From: Beth Swantz [mailto:
bsw...@mphawks.org]
I am a Teacher Librarian who is no longer working in a library.
Instead our district has added 2 positions called Learning Design Coaches -
one works with the elementary and I work with the MS and HS.
We also have a K-12 traditional Teacher Librarian on staff. I work with the
HS and MS staff and help to integrate technology into their curriculum. I
work closely with the librarian to provide support for teachers. She does
more of the researchcentered work and I help with more of the techno work.
Although our jobs criss-cross frequently.
This is the 2nd year for this model and we continue to hone the jobs.
We have found, at the secondary level, that teachers don't really know what
to ask their teacher librarians' to do. Instead, they only think about the
'book' end of things. With the addition of this new position teachers are
more free to discuss and request a wide range of help.
I am not saying this is the best model - I would like to still be the
teacher librarian for the MS and HS - but by tearing the job title apart we
now have a team of 3. We meet monthly or more to bounce ideas off one
another and build our skills. We also pass along email requests that seem to
fit with our varied skill sets. The teacher librarian still does the task
of collection management - I help with book fairs at the MS.But we share the
classroom support.
I think the evolution of librarian has been an interesting process. In our
district our past elementary librarian was also the most techie teacher in
our district. She worked to create tech projects for all elementary students
and tried to coordinate with the classroom teachers. That worked with varied
success. But, because she was the go-to person for tech issues and ideas our
elementary teachers already saw the library as a techie centered place. That
didn't happen with the secondary librarian. She maintained a very
traditional connection with classes.
Just and FYI - We are a 1500 student district in rural Iowa.
Beth Swantz
Learning Design Coach, Mid-Prairie CSD, Wellman
Technology Coordinator, Keota CSD, Keota
Abraham Lincoln:
The best way to predict your future is to create it.
Currently Reading: *Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore* by Robin Sloane