Katie Feldkamp

Philosophy Statement

LIS 60607

4 November 2018

School Librarian Philosophy Statement

A school library is the heart of the school, and the school librarian is the person who

makes it so. From supporting students and teachers, to advocating learning opportunities, and

managing information needs for all, school librarians are a part of every aspect of what the

library offers. As Malespina (2016) reminds us, the library is a classroom just like others in the

school. You need certified subject area and special area teachers. Why is the library any

different?

With continual advancements in technology, the way in which school libraries operate

has changed significantly in the last two decades. School library professionals and leaders have

experienced a momentous shift in both the services and resources they offer as well as the space

they occupy, and the evolution continues (Curtis, 2017). However, it is more than just

understanding how the role of the school library and teacher librarian is changing, it’s important

for principals and school leaders to recognize the value school library professionals offer them in

the form of leadership through adaptive change (Curtis, 2017). In order to provide students,

teachers, and other faculty members with the resources they need to succeed, a school librarian

offers a variety of skills, knowledge, and opportunities:

 School librarians create a collaborative learning space. The school library is a safe space

for students create and share ideas. Having an inviting, flexible, and open space with

plenty of room to move around helps to encourage and engage student learning.
 School librarians are advocates for the library and all it has to offer. They require the

leadership skills necessary to run the library, as well as have open communication

between students, teachers, faculty, parents, and administrators. Having a supportive

community who knows how important the library is makes it easier to convey

information about what the library needs and how to improve the library for the future.

 School librarians plan and create goals for the library’s program. Based on the needs of

the library users, the school librarian leads and continues to look ahead for what is

coming down the road. They continually scan the landscape. As the information and

communication landscapes continue to shift, they plan. They plan for change. Not for

themselves, not just for the library, but for the building and for their learners (Valenza,

2010).

 School librarians collaborate with teachers. Whether it’s helping create lesson plans,

providing class materials, or working alongside them as an educator, school librarians

help teachers just as much as they help students.

 School librarians give students open access to materials and information from a diverse

and widely varied collection. The school librarian not only develops the library’s book

and media collection, but they also look for ways to meet student’s individual

information needs. Whether it’s meeting the accommodations of an IEP or helping with

different styles, the school librarian makes sure that all students have access to the

information that they need to succeed.

 School librarians model use of technology. The digital world is always changing, and

new information is being created every second. As new technologies become available, it

is the responsibility of the school librarian to be aware of their potential in the school,
 evaluate their use in the school, and then support their use once they’ve been installed.

Besides being open to the change that comes with new technology, school librarians also

have to teach students how to be respectful and ethical citizens of the web.

 School librarians are information literacy instructors. In order for students to undergo

their own research, they first have to understand how to approach it. With so much

information available on the internet, it’s important to understand that not all of it is

reliable. Students need to be equipped with the knowledge of how to evaluate and

analyze information.

 School librarians prepare students to become lifelong learners. School librarians

empower students, giving them the tools they need to succeed and a safe space to

collaborate, study, or simply read. Students also learn the skills required to do well in

college, and beyond to take on the digital and corporate worlds.

School library professionals are adapting, innovating, experimenting and collaborating

more than ever and they are doing so with agility and enthusiasm. It is their skills as adaptive and

agile leaders that has seen school library professionals navigate obstacles and turn challenges

into opportunities which improve educational outcomes (Curtis, 2017). The more effort a school

librarian puts into their library, the more it thrives and prospers. While it’s not always easy to

keep up with the many responsibilities, it is certainly rewarding.

Curtis, N. (2017). The role of leadership in the “Ongoing importance of school libraries.” Access,

(3), 42.

Malespina, E. (2016). Listen up, school boards! An open letter from a New Jersey

librarian. School Library Journal, (7), 16.

Valenza, J. (2010, December 3). A revised manifesto. Retrieved from

http://blogs.slj.com/neverendingsearch/2010/12/03/a-revised-manifesto/

Woolls, B., & Coatney, S. (2018). The school library manager : surviving and thriving. Santa

Barbara, California : Libraries Unlimited.