Swapping places to extend your professional development
A primary purpose of having a school library is to strengthen student learning . While many school libraries provide excellent services and a variety of programmes to support the education of students, how well does the staff in your school library fare when it comes to broadening their own professional knowledge and experience?
These days, one’s PLN or personal learning networkcan take the form of face-to-face, print and online connections . School library staff are well-placed to be very adept at sourcing information and support to meet their own professional learning needs.
The idea of “buddying-up” with another school library or forming a network of libraries based on geographical location, type of school or particular interest for the purposes of acquiring professional learning and experience is not new . Much can be learned through observation, listening and discussion.
How many school library staff, however, have considered actually trading places with staff from another local school library to acquire some real, ‘hands-on’ learning?
Rosalba Finnerty, who for many years was the librarian at Samuel Marsden Collegiate School in Wellington, now works as a relieving librarian. She has found working in other school libraries, even for a short time, gives her the opportunity to experience different ways of doing daily tasks. Trading places can lead to new initiatives and fresh ideas for your own library as well as for the “exchange” library.
Rosalba says:
“Observing is one thing but working in a new environment is totally different. Seeing how another school library works gives you an opportunity to see how you may be able to make changes in your own environment. For example, in one library I worked at there is a strong focus on student librarians. The library staff are proactive in keeping the students occupied (and helpful); their success is measured and rewards are received. The student /staff rapport is positive. In another library the staff have their desks out in the main library space not in an office so they are always available, always welcoming, always monitoring. Prioritising is different and seeing what we can do easily in one library, may not be so easy in another. Collegiality and helping each other in the profession becomes much easier when one actually experiences such issues.”
So what might be the benefits from trading places with a colleague?
Professional learning and broadened experience for little or no cost. If you are in sole charge you may need to bring in a reliever to free you to work alongside staff in another school library.
The opportunity to share ideas and initiatives with your exchange partner, for instance: how each gathers evidence of how the library service has made a difference to reading and learning outcomes of students.
Having an experienced librarian to provide ideas to improve collections, systems, environments (physical and online) and policies.
Learning firsthand what your students’ information and reading needs, interests and concerns might be as they move from primary to secondary school and how you can support them during this transition.
Broadening the scope of your personal learning network.
Professionally registered librarians could add their learning to their revalidation journals.
Let’s hear some of your feedback on this idea! What other benefits could you see arising from an exchange?
How long would you suggest trading places for? A day/a week? What issues might you face?
Has anyone out there already tried this? Would you be willing to discuss the possibility of conducting an exchange with your Principal and staff?