I have always believed that the library is the most important building in the school. When a school I taught at was renovated it was a major disappointment to me that the library was such a small building. Where is the space for group work? Where is the space to keep a wide range of resources? Where is the funding for computers and other forms of technology?
After reading about the history of librarians I was even more surprised to discover how relatively new the role is. That people ever considered the role as one that could be shared by classroom teachers or filled by people without suitable training was astonishing to me. Before 1970 little specialised training for teacher librarians existed!!! Thankfully people realised that schools needed professionals who were trained both as teachers and as librarians.
Although I have always believed that the library, as a well resouced and designed building, should symbolise the school's commitment to education - Lundin 1981 has helped me to understand that the teacher librarian is still the most important. However, to go back to a previous point - the funding to support the role of this 'influential' person must be made available. Yes a teacher librarian can make the most of the resources available - but it would still be difficult to build a house without a hammer and nails.
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