The role of the school library has changed greatly throughout the past few decades. When I was in elementary school we would visit the library. By the time I was in high school, we went to visit the media center. The change in the name of the place we went to visit accompanied a change in the types of services which we were receiving. By high school, even though we were primarily only using written text, the library was home to a multitude of available media. Nonetheless, that which was available then pales in comparison to that which is available in the modern school library. As the word for the space evolved, so to did the title for the person who ran it.
I have worked for the San Francisco Unified School District for nine years. During that time I have worked at three different schools, but the school communities have all referred to me by the same title: librarian. But this is elementary school, and as the majority of my students are English Language Learners (some kids still call me Mr. instead of Ms.), I wouldn't expect them to quibble over distinctions in my title. Regardless, I find myself thinking differently about the role that I provide and consequently about the title I prefer to use.
Living in California, I have become accustomed to the title teacher librarian. I like this idea because it acknowledges the teaching aspect of the role. The job involves the instruction, not only of students, but also of the entire school community. It is up to each librarian to decide how best to serve their school community. "...the media specialist who is a true leader can manage instruction becoming a curriculim coach for teachers as well as students, while another might choose to collaborate with teaching" (Woolls, 2008, p. 22). However a librarian chooses to define their role will influence the entire school community.
With the rise of the media center, came the popularity of the term "media specialist". This term, I feel, acknowledges the changes in technology that have affected the library; it points to the fact that librarians are not just working with books, but with a wide range of sources available in numerous formats. For many years, types of technology with which we worked guided our self-definition. I feel as if this is beginning to change. Now, librarians are working to help students learn how to learn-- to become independent learners. "School library media specialists stress the elements of critical thinking that relate specifically to information literacy, such as analyze, verify, problem solve, infer, transfer, find evidence, and synthesize"(Woolls, 2008, p. 32). These skills are critical for students to receive and librarians have moved toward providing them. Does this mean that soon people will want to change the title to information literacy specialists?
The debate will continue, and there is no clear answer as to what teacher librarians ought to be called. "After a focused and extensive discussion, the AASL Board of Directors voted to adopt school librarian as the title which reflects the roles of the 21st-century school library professional as a leader, instructional partner, information specialist, teacher, and program administrator" (AASL Votes, 2010). I feel as if the title of school librarian does not fully depict the many aspects of the job. However, the title is just a title. The critical work that we do means so much more.
"adopt_aasl," American Library Association, January 16, 2010.
http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2010/january2010/adopt_aasl.cfm (Accessed October 06, 2010)
Document ID: 573600
Woolls, B. (2008). The school library media manager. Westport: Libraries Unlimited.
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