Teacher and School Librarian Collaboration

Maureen Sullivan
CO

Teacher and School Librarian Collaboration: A Preliminary Report of Teachers' Perceptions about Frequency and Importance to Student Learning.
by Patricia Montiel-Overall and Patricia Jones

Source: Canadian Journal of Information & Library Sciences. Mar2011, Vol. 35 Issue 1, p49-76. 28p

Summary: This peer-reviewed article examines the tenuous relationship between teachers and teacher-librarians. In particular, it focuses on the level of collaboration between the two parties, as well as teachers' attitudes and perceptions toward their collaboration. The study found that although the level of collaboration was varied, and more often than not, more traditional in nature, teachers valued collaboration and felt that it was valuable for student learning. It also highlighted some of the barriers to higher order, integrated curriculum collaboration, where teacher librarians assisted not only in the finding of information, but also in teaching and evaluating student learning alongside the classroom teacher. As a recommendation, the authors call for more advocacy and explanation of the power of this type of collaboration, in order to change both the internal and external restraints that are keeping it from frequently occurring.

Evaluation: While this scholarly article is formulaic in its description of the study, the sources listed and data shared helps paint a picture of the current landscape of teacher librarian collaboration, and the steps that must be taken to move it forward.