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Ateacher-librarian, also known as aschool librarian orschool library media specialist (SLMS) is a certifiedlibrarian who also has training inteaching.
According to theAmerican Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of theAmerican Library Association (ALA), the official title for a certified librarian who works in a school in the United States isschool librarian. In Australia, the term isteacher-librarian.
The teacher librarian performs four main leadership roles: teacher, instructional partner, information specialist, and program administrator.
School librarians may read to children, assist them with schoolwork and selecting books, and also guiding them on which books to use for their projects, especially the secondary school ones. Some school librarians see classes on a "flexible schedule". A flexible schedule means that rather than having students come to the library for instruction at a fixed time every week, the classroom teacher schedules library time when the expertise of the school librarian, library and information skills, or materials are needed as part of a learning experience.
In the instructional partner role, school librarians collaborate with classroom teachers to create independent learners by fostering students'research,information literacy, technology, communication, and critical thinking skills. School librarians play a major role in infusinginformation literacy concepts and skills into secondary school curriculum and implements the enhancement ofinformation literacy knowledge practices and dispositions into the secondary school education system.[1]
As information specialists, school librarians develop a resource base for the school by using the curriculum and student interests to identify and obtain library materials. They also organize and maintain the library collection in order to promote independent reading and lifelong learning. Materials in the library collection can be located using an Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC).
This role also encompasses many activities relating to technology including the integration of resources in a variety of formats: periodical databases, web sites, digital video segments, podcasts, blog and wiki content, digital images, virtual classrooms, etc. School librarians are often responsible for audio-visual equipment and other technology used in the classroom. In some schools, they are also tasked as the technology specialist.
As program administrators, school librarians define, lead, and manage school library media programs by establishing library policies: overseeing the library budget, planning the physical and virtual library space, and maintaining a positive and innovative learning atmosphere. Librarians also maintain the collection by adding items to enhance the curriculum. Many times, librarians are also responsible for repairing damaged books and periodicals.[2]
To become an accredited teacher-librarian in Australia, one must be eligible for an associate membership of theAustralian Library and Information Association. This is the Master of Education (Teacher-Librarianship) course atCharles Sturt University, available for professionally-qualified teachers.[3][4]
To become an accredited teacher-librarian or, "professeur documentaliste[5]", in France, one must take a state exam, as teachers in France are employed by the government and must possess a master's degree. There is a master's, validated by the government named "Master Métiers de l'enseignement, de l'éducation et de la formation" or "Master MEEF"[6] (Master Teaching, education and training professions), for all teachers, including teacher-librarians. Any person who possess a master's can take the state exam, "CAPES"[7] or "Certificat d'Aptitude au Professorat de l'Enseignement Secondaire" (Certificate of Aptitude for Secondary Education Teaching). French librarian teachers work in middle schools and high schools, and their classrooms/libraries are called "documentation and information center" (CDI : Centre de Documentation et d'Information).
For someone to qualify as teacher-librarian in Nigeria you must possess any of the following:[8]
However, teachers with certificate of attendance of teacher-librarian workshop can be put in charge of the school library where there is no qualified teacher-librarian.[8]
In theUnited States, there is no national qualification for school librarians. Instead, each state sets its own requirements. In many states a teacher-librarian must have a baccalaureate degree and a certificate insecondary orelementary education, and must also complete a school library media program and gain state certification.Programs in library science vary between institutions, however, state requirements must be met before a library media specialist is allowed to teach. Some school library media specialists hold the full Master of Library Science (MLS) orMaster of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree, while others do not. In many instances, school librarians who have an MLS degree but do not have the requisite teaching credentials must obtain these teaching credentials and classroom teaching experience first before they are permitted to work as teacher-librarians. Often additional library science graduate coursework is required, focused specifically on issues pertaining to school librarianship.
Teacher-librarians rely on the support of local, state, national, and international professional organizations for career and professional development, employment opportunities, and funding. Groups like theInternational Association of School Librarianship,[9] theAmerican Association of School Librarians, theSchool Library Association in the United Kingdom and theAustralian School Library Association[10] host websites, publish journals, and sponsor conferences, workshops, and other events which showcase current research and practices in the field.
In the United States, teacher-librarians are also supported by state organizations which advocate for teachers at the district and school level. A comprehensive list is available from the ALA.[11]
In December 2015, school library programs fell under the benefits for theEvery Student Succeeds Act, a law that opens the use of federal funding for school library programs.[12]
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