring article to be an excellent introduction to the teacher librarian role. It clearly shows the positive impact teacher librarians can have and what a dynamic role it is. The Canadian article is a window into what can happen in any school system that dismisses the teacher librarian role as tokenistic or out of date. It shows it is important that the teacher librarians work hard to make their role an essential component in the school. Essential for both student learning and collaboration with classroom teachers to enhance teaching programs. If the role is being done well it will be seen as a vital part of the school community.