Sad news Out of Indiana where they say finding a librarian in Indiana school libraries is getting more and more difficult.
As more information than ever is available to students via the Internet, fewer people are on staff at schools to help students make sense of it.
A shortage of both funding and personnel for school libraries is affecting the way students learn to find and use information, but it’s the lack of certified teacher librarians that has local library educators worried.
Certified teacher librarian? What’s that?
Does this mean this person is certified to run a classroom, having teaching credentials given by the state? Having a MLS doesn’t seem to be what they’re talking about, but I would assume that a library assistant doesn’t even have one of those.
Re:Certified teacher librarian? What’s that?
In some states (I don’t know how many, but all of the states I’ve lived in have this…) the school system prefers or even requires a teaching certification in addition to an MLS. In fact, in some cases the certification is even the more important factor as long as the person has plans to get an MLS. All this is because the librarians in these situations are expected to teach children how to use the library. It makes sense, but on the other hand it’s no wonder they often have a hard time hiring for such jobs – who has the money to get that much schooling and then work at one of the worst-paid and most underappreciated jobs in librarianship?
Re:Certified teacher librarian? What’s that?
It is hard, especially for those of us who think we might be interested, after we already have our MLS. I just cannot afford, financially or mentally at this point, to go back to school to get my teaching certificate.
Re:Certified teacher librarian? What’s that?
I’m actually from the town which is cited in this article so I have personal knowledge of the situation. It is as advertised. I have an MLS, two subject area masters and over 10 years experience as an academic librarian. Since I don’t have a teaching certificate, however, I’m not considered qualified to do anything in the public schools — even as a temporary substitute teacher. I’d have no objection to moving back to my hometown and taking a librarian job, but with those workrules in place what’s the point?? I’m not about to go back and get another master’s degree at this stage in my life.
Re:Certified teacher librarian? What’s that?
I know that in Illinois an MLS will not get you in the door. You must have a teaching certificate.
From what I remember there is a “tiered” system for eligibility. Something like 18 library science credit hours to become a library media assistant, 32 hours to become a library media specialist,…. This is in addition to being certified to teach.
It really makes no sense. Very little direction in what constitutes a library science course, e.g. undergraduate or graduate level.
Of course, many school administrators will hire the applicant with bare minimum credentials to save money.