Sorry, I should really be posting suggestions or solutions, but the topic makes me so incensed I just end up rambling about the problem.

/end rant

I believe part of this stems from the title school librarian and the other part stems from ignorance. First of all, the title “school librarian” is completely uninformative and uninspired. Both components of the title are nouns. A school is a building and what is a librarian? I mean, you and I know what a librarian is, but does an administrator? And even if you try to show them what you can do are they open to seeing it? So, uninformed administrators and teachers are ignorant because most have no idea what the heck we do, nor do many have an interest.

My thought is that there needs to be a new title created that is active! Something firmly anchored to a verb. Teachers teach. Administrators administrate. Coaches coach. Librarians…library? Yeah, that reads: Keep the room full of books and get rid of the librarian- we can’t afford two nouns; we’re in a budget crisis! When AASL made school librarian our official title what were they thinking? There has to be something better. I have suggested “Knowledge Educator” (we deal with knowledge, a dynamic noun, and we educate the students using said knowledge, a noble verb…and as a neat bonus we could be referred to as keys because our initials would be KE). But hey, if you don’t like that idea, that is totally fine, just please- come up with a title that points to active value rather than passive dead weight to throw overboard!

Also, we need to rally for administrators and teachers to be required to take education courses that enlighten them about the value and integration of the library into the school community, curriculum and culture! Until the importance of the librarian is acknowledged, introduced and integrated into teacher training programs, I believe we are going to meet up with resistance solely due to unnecessary ignorance.

Oh, and by the way, if any of the hundreds of librarians out there that have been cut, have the means to go back to school…please DO consider obtaining a certificate to become an administrator! If librarians opt to cross-over into administration then whole school districts can model exemplary library programs and increased achievement rates. Then these ex-librarian administrators can toot their horns for all to hear…and follow.

Hey, and maybe if enough librarians seek out administrative positions in high enough places we can achieve a complete paradigm shift in education; one that sincerely moves toward inquiry-based learning rather than mediocre, teach-to-the-test dogma.