500 Hats
If we are teacher librarians then these are some of the hats we wear…
accountant analyst
actor astrologer assessor advocate
|
creating displays, labels, signage preparing and managing the budget deciding how to catalog and shelve each resource so it is accessible bringing the story to life so children want to read predicting requests & having resources to meet them making sure everything meets the needs, interests and abilities of our users ensuring our community knows what we do and why we do it so the teacher librarian remains a critical position in the school
|
bibliotherapist book keeper bridge-builder bricklayer |
suggesting the right book for the right moment for the imagination and information keeping existing connections solid and making new ones helping students build their knowledge and understanding bit by bit, layer by layer |
counsellor customer service officer clerk critic chef |
offering wisdom & solace for late books & late assignments assisting anyone who comes through the doors using selection aides to ensure that all resources are the best fit making sure the collection has all the right ingredients to make it just right for the needs, interests and abilities of its users
|
doctor diplomat detective decision maker
|
working miracles on damaged and sick books dealing with discontented staff & parents hunting down obscure requests selecting & collecting the right resources
|
engineer economist events manager
|
making our displays work making $1.00 do the work of $100.00 organising author visits, book clubs, book fairs, Book Week and a host of other celebrations our primary role
|
facilitator financial planner
|
making teaching and learning easier identifying priorities and budgeting for these
|
gymnast gatekeeper |
being flexible to deal with all the program changes opening the gate to the world of words and wonder |
housekeeper |
keeping everything in order so our clients can find what they’re looking for
|
ideas person
interior decorator ICT technician internet whizz informant investigator
|
suggesting how the library’s roles, resources & services can be integrated into the curriculum making the library attractive as well as functional troubleshooting all those computer problems knowing just which site will suit and where it is ensuring our community has all the information it needs investigating changes in curriculum and pedagogy and how these can be supported through the collection and services
|
juggler jack-of-all-trades
|
juggling timetables and classes and administration knowing the whole curriculum across the school and the needs, interests and abilities our clients and supporting these through resources and services
|
knitter knowledge specialist |
weaving children and stories together knowing where it is or how to get it
|
learner leader
legal adviser |
demonstrating how we are all lifelong learners in curriculum, information management & retrieval, professional learning, community services providing a safe, interesting and challenging environment assisting staff and students to use resources legally and ethically |
marketer market researcher
magician |
advertising and advocating our services and resources knowing what the new trends will be and having these ready
matching clients with just the right resource for their needs being able to pull “that book with the blue cover about dogs that I read last year” off the shlef |
networker |
working with all staff and students to meet their needs and letting the community know what’s new and what’s happening |
omniscient
|
knowing what’s happening in every subject in every level across the school seeking ways to reach out to those who believe the library has nothing that is relevant to their needs |
participant policy maker publisher provocateur patchworker planner
psychologist |
in local, national and international events creating the what, the why & the how in the library sharing students’ work in print and online challenging students to try harder and fly higher creating a seamless quilt of all the roles we have creating a strategic plan to take the collection and services forward to meet actual and anticipated needs sharing with pupils, peers, parents, principals, even politicians knowing just when a staff member needs a cuddle, a coffee, a chocolate and a listening ear |
quiz master quilter |
being able to work out just what the client wants pulling all the layers of the teacher librarian’s role into an enveloping blanket |
researcher reporter |
knowing the collection is an essential part of our job finding the answers to those tricky questions keeping teachers and parents in the loop about what their children are learning when they have “library lesso |
shopper safety officer spy
supervisor
stalker |
always looking for just the right resource keeping the students safe on the World Wide Web snooping to see what’s happening (or about to) and having the resources ready offering staff and students gifts or new reads and resources overseeing and supporting paraprofessionals, parent volunteers and students assistants providing a safe haven for those seeking it if you don’t return your resources |
teacher
|
knowing how to make our clients independent users of any library collaborating with all staff
|
undertaker |
giving unwanted resources an undetected and unobtrusive burial |
visionary |
seeing the future before it’s here and planning to make it a reality |
window dresser webmaster
|
constructing interesting & eye-catching displays keeping the library webpages and social media sites up-to-date
|
xtrovert
|
getting our message of service & responsibilities across to those who don’t know or understand in information collection, retrieval & management, literacy development
|
yes-man youngster yours
|
it’s the word we use most in spirit at least whenever you ask for our services
|
zealots |
about helping you help the students |
What a fantastic site Barbara! I have enjoyed exploring and if I was still teaching I would be dipping in on a regular basis. Thank you for providing this for the profession!
You are truly a Super-Librarian and you’re energy and powers to create and inspire are amazing. Thankyou for everything you do and share.
This is fabulous – a fun way to highlight all that we do!
Spot on, Barbara! You have covered our multiplicity of roles so well…
Thank you – I have enjoyed using your website and blog over the years.