Monday, May 3, 2010

Teacher librarians: news reports, govt inquiry

Thought I'd collate a few reports/links here, for your reference and mine.

Recent news reports:
  • Faithful few left to keep Dewey alive in a download world by Natalie Craig in the Sunday Age, May 2, 2010.  It begins: Rudd's billions are building thousands of school libraries. But, who will staff them?...More than 90 per cent of teacher-librarians in Australia are believed to be over 40, compared to half of teachers generally. Many teacher-librarians also retire early because of a lack of promotional opportunities.  Meanwhile, there are just four tertiary courses nationally to train them, from a peak of 15, and only about 100 graduates a year.
  • Teacher librarian numbers in 'death spiral'.  Posted April 30, 2010 13:03:00 on abc.net.au.  It begins:  There is concern over a massive decline in the number of teacher librarians in Tasmanian schools.  A Parliamentary Committee hearing in Hobart has been told there are just 29 qualified teacher librarians across Tasmania's 215 primary and secondary schools.  That figure is down from 109, 15 years ago.

Australian Government inquiry into school libraries and teacher librarians.

Death spiral?  Faithful few?  I started work as a teacher librarian in my twenties, and now find myself in that 90%.  Current research shows over and over again the positive impact on learning that teacher librarians have.  It will be most interesting to see the outcome of the Australian government inquiry.

Cheers

Ruth

2 comments:

katy180 said...

Hi Ruth,

Im a 1 day a week library assistant, 4th year education student and avid reader of Skerricks.
Thanks for linking me to this article.
I have been working in the library now for the entire duration of my degree (5 years) and have learnt much more than just covering books. I often have been trusted with TL jobs and its been great for developing my knowldge of the library and how it works.
One day i would most certainly like to complete my Masters and become a TL. But it is something that seems a far way on the horizon- the past 5 years of uni have been quite enough for now.
If there were more opportunities for me to pursue the TL option closer to home (Newcastle)i would most likely follow on, or start in a couple of years, rather than the ten or so I plan now.
On another note i know of two friends who are 1st year out teachers who have recieved jobs as TLs. They have no experience and certainly no qualifications. Im not sure if this excites me or scares me. Coming from an innovative and forward moving library i hate to think what is happening in those libraries if someone with no experience can be brough in to run them. And as more TLs retire this seems to be the way things will go.

- Kate Lynch

katy180 said...

Hi Ruth,

Im a 1 day a week library assistant, 4th year education student and avid reader of Skerricks.
Thanks for linking me to this article.
I have been working in the library now for the entire duration of my degree (5 years) and have learnt much more than just covering books. I often have been trusted with TL jobs and its been great for developing my knowldge of the library and how it works.
One day i would most certainly like to complete my Masters and become a TL. But it is something that seems a far way on the horizon- the past 5 years of uni have been quite enough for now.
If there were more opportunities for me to pursue the TL option closer to home (Newcastle)i would most likely follow on, or start in a couple of years, rather than the ten or so I plan now.
On another note i know of two friends who are 1st year out teachers who have recieved jobs as TLs. They have no experience and certainly no qualifications. Im not sure if this excites me or scares me. Coming from an innovative and forward moving library i hate to think what is happening in those libraries if someone with no experience can be brough in to run them. And as more TLs retire this seems to be the way things will go.

- Kate Lynch