If there are students at the tables or in the lab, they see that I am working on literacy or research skills.
However, if the library is empty, people may assume it is my prep (really?) and they have no idea that one of the other hats that I wear happens in my office: from ordering books, to preparing them for the collection, from managing my budget to planning literacy lessons and in the "stacks" weeding and pulling resources.
In our District, new books are sent to the District resource center for cataloguing if they are not already in our database. This means that most French books must be sent for cataloguing. This is both a blessing (we do not have to do it) and a curse (they are overworked and it sometimes takes up to one month to be processed). My awesome, creative, super-competent Library Assistant does the barcoding and entering of any book information into the system. I help with the final steps and the creation of copy categories as a way for teachers to quickly access the resources.
Just like the majority (90%) of an iceberg's mass is hidden below the surface, a large portion (NOT 90%) of what I do is done without children in my library!
The Greater Victoria School District's description of the role of the Teacher-Librarian is very detailed and accurately describes the many hats we wear. Time and budget affect the programs we offer, however, all of these roles are essential. It is up to us as Teacher-Librarian's to provide the best program that we can with the resources (financial and time) that we have been given. We have to be optimistic and believe that things will improve!
Although my print reference section is small and not as current as it should be, the digital resources that we have available to our students makes our collection available to them 24/7. And yet, if a student is using digital resources for their research, they will gravitate to the internet to "Google" for information. I have come to the conclusion that this is a mind-set that will need changing. In order to change this, I will have to start with the teachers who teach students in gr. 3, 4, and 5 to help them discover the simplicity and accuracy of the information available through these digital resources. By using these databases, we are in fact focussing on the collection of information rather than adding the critical thinking part of figuring out whether it is a credible source. This step will come later, once they have had practice...
I think that the quality of the reference services that I provide are on the low end of Acceptable. My collection needs a severe weed - although I am getting better at it, I need the help of an impartial expert (District Teacher-Librarian) to help me remove outdated and worn materials from my shelves. Because of the new curriculum, there are holes in the collection that we are slowly filling, but, I purchase books at a faster rate than these can be processed. I have SO MANY new books in my back room it is unbelievable! A larger budget would enable us to provide a wider selection of books on specific subjects as well as broader range of reading ability.
After the readings in this section of the course, I feel that our/my policies need to be clearly stated. This is in fact a form of accountability. As a District, the TL's have decided to revisit and update our handbook and the policies that it contains. I will be able to bring a few examples to our discussions.
Meanwhile, I need to focus on providing the best reference services I can with the resources I have at my disposition and in the time that I have been given!
Images
Freeman, Susan . My Vintage Hat Rack Has a New Home . N.d. Texas. Ash Tree Cottage. Web. 16 Feb. 2017. http://ashtreecottage.blogspot.ca/2013/10/my-vintage-hat-rack-has-new-home.html.
Ice Burg floating on water during daytime. 2007. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Pixabay.com. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.
Other
"Regulation 2224 Teacher Librarian." Greater Victoria School District No 61. Greater Victoria School District No 61, 28 Sept. 2000. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. https://www.sd61.bc.ca/our-district/documents/name/regulation-2224-teacher-librarian/.
What Is a Teacher-Librarian. Document. BC Teacher-Librarians, 2017. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. http://www.bctf.ca/bctla/.
