Author // Sarah Mowery Wednesday, 22 July 2020
Changing Role of School Librarians
On March 12, 2020, Ohio closed all school buildings for an extended spring break. Despite hopes that school would resume as normal, the closure was extended to the end of the year. Schools would finish the year remotely. Educators jumped in feet first, many treading water to stay afloat, while still providing the best learning experiences for their students.
This announcement hit hard. I wouldn’t see my students or staff in a face-to-face environment for a very long time. The overwhelming feeling of the unknown was all-consuming. How was I, a school librarian, going to remain present to my students and staff? How was I going to be that curriculum connector, technology helper, and book guide? These questions swirled in my head and I knew to stay present, I had to make a plan.
Access to Digital Resources
I missed having my physical library open for all to use. I always strived to make my library a welcoming space. How was I going to move from an inviting, physical library space to a welcoming virtual library? In a remote learning environment students and teachers need to have access to a virtual library, which can be easily accessible and available remotely. What could I do to make this happen from home?
Librarians are the experts in providing access to quality content. I kept this focus as I shared the tools and strategies to connect the curriculum to the necessary technology.
Collaboration is Key
I missed working with teachers and students in a face-to-face learning environment. How was I going to be a part of the classroom teaching and make an impact?
Books, Books & More Books
I missed having readers’ advisory opportunities with students. I missed the emotional connection I would have when trying to find the “just right” book for a student. How was I going to keep this connection alive with students? Once again, my plan helped me extend my work in the physical library to the virtual learning space.
Technology Support
I missed having teachers and students come to me with questions about technology. How was I going to be able to support students and staff with technology needs in a remote environment?
Looking Forward to the New School Year
Planning for next year may feel a bit overwhelming due to the extreme changes in education. Stop and take a deep breath and reflect on what changes make librarians indispensable to students and staff. Really take time to think and reflect on last year’s accomplishments. What worked? What didn’t work? Speak to administrators and teachers and survey their wants and needs. Advocate the worth of the library in supporting district-wide initiatives. Using the tools and resources mentioned will help create a plan to make sure the school librarian remains present in a remote learning environment.
Remaining present in the new school year will look very different for me. I recently was hired as a Professional Instructional Specialist with INFOhio. I’m very excited to start this new journey in my career. With 16 years of education and library experience under my belt, I hope to broaden my scope to educators, students, and parents across the state of Ohio to help transform teaching and impact learning with INFOhio’s PreK-12 equitable access to high-quality, digital resources.
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Sarah Mowery is a Professional Instructional Specialist with INFOhio. She has worked in education for 16 years as a school librarian and technology coach in elementary and middle school settings. While in these roles, she's been an integral part of the building leadership teams working as a curriculum connector and integrating web-based tools. She earned a BA in Sociology from Bowling Green State University and an MLS with a specialization in PK-12 schools from East Carolina University. Sarah was one of the original INFOhio ICoaches when the program first began in 2013 and has a passion for sharing how INFOhio resources can transform teaching and impact learning for students and educators across the state of Ohio.
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