500 Hats

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500 Hats

 

If we are teacher librarians then these are some of the hats we wear…

hat_aartist

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

 

hat_b

 

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

hat_c

 

counsellor

customer service officer

clerk

critic

chef

 

offering wisdom & solace for late books & late assignments

assisting anyone who comes through the doors
keeping all the paperwork in order

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

 

hat_d

 

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

 

hat_e

 

engineer

economist

events manager


educator

 

 

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

 

hat_f

 

facilitator

financial planner

 

 

making teaching and learning easier

identifying priorities and budgeting for these

 

hat_g

gymnast

gatekeeper

 being flexible to deal with all the program changes

opening the gate to the world of words and wonder

hat_h

housekeeper

 keeping everything in order so our clients can  find what they’re looking for

 

hat_i

 

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

 

 

hat_j

 

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

 

hat_k

 

knitter

knowledge specialist

 

weaving children and stories together

knowing where it is or how to get it

 

hat_l

 

learner

leader


landscaper

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

hat_m

 

marketer

market researcher


matchmaker

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

hat_n

networker

working with all staff and students to meet their needs and letting the community know what’s new and what’s happening

hat_o

 

omniscient


outreach worker

 

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

hat_p

 

participant

policy maker

publisher

provocateur

patchworker

planner


publicist

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

hat_q

 

 

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

hat_rreader

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

hat_s

 

shopper

safety officer

spy


Santa

supervisor


social worker

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

hat_t

 

teacher


team member

 

 

knowing how to make our clients independent users of any library

collaborating with all staff

 

hat_u

undertaker

giving unwanted resources an undetected and unobtrusive burial

hat_v

visionary

 seeing the future before it’s here and planning to  make it a reality

hat_w

 

window dresser

webmaster

 

 

constructing interesting & eye-catching displays

keeping the library webpages and social media sites up-to-date

 

hat_x

 

xtrovert


xpert

 

 

getting our message of service & responsibilities across to those who don’t know or understand

in information collection, retrieval & management, literacy development

 

hat_y

 

yes-man

youngster

yours

 

 

it’s the word we use most

in spirit at least

whenever you ask for our services

 

hat_z

zealots

 about helping you help the students

 

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5 Comments

5 thoughts on “500 Hats

  1. 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!

  2. 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.

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