When reflecting on the ways in which I have been developing professionally the most obvious would be by working towards the completion of my LIBE diploma. So far, the courses I have taken, (and am currently working on), have been very beneficial to understanding the importance of providing optimal library services for students throughout BC schools. The skills I have gained, and the networking I have done up until this point, are ones I will forever carry with me.
In addition to taking online courses, I have used the web to learn a great deal on my own accord. YouTube tutorials can be found on just about any topic, including those relating to teacher-librarianship. I have also found that visiting websites and blogs created by teacher-librarians and educators have given me the chance to ask questions, connect, and gain inspiration. Subscribing to LM NET keeps me updated on the latest topics and allows me to browse through them for relevancy. A list of the recent subjects is sent straight to my mailbox so I can simply sign in to my account if there are ones that sparks my interest.
In order to maintain my exploration and development moving forwards I know that it is important to keep my professional social media accounts active. As we have been learning in our course, you don’t have to spend hours online to keep updated on the latest information. Setting a time limit is always a great way to avoid falling down the rabbit hole. Following others who have the knowledge and experience working in schools and school libraries will enable me to expand my professional network and seek assistance with things like the implementation of a makerspace in the future. In addition to this, I will continue to attend my local teacher-librarian meetings. We have just recently put together a district library committee. Perhaps when I am feeling confident enough in my teacher-librarian abilities, I will take it upon myself to join the committee. In my first few years this may seem like a lot, but it will allow me to advocate for school libraries and gain a better understanding of the policies being made in our district.
This coming school year I plan on becoming a member of the BC Teacher-Librarians’ association and have already looked into the annual conference which will be held in a virtual format this year. Depending on how my first few years unfold, I hope to attend a summer institute. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find an event for this summer, probably due to the recent pandemic but will look for future events to be posted.
When thinking about the resources that have been (and continue to be), helpful to my practice there are a number that come to mind. The first is the BCTLA website (https://bctla.ca/) which will keep me updated on what is happening in the profession and link me to resources and professional development opportunities. Attending the professional development days specific to teacher librarians will keep me up to speed on the latest news regarding technology, budgets, and resources that will together work to improve my practice. Using the web to seek webinars and professional blogs relating to these categories will help me to extend my knowledge, experience and skills. Lastly, I want to make an effort to put these resources into practice by reaching out to classroom teachers and their students. There is much to be learned through collaborative inquiry! Reading and research need to be followed by implementation and practice. I won’t grow as a teacher-librarian without reflection and adaption to meet the needs of my particular school. Things won’t always go as smoothly as I want them to but I need to understand that this is all a part of learning which is what I want to teach my students. Through change can come great growth and I welcome it with open arms!
References:
PBS, 2012. PBS KIDS & Virtual Pre-K: Importance of Professional Development. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntaYZc3gvIA> [Accessed 28 July 2020].
Sarah's Blog 
Hi Sarah!
As a complete newbie to the Teacher-Librarian program, I appreciated reading your perspective on how to balance keeping up with professional development while attending to your other duties as a teacher-librarian. It’s pretty great that your school district has put together a District Library Committee. I wonder if my own school district has one. I remember early on in my career, I joined a French Immersion District Committee, and although it was a bit intimidating, I learned a lot in the early years just by listening to more experienced professionals. One year, we also had a book club going, which very beneficial to my classroom practice. – Rachael Lew
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You have outlined some good strategies for continuing to grow your ICT skills. I appreciate your thoughts about collaborative inquiry and the fact that reading and research need to be followed by implementation and practice. I also appreciate your insight that things won’t always go smoothly – and that this sometimes the greatest opportunity for learning and growth!
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