Key points:
I love the flexibility that comes with working in a school library. Each day, I interact with students and teachers across all subject areas. I began my career as a high school science teacher, teaching Advanced Placement Biology and Environmental Science. However, I changed career paths six years ago after witnessing how much one of my former colleagues enjoyed being a school librarian. I still get to share my AP science background in my library media specialist role, where I participate in our AP Seminar and Science Research programs.
One of my favorite parts of my job includes helping classroom teachers choose what their students might want to read next. Instead of finding one novel for a whole class to read, I’m often helping English teachers find engaging books for 26 different students–and that’s just one class.
The role of the school librarian and library media specialist is a dynamic one, constantly evolving to meet the needs of teachers and students. Today’s school library staff are tasked with managing budgets, evaluating and expanding collections, overseeing makerspaces and technology, planning special programs, and assisting students with research. In some instances, library staff are even asked to split their time between schools, fill in as substitute teachers, or supervise lunch and recess periods.
When you add in the necessity of attending additional meetings and professional development sessions, it’s clear that school librarians are facing a significant challenge in finding enough hours in the week to fulfill their responsibilities.
A recent Library Journal/ School Library Journal survey revealed that although 62 percent of school librarians said they are satisfied with their jobs, their overall satisfaction rate has dropped 8 percent since 2013. What’s happened in the last decade? Both public and school librarians cited “a lack of time to do everything.” Nearly one-quarter of school librarians took on extra work voluntarily, while 30 percent were given more responsibilities due to staff cuts.
As a library media specialist, I am fortunate to work with a team of four experienced librarians across the buildings in my district. Our collaborative approach allows us to share new ideas and strategies, while our administrators provide us with the necessary time to implement these strategies. I believe that collaboration, coupled with the use of time-saving digital tools, can significantly alleviate librarians’ workload pressures and ultimately enhance student outcomes.
Creative collaboration with “book tastings”
We’ve all heard of wine and cheese tastings, but I’ve started inviting English classes to “book tastings.” I mentioned previously that I work with English teachers to customize student book selections. If you multiplied that effort by six or seven classes, it would take a lot of time for one librarian to match more than 180 students with the right books. Here’s how my book tastings work:
- I send each of the students Google surveys, asking them about their interests–everything from what shows they like to what they like to do in their free time
- I invite the students to an organized “book tasting,” where I set up tables that include books of different genres
- Students rotate between the tables and gain exposure to high-interest books
- At the end of the event, students select what book they’d like to check out
This is just one example of how creative collaboration can save time and help teachers better understand what students like to read. The interesting thing about librarianship is that sometimes it can feel a little isolating because there’s only one of you in a building most of the time. We must actively seek out that collaboration piece, whereas classroom teachers are part of departments working toward the same goal.
Students must also understand how their library supports what they’re learning in class. When I’m working with a teacher and students see my rapport with them, it gives the library credibility. After I’ve made a small connection with a student by teaching their class a lesson on information literacy, for example, they’ll often seek me out in the library for something completely unrelated. These connections are essential and help create a shared culture of reading in our schools.
Use digital tools to streamline processes and enhance learning
There are several technology hacks that school librarians can employ to maximize their time and efficiency. For instance, I allocate blocks of time in my schedule each week for various activities. On Mondays, I focus on checking the current circulation, while Fridays are dedicated to recapping the week and sharing information with the principal or parents. Automating routine tasks, such as sending out reminders to staff through my book circulation system, frees up time for other important work. I also use Canva templates to update library signage or event posters, and many librarians find the app useful for creating weekly or monthly newsletters. AI tools like ChatGPT help me brainstorm titles for events or create writing prompts that I can share with students.
One of the most impactful digital tools we’ve implemented at our school is the Sora reading app. We discovered this digital app when we were looking for a solution that would allow us to continue our elementary school read-aloud program during the pandemic. It integrated with Google Meet, allowing us to continue the read-alongs and host virtual book clubs. Now, students tap into the app to access digital materials, giving them the option to read or listen to books on any device. Because our school is a 1:1 district and each student has the app downloaded on their device, all students have access to our entire district collection. When they add their public library card information to the app, they can also choose books across the county’s collection. This tool has not only offered students greater variety and access but also supported our critical librarian-teacher collaboration piece, empowering us to better control spending and provide timely access to new titles.
Aside from offering students greater variety and access, Sora supports that critical librarian-teacher collaboration piece. We can search for titles and decide what books to “rent,” allowing us to better control spending. Teachers can assign students to new titles available over 90 days within a day. If we were purchasing hard copies, we’d have to wait for purchase orders to be processed and for books to be shipped.
I’m particularly excited about Sora’s ability to accommodate readers of varying abilities. Students can bookmark pages, add notes, get word definitions, and have sections of text read to them. They can even adjust the audiobook playback speed. We’re invested in using the features of the app to empower our ENL students to become more confident readers.
Understanding what kids like to read and what formats they prefer takes the guesswork out of purchasing books. Data that tells us what titles engage students most helps us better plan for future lessons and independent reading choices. The Sora dashboard lets us share reports with teachers, offering key insights about their students’ reading preferences and habits. These features not only allow librarians to do their jobs more efficiently, but they give teachers information that can potentially help them better accommodate struggling or reluctant readers.
The bottom line: Be your own advocate
We’re all familiar with the stereotype of the strict, quiet librarian, known for being the school rule enforcer. It’s time to break that stereotype and start recognizing school library staff for the creativity and innovation we bring to the job. By advocating for ourselves and our space, we can successfully carve out the time needed to champion literacy in our schools.
