SLASA Teacher Librarian Role Statement

Teacher librarians have a key role to play in the development of information literacy. School leaders are encouraged to support their teacher librarians to develop clear role statements, reflecting their dual role as both teachers and information specialists. The teacher librarian’s flexibility and positive response to change will directly influence the success of information literacy programs.

The following role statement can be adapted to suit the level of responsibility of the teacher librarian.
When fulfilling all aspects of the role, the qualified teacher librarian is operating at a leadership level.


The Role of the Teacher Librarian


Teaching & Learning

  • Assist students to seek, critically evaluate, synthesize and present information
  • Incorporate the essential knowledge, skills and dispositions of the SACSA framework into teaching and learning programs
  • Help students use a range of resources and technologies
  • Provide opportunities for students to work in groups, individually or whole class
  • Collaboratively plan and teach units of work with subject and classroom teachers to develop information literacy
  • Be inclusive of the diverse needs of learners

Leadership

  • Sustain a high level of professional knowledge
  • Demonstrate practices that reflect current educational directions
  • Develop and document library resource centre policies, set goals and objectives and evaluate according to changing school needs
  • Contribute to the professional development of staff
  • Function as a member of the school leadership and/or curriculum team
  • Participate in the on-going development of the school's Information and Communication Technology plan
  • Facilitate knowledge management processes
  • Advocate the need for students to be information literate

Curriculum Involvement

  • Be informed and proactive about current curriculum documents and developments, e.g. SACSA
  • Participate as a partner in planning, implementing and evaluating school policies relating to curriculum
  • Actively promote student information literacy across the curriculum
  • Develop with teachers a school-wide information skills continuum
  • Work with school leaders to integrate Information and Communication Technology into the curriculum

Management

  • Organise efficient procedures and systems for delivery of services, including flexible time-tabling for use of the library resource centre
  • Develop and administer resource budgets and be accountable to school administration
  • Coordinate the roles and daily tasks of library resource centre staff and volunteers
  • Manage the automated library system and related technology
  • Coordinate displays, special events and activities to support student learning
  • Contribute to the school webpage or Intranet

Literature Promotion

  • Expose students to a range of genres in both print and digital formats
  • Develop strategies to foster a love of reading and literature for leisure
  • Promote best quality literature and authors reflecting a variety of cultures and themes
  • Guide students in their reading choices
  • Use selection tools/ reviewing journals to keep informed about current literature for children and young adults
  • Collaborate with teachers to develop literature-based reading programs

Services

  • Select resources to support the information needs of the school community
  • Employ strategies to maximize access to print and electronic resources
  • Facilitate access to community resources and information services
  • Instruct students in specialist information tools and services
  • Provide a friendly learning environment in which students feel confident that their information needs will be addressed
  • Provide access to local knowledge networks
  • Assist clients in the use of the Internet and Intranet
  • Ensure that the library resource centre is multi-functional and a focal point for student learning

 

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