LIBE 477: Inquiry Blog #2 - Staying in the Loop

Meena Rakhra                 Staying in the Loop
LIBE 477                             Inquiry Blog #2

Create A Personal Philosophy

As a TL you have dual qualifications in both teaching and library management.  I think this allows teacher librarians to see the ‘big picture’ from the perspective of both student and teacher across grade levels and subject levels.  As listed by Harvey (2005) and IFLA (2015), the responsibilities and expectations of a TL are innumerable. This is where creating a personal philosophy and mission statement can help in guiding the complexities of the job. Weisburg & Toor (2015) maintain the importance of filtering tasks through your philosophy, mission and vision to help guide you. Miller and Bass (2019) acknowledge the importance of TLs to learn the school culture and what the community needs. As a TL, you are one of the ‘few people in the school that connects with every student and supports every teacher’ (pg. 39) and thus have a unique perspective. 

Here is what I would like to maintain in the LLC in which I work in and serve.

Watch my Powtoon: Library Blueprint

My personal philosophy will focus on: 

• Policies - resource borrowing and library rules, weeding, collection management

• Clientele - staff, students, administration

• Library Image - inclusive, diverse, safe and comfortable

• Budget - technology, fiction/nonfiction books, resources for teachers, decor

• Virtual presence - build a website?  

• Collaboration - with teachers, volunteers, monitors, PAC, administration

Exploring and developing a library program will look different for everyone because of differing interests, passions, and strengths.   Personally, I would like to make mental health and wellness a focus, entwined with ADST and literacy and create a safe and welcoming place for staff and students.

Strategies, Tools, Resources and Networks 

To begin creating my toolbox of resources, I have leaned into the SD36 Teacher Librarian Microsoft Teams group.  Here, I feel supported with any questions I may have, I can get ideas for lesson planning, technology help, collection management support, and so much more.  This is a great place to connect with other TLs in the district and to stay up to date with new initiatives and events and keep your library program evolving instead of remaining stagnant from year to year.  My district also has a Learning Resource Support team that will provide me with training this summer for my TL start in the fall.  They can help me with library circulation, book acquisition, maintenance, weeding and any other collection management related information.

Some friends have connected me to TL’s in other districts as well.  Since they have experience in the job they were able to share some great ideas that have worked for them and resources they have found to be successful and things that have not worked.  For example, some things they have taught me :

• Use recipe cards for library cards.  Affix the barcode on one side, students decorate the other side.  TL keeps the cards in a folder for each class. Keep the cards for future years and only create new ones for new students coming in.
• I was introduced to a few digital resources beyond what the district provides through my chats with other TLs.  These sites can be a source for science learning through videos and discussions.  These can also be communicated to teachers to help support their unit and lesson planning.

Live It Earth

Tig Tag Jr

Twig

Although it may be out of your comfort zone to reach out to strangers, I think making an effort to connect with other TLs can be really beneficial.  They may become your mentors!  From what I’ve heard, mentors are a wealth of knowledge and feedback.  

Source: Google Images

Other places I have turned to to help me create a LLC that fosters my philosophy and goals have been:

Pinterest

Pinterest is very user friendly, there are lots of visuals, it’s a great way to organize topics and ideas into folders. I’ve been using Pinterest for classroom ideas, and it will be no different with the library.

Instagram

    There are a few library blogs that I have found that align with my philosophy.  There are posts about digital resources, new books, lesson ideas, STEM and technology ideas.  I find looking through the posts to be inspiring. Sometimes it can leave me feeling inadequate but for the most part there’s always something good to take away.  I usually find other feeds from the one I follow which is also an added benefit.

  

Blogs

Through one of my internet search journeys, I came across this site that lists some top library blogs.  I think blogs are another great way to explore new ideas.

https://www.teachercertificationdegrees.com/top-blogs/school-library/

Twitter

Twitter is new to me, and something I do not readily engage with.  I posted this how-to video I came across to help me, maybe if you’re new to Twitter like me, it’ll help you too!

Final Thoughts

    I am lucky in this day and age to have so many ways to access resources and support.  I will continue to use the above listed opportunities along with professional development courses and talks that serve the needs of my school community and culture.  The growth of student learning can only be achieved by ensuring that you, as a TL, are observing, listening, identifying and responding to the needs of the school community (Miller & Bass, 2019).  Observations can allow you to decide whether a makerspace needs to be added, more SEL resources need to be acquired or if there’s a call for new technology (3D printer or new Ipads).  Exploration and discovery can lead to personal growth as well as growth in student and staff learning. 

References

Harvey, C. A. (2005). What Should a Teacher Expect a School Library Media Specialist to be? Library Media Connection, 23(5). 

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. (2015). IFLA School Library Guidelines. 2nd revised edition.

Miller, S., & Bass, W. (2019).  Leading from the Library: Help your School Community Thrive in the Digital Age. International Society for Technology in Education.

Toor, R., & Weisburg, H. K. (2015). "Your Philosophy". New on the Job: A School Librarian's Guide to Success. 2nd edition. Chicago: American Library Association.