School Librarian: Is the name change a step backwards?
Jan 21st, 2010 by Cathy Jo Nelson
I was surprised at the news coming out at the ALA Midwinter Conference that our title was changing back to school librarian. The change has garnered some attention here, here, and here, and even wider. I should say though that my surprise was not by the title change, as much as by the manner in which this was done. As an AASL member, I think I do recall completing a survey. But at that time I had no idea the one actionable item that would call for executive board vote would be to change our title from “school library media specialist” to “school librarian.” It would seem more pressing for our profession at this time would be advocacy efforts to save our jobs, not a focus on merely what to call us. There are other even more debatable issues that give “school librarians” need for advice, such as implementation of the new standards, how to motivate and move forward LMS’s out there who are not growing, changing, or adapting to the current trends of electronic or digital everything, and getting our school districts to lighten up on the severe interpretation of CIPA through strict filtering programs used, particularly in terms of sites deemed as “best” by AASL (http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/bestlist/bestwebsitestop25.cfm).
I wondered openly with my networked friends upon learning of the name change what kind of discussion had taken place at the affiliate meeting if any, and the feed back we received (through chats, blogs, and email tags) was that the proposition had not caused much of a fuss. To quote AASL Blogger Floyd Pentlin who apparently was there,“When all of the dust settled (and actually there wasn’t much dust that was kicked up) ‘school librarian’ was the overwhelming choice of those in attendance.”
My dissatisfaction stems from not feeling represented. You would think AASL would want a pulse on how members like or dislike the title that will be used in official documentation from AASL/ALA. I guess one survey from a year or so ago was to be enough input from members, despite the availability of 2.0 tools to reach members and non members alike. Perhaps I’m incorrect in my assumption that the voting members should query us with known issues that will be discussed and voted on, finding out how the majority feel before casting votes. I just cannot believe the vote was truly representative of AASL members, particularly when I reflect on the conversations I had with close friends and networked colleagues upon learning of the change. I can tell you we wanted to see the votes and how close it was, and even transcripts of the discussion before the vote took place.
Losing Ground?
While the name really is a moot point, each year annually as the Department of Education lists us as support staff instead of teaching staff (the good ol’ 65/35 cents on a dollar funding method) which directly impacts our status in education, changing our name could have tremendously helped with advocacy efforts, and helped many avoid the aim of the ax pointed toward what are considered non-essentials in the school when making those really difficult budget cuts in hard times. The moniker “teacher librarian” would have moved us over to the essential core group in school instead of under the list of non-essentials, who are considered accessories in the school. I am a fully certified teacher. I hold two Master’s Degrees, one of which was required to become additionally certified as a “media specialist” (which is what my TEACHING certificate has as a second certification.) My certifications are listed on a TEACHING certificate. To call me a teacher-librarian is to acknowledge that I am FIRST a teacher, then a librarian. To call me a school librarian allows my entire school environment to easily forget that I am a contributing member in educating our students.
Standing members voice your opinion!
So the name change in my humble opinion just feels professionally like a step backwards. We lost ground with that change. I also want to end with this. This is my opinion, and as a paying/standing member of AASL and ALA, I am entitled to that opinion. I will continue to refer to myself as a teacher librarian, despite this move by AASL for “clarifying purposes.”
Image: ‘Experimental Group Voice singer‘
Finally! I am glad for the name change. I just wish they would drop “school” and just call us librarians. The term has lasted for centuries. I don’t like the term “teacher-librarian” or “school library media specialist” either. Yes, of course we teach, but I am not a classroom teacher and don’t need the title of “teacher” to feel validated. I see you point about “teacher-librarian” helping us in the eyes of the DOE no longer considering us support-staff, but I don’t want that to drive our self-image. Many school librarians left the classroom as teachers to become librarians – why do we seek a title we abandoned? Even though I have a state and NBPTS certificate, these are not things that I emphasize in order to garner respect. Ask anyone not in education what a teacher-librarian is, or a school library media specialist, and they will probably say “huh? I don’t know.” But you can stop most people on the street and they will know what a librarian is – we need take control and shape our image. Now we need to get them in the libraries and show them what we’re made of.
Michael you make some valid points regarding the name “librarian” and how clear it is compared to the other names out there. Thanks for stretching my thinking!
You rock Cathy! I really like your analysis of all of this. Is it true there was little dust (discussion) kicked up? I would think with all of the discussion at our state-level it would be a shouting match. Maybe we should have been there to throw chairs at each other and scream across the room. Next time!
Cathy, I’m writing a post about this as I type this. I’m not happy with the decision. Michael mentioned the idea that the term has lasted for centuries. That’s true, but we are not doing the same job. Our job is so much more than just “librarian.” If we were doing the same thing as librarians centuries ago, fine, keep it. We are not – and the title can change.
Chad, when think about other professions though, like nurses, doctors, lawyers, etc. those professions have certainly changed, yet their title has not. So in a sense I get what Michael is saying. My concern is the (imho) rashness with which it seems this decision was made. I don’t think the executive board who voted really had a sense of what members really thought about it. Was it a fair representation? I dare say no. Thanks for adding your thoughts.
Cathy: I see both points. However, I feel that what Michael said above is entirely valid. Here in California, it doesn’t seem to matter what they call “us librarians” because no matter the title, the position is not valued enough to keep them in the libraries teaching. I know some TLs like that title because it informs those in the know that they have the MLIS and the credential. I am one year short of my credential. The title under which I was hired in my current position is LMS. In private school, we do not need the credential, and I dropped out of my student teaching to take this job. I teach just as much or more than a lot of my colleagues. I professionally develop myself and am on national committees. Sometimes I wonder if the title issue isn’t something that causes negative views within in our ranks – judging our own colleagues based on number of degrees. I agree that the AASL needs to focus on helping us develop curriculum & assessment. I think a lot of “school librarians” need help with that. I see some of the questions on our listservs from TLs who do not seem to know things I consider basic and wonder what is going on out there. California now has draft library standards which I believe will be put into place by the Dept of Ed this year. The librarians, however, have be proactive – not reactive and combine the everchanging hi-tech with the high touch foundational philosophies of librarianship and run excellent programs. I won’t get more personal than that, but I could. Outreach only works when someone takes your outstretched hand and joins in the process.
Interesting topic, Cathy. Onward!!
Jeanne wow, what a testimony. Congrats on serving on some national committees. And I agree, looking at questions posed on the list (LM_NET and our very own scasl list) often make me grit my teeth, but Im also glad there is an appropriate forum for fellow librarians to ask questions no matter how insignificant to some. So glad you stopped by today.
Cathy,
Can I boldly suggest that instead of looking at it as a step backwards, perhaps it can be looked at as a baby step forward? I for one am happy not to be the “specialist of media” anymore! That title never felt right to me. I spent many years proudly teaching in an elementary classroom and School Librarian is closer to the title I use, Teacher Librarian. Unlike Michael, I do not feel I abandoned teaching to become a librarian, but rather enhanced my teaching practices by increased the resources of my physical classroom and the number of teachers and learners I interact with each day. I am frustrated when someone says to me “Do you still teach?” Not out of my insecurity, but in the obvious lack of knowledge the person has about this wonderful profession. I have a passion to promote our library’s services and not including “teacher” in our name seems to dismiss some of our profession’s global goals. So I remain positive and look at our new title as a baby step in the right direction. Amy ~Teacher Librarian
This is what I love about throwing my thoughts out here-I get pushback on my own thinking, and get to see issues through the lens of others! Thanks Amy–I love your response.
After much thought, I think I agree w/Michael G. Think of the cocktail party “What do you do?” question. Everyone always tries to answer in the simplest terms. I have a friend, an expert in the field of parasitology. She just says, “I’m a scientist at the CDC.” She knows most people don’t know what the heck a parasitologist is (she studies a very specific parasite in S. America).
I personally have warmed up to “teacher librarian” but it does not trip lightly off the tongue and there’s the question, “You teach librarians?” And I’ve never liked “media specialist.” That sounds like a TV political spin doctor to me.
Librarian is fine, but “School Librarian” is good as well. It distinguishes us from our wonderful MLS-bearing colleagues and hopefully hints at the teaching, research, and other complex issues involved with running a school library program.
You’re right, we still say “Doctor” and “Nurse,” knowing full well those mean a wide range of positions in an ever-changing field. And even they might say, “Home Care Nurse” like we would say “School Librarian.”
I understand your dismay at the WAY it was changed, but I’m ok with the nomenclature. And it’s not like it’s a law or anything. If you call yourself a Teacher Librarian I don’t think anyone will say boo about it.
Thanks,
Jim
Thanks Jim for your insights and allaying my fears about being arrested for my “rebel” nature.
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