"This role pushed me in new directions"

Understanding the Transition from Teacher to Teacher-Librarian

Abstract

This study explores the experiences of five participants as they transition from teacher to teacher-librarian. The study examines reasons for becoming a teacher- librarian, the opportunities, barriers/challenges and successes in the first year as a teacher-librarian, and the previous experiences that informed their practice. Some these emerging included: exposure to teacher-librarians while teaching, desire for change in their professional life, sharing a love a reading and/or inquiry- based learning, desire for more of a leadership role in a school, collaborating with teachers, building a reading culture, promoting literacy initiatives, trying to have an impact on the whole school, lack of understanding of the role of the teacher- librarian, technology and connectivity challenges, library design and space issues, clerical work, time and priority management and debunking stereotypes about librarians. This study contributes to our understanding of the early experiences of teacher-librarians and brings in the framework of possible and provisional selves as a lens to examine teacher-librarian identity.