Why do teachers need school librarians? 5 questions to ask yourself.

How often have you walked past your school library and never given a second thought to the person who works in that room? Or you notice that there are students in there reading books and working on the computers and think 'that's nice'. You may even encourage your students to go and choose a book occasionally and think that you are doing your bit.

What if someone suddenly said that your school library was closing and the room was going to become a gym. Would you really be upset by the loss of such a resource or would you secretly not be all that bothered? Do you ever think about the person who is working in there who is desperate to help you and your students? Do you ever wonder why that person is constantly trying to stop you in the corridor when you are busy? Do you understand the opportunities you are missing? 

Photo by Diego PH on Unsplash

You have the power in your hands to open your eyes to change. Is it time to take stock and think about what your school library means to you as a teacher? The school library is there for you as well as your students and are you missing out on something that may make your teaching life easier?


Ask yourself these questions:-

1. When was the last time I went to the school library?
2. When was the last time I talked to the school library staff about my curriculum?
3. Do I know what the library staff can do for me and my students?
4. When was the last time I looked at the resources for my subject or encouraged my students to do the same?
5. Do I know what online resources are available for my subject?

If you don't know the answer to any or all of the above questions then I would encourage you to approach your library staff and start the conversation. Teaching was never meant to be something you do on your own and working with the library staff may just be the thing that is missing from your teaching.

Did you know that the school library:-

• Can provide you with free resources for your subject that will relieve the pressure on your departmental budget and even your own pocket.
• Can provide space for these resources in the library so that your classroom is not full of resources that you only need once a year.
• Can provide resources on request - yes, if the budget is there they will buy books for you!
• Can provide online resources that are subject specific. 
• Can provide a space outside your classroom for you to teach. 

Did you know that the library staff can:-

• teach research skills - referencing, plagiarism etc.
• teach digital literacy - online research, digital tools, Google searching
• teach digital citizenship - social media, online collaboration etc.
• connect you with other educators, schools and professionals around the world
• support and train you in using new online tools

If you need more ideas, don't just take my word for it there are many school library staff out there willing to share ideas with you. Take a look at these amazing blogs 

Read research rest repeat  by Kathleen Curry Smith

Library Media Talk  by Stony Evans

Library Stuff by Barbara Band

Heart of the School  by Caroline Roche

Over the last few years, I have noticed that teachers are being encouraged more and more to use technology in the classroom. There are those that have moved into this world comfortably, who can use Google responsibly and understand how to navigate it well, demonstrating to their students the skill needed to do this properly. Teachers who are comfortable in this digital world are also happy to connect their students through hangouts and online digital tools like Flipgrid and Padlet but there are so many more that are not. 

Are you a teacher reading this that has never heard of Flipgrid or Padlet? Does the thought of having another class from across the world talk to your students fill you with dread? Are you unsure how to teach your students how to access academic resources? Would you like more books in your classroom? Would you like support? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then next time you walk by your school library don't pass walk in and say hello.

My blog has moved to a new website. If you enjoyed this then head over to take a look https://ehutchinson44.wixsite.com/schoollibraries/blog

Librarians and teachers - How to make an information literacy framework work for you.

What is an information literacy framework and why do schools need one?

An information literacy framework is the building block of skills that every student needs to become competent in todays world of information overload. It is the set of skills that ensures that every student becomes independent learners and critical thinkers. So why do we not already have one in every school? Is it a lack of understanding of what information literacy is? Is it because we think that Google can answer everything? Is it because we believe that all students can already do this? I truly have no idea, but over the last few years it has become apparent that although students are very competent at using technology their ability to research has not changed from the time that we only had books and if anything it has become worse.

Many school librarians are asked to run research lessons for various classes across many schools. This tends to look very similar whether it is a junior class or secondary class. We help them to think of keywords and to use the library catalogue to find books and curated websites. Depending on their age we may continue to show them how to use the other online resources that are available. This lesson seems to tick the box for many teachers, however, I would suspect that after this lesson the chances of students using the library catalogue or online resources in a lesson again is very slim.

In some schools that I have worked in I have been asked to show students as young as 7 and 8  to evaluate websites. This unrealistic expectation of what primary students should be able to do is difficult. The pressure teachers are under to ensure their students become independent is huge and the two seem to be linked. Many teachers seem to be under the impression that a research project is not good enough if their students only use the library and online resources and not the internet.  This is why an information literacy framework is so important.

SLS Guernsey use one that we call CWICER (Connect, Wonder, Investigate, Construct, Express, Reflect), it was adapted from Empire States Information Fluency Continuum, New York by  Darry Toerien and with his help we have adapted to work for us here in Guernsey. What it has allowed us to do is have sensible conversation with teachers who ask for unrealistic research lessons. We are able to show them what their students should be able to do by the time they are that age and if they are not capable of that we can also show them the building blocks to get there.

As a librarian I am very happy to co-teach these lessons but like many school librarians it is not possible for me to be in every class that is doing a research project. I work towards up skilling teachers and students so that I can support other classes whilst they embed what I taught. A framework will ensure that this is happening. If it is embedded into the school curriculum headteachers will be aware of it and expect to see it being taught in lessons once they know I have been in a class.

It is also important in secondary schools that teachers know when these skills are being taught and allow students to use them in their lessons too. For instance, if a Geography teacher has worked with the librarian to use Brittanica in yr 7 then every subject that is running a research lesson across the school should be making sure their students are practicing using this resource within their lessons too. This is only possible if all the teachers know that this is happening and that teachers have an understanding of the resources themselves.

How to use an information literacy framework when it is not embedded in the curriculum 

Find an information literacy framework that you are comfortable with. Find time to know what it is all about, the more you talk about it the more confident you become in using it. Once you are happy that you understand what you are offering start using it with teachers who are already working with you.

Here's an example of how to use it. 

A year 3 teacher asks me to do a research lesson with their students and they really want an internet lesson. I would firstly show them the lessons that we offer, based on our framework, for year 3. You can find our primary lessons here. We have added learning objectives (LO) and success criteria (SC) so teachers can see how it fits into what they are teaching anyway.  Our main research lesson for year 3 looks like this :-

	Lesson 2
LO	Recognises that ‘I wonder’ questions can be answered by finding information
LO	Selects and uses appropriate sources with guidance including books, on-line encyclopaedias and recommended on-line resources.
SC	Students can give more than one example of somewhere they could find information to answer a question. Students can select a useful source of information from the options given. Students can, with guidance, find the answer to their question using their selected resource.

I would explain to the teacher that a lesson like this would support their students journey onto the internet as using quality resources is essential for good research. If students can learn to select these resources first before going to the internet their research will be much stronger.

By sharing and using your information literacy framework before it is embedded in the curriculum is really important. It will help you become confident in what you teach and how your framework works. Our students deserve the right to be taught how to do this properly and now is the time to show schools, headteachers and administrators how a school librarians skills set can be used effectively.

Headteachers and Librarians - 7 steps to immediate collaboration and change for school libraries

In my last post I talked about Headteachers needing to understand the role of the school librarian. Unless they themselves are aware of the difference a professional librarian can make in their school the loan librarian is fighting a losing battle. Today I want to talk about how by understanding the role of the school librarian schools can make change for the better. Embedding information literacy, which includes digital literacy, within school policy can make a difference to academic attainment and your school librarian is the person to help with this.  

The role of the school librarian

We must first look at where the problems are.  Many schools, if they employ anyone at all to work in their school library, pay low salaries. This is because of the lack of understanding between a qualified librarian and a library assistant. It is like comparing the qualified teacher with a learning support assistant (LSA).

Schools do need library assistants to run the library which is checking the books in and out, tidying shelves and looking after the day to day running of the school library but they do not need professional staff to do this.


However a school needs to understand and experience the benefits of a qualified school librarian to make change. Unfortunately it is a little like chicken and the egg, if the librarian has never had the chance to work in a professional capacity within a school why would teachers suddenly allow them into their planning and classroom? This is why it is essential for headteachers to know and understand the role themselves, here is a job description incase there are any headteachers reading this. Did you know that this is what they do? Now you need to ensure that your librarian is working as head of department on curriculum mapping information literacy across the whole school. This way they begin to work alongside teachers and therefore within the classrooms to ensure that research skills are taught.

A headteacher who is ensuring that teachers were using the specialism of the school librarian within the classroom is working towards raising literacy standards in their school and even impacting on student attainment. Julie Angel, who attended the SLG regional conference, wrote her blog post that David Harrow, academic deputy head of Oakham school said

"the progressive interpretation, where the aim is for students to acquire both knowledge and mastery of the processes of learning more for themselves, as well as engendering ongoing wellbeing, is also dramatically evidenced by the same studies as being strongly supported by libraries. The place of the school library at the centre of teaching and learning can, therefore, be established beyond doubt.” 

If Private school like Oakham can understand the necessity for a school librarian there must be an argument for them to be needed by all schools. 

The difference between a library assistant and a qualified librarian 

I was once asked, by a headteacher, why the library assistant could not teach within the classroom as "we are all being asked to do more for less". Why? because this is what we have trained to do and your library assistant agreed to take on a low paid job to run your library not teach in the classroom! We are professionals who actually know our stuff! This would be like asking your LSA to teach your GCSE history class because they have worked with students in the class and now know enough to teach it. I don't think so! Also, if your library assistant is in the classroom teaching who is running your school library? It is not possible for one person to do it all and schools actually need professionals in their classrooms and library assistants in their libraries. I know it is all about money but getting value from a professional role makes more sense than having them stuck in your school library, doesn't it?

Recent reports about fake news causing problems for students when evaluating sources highlights the need for school librarians more than ever. Laura Gardner recently wrote an article for the School library Journal on teaching information literacy within schools and the opportunities now available for school librarians. These artlicles are highlighting more and more how school librarians can close the gap in our students learning by teaching and embedding research skills in our schools.

Effect change at Policy Level

Ok so how can we change this? How can we raise awareness of what school librarians actually do? I do believe that this needs to be raised at local school level. All school librarians need to talk to their headteachers and start the conversation about change as I discussed in my last post but I think it goes further than that. Change in one school is not enough. Oakham do it because they have senior leaders who understand. All schools need to see the opportunities of working with a qualified school librarian, so what is my plan? How am I going to effect change?

Talk to the Education department (or those responsible in government who make these kinds of decisions) and start the conversation about information literacy and librarians in schools. I am sure after talking to many headteachers that if information literacy was embedded at policy level the conversation would be easier within schools. Schools would then be accountable. Schools would have to address how they were ensuring that their own teachers were using the school library and librarian. Librarians as specialists would not only support students learning but teachers too.


How Headteachers and Librarians can make change now.

Ok, I know that many headteachers and librarians will be reading this saying that this all sounds great but what can I do at my level? How can I effect change now? Well here are 7 steps for immediate change if you have a school librarian.

1.Think differently about the budget for the school library. It is a cross school resources so don't fund it in isolation. Make sure that every teacher knows that they have a responsiblity for the library budget within their subject. 

2. Find out how your teachers are using the library and librarian within their curriculum - send out a questionnaire like this one.

3.  Provide a framework for information literacy that could work in all schools from yr 1-yr13 so that they can see how it could work. Here is the one we use when we teach. We have adapted it to be useful for us and the lessons we provide can be found here. 

4. Embed Information literacy at school policy level it could then be curriculum mapped with the support of the school librarian and would then cascade down through other policies. This would ensure that school librarians were in a position to help. The school library would then not just be something that is nice for the school to have but essential to teaching and learning.

5. Write the school librarian and library into your literacy policy. Literacy has always been linked to school libraries. It is easy to understand that if you have a library full of good books and someone to encourage children to borrow them the chances are it will improve reading. Sharing stories and finding the right book for the right child is a hugely important role for the school librarian which does make a difference to student attainment. 

6. Training for all teachers. Do all teachers have the skills of research themselves? Allow your librarian to run training sessions for teachers. Ensure that any trainee teacher knows and understands the role of the school library and the librarian. Librarians need to run classes on all teacher training courses. One of the first things a newly qualified teacher should be doing is finding the school library and the librarian. If new teachers do not know about the school library how can we expect them to excite and encourage their students to use it.

7. Bring teachers and librarians together on subjects that fit easily. history, art, geography and get them to work together to collate good resources. Get the librarian into the classrooms to demonstrate how to use these resources and insist on referencing in all year groups.

Thanks to "Know Your Sources Portland Community College Library

I hope this is useful to anyone reading it. Please feel free to comment and share. I would love to hear from any Headteacher or School Librarian on how they are effecting change where they work.