Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you came into this role?
Kia ora! I’m Caitlin, a teacher-librarian and English teacher at a high school in Tāmaki Makaurau. I’ve been teaching English at my kura since 2018, and this year I’ve picked up the amazing job of being the teacher librarian. I’ve been advocating for literacy and the importance of reading for pleasure to support literacy for a few years now, so being the teacher-librarian just made sense.
For those who might not have had one at their school, what exactly does a teacher librarian do?
A teacher librarian can be so important to the smooth and effective running of a library. Schools will have different expectations of their teacher librarians. Some are responsible for professional development, some are in charge of digital literacy and research skill development, and some support teachers with the curriculum aspect of the library. At my kura, I’m supporting the teachers with using the library, getting resources for them, and our reading for pleasure programmes. It’s my first year being a teacher librarian, and there’s a lot to learn. Each teacher librarian will have different responsibilities, depending on the needs at the kura. At my school, I help with the reading for pleasure programme. Librarians care about kids and they care about books, but what a teacher librarian can bring is an educational lens.
Do all schools have a teacher librarian, or is it something that varies?
Not all schools have a teacher librarian. Of 306 schools who reported on staffing in the 2023 survey on school libraries, only 40 said they had a teacher with library responsibility, other teacher(s) or support staff to perform library duties. I feel like a unicorn 😂
What’s your favourite part of being a teacher librarian?
My favourite part of the job is helping choose books to add to the collection and matching students with a new favourite read. Nothing brings me more joy than seeing a student in the hall and hearing how much they’re enjoying the book I recommended.
We know children’s literacy is in decline. What are some of the trends or challenges you’re noticing in how children are reading today?
What I’m noticing is that fewer students are picking up a book as their first option when they have free time. Some students proudly say that they’ve never finished a book without someone reading it to them or with them. That blows my mind.
In your experience, what really helps get more kids excited about reading?
Firstly, having reading role models, especially people that are not ‘supposed to be readers.’ Students know that their English teacher, librarian and probably Social Studies teacher will be a reader, but the school counsellor? The receptionist? The Head of PE? Students value knowing that anyone and everyone can be a reader. The other thing that I’ve found makes students excited about reading is when we give them space to talk about stories, not just ‘books’. Kids love stories (even adults love stories!) and when we talk with kids about the stories that shaped us, or even just what story we’ve enjoyed recently, it reminds them that stories are valuable and interesting.
Why is it so important for children to be reading regularly?
There are so many reasons, but I’ll try to keep it to just two:
1) It builds empathy. We live in a world that is not always empathetic, even here in Aotearoa. In the 2022 OECD report, Aotearoa had one of the worst school bullying rates. It’s easy to put someone down online rather than ask yourself, ‘I wonder what made them say/do that?’ It’s easy to be a bystander when you see someone being bullied, because you don’t know what it’s like to be them or you don’t want to be them yourself. When young people read, they learn what it’s like to be someone else, and therefore build empathy. This is vital in the current online world many of our young people inhabit.
2) It improves mental health in a few ways, like reducing stress and improving self-esteem. Reading helps to reduce stress because you can immerse yourself in a different world and take your mind off worries. This can help you to relax, thereby reducing overall stress levels. It helps to improve self-esteem because of the feeling of success when you finish a book, but also seeing your own life experiences reflected in a book can make someone feel less alone. Both of those improve self-esteem.
What role do parents play in supporting their children’s reading?
They play such a vital role. Children who are read to early and often can have reduced effects of social-economic status. How amazing is it that reading books is so impactful? Also, a parent reading aloud helps with the language development of their young person. Young children whose parents read them books every day enter school having heard over 1 million more words than kids who were never read to, a new study found. As kids get older, talking with their parents about the books they’re reading is a great way to bond. Being able to share reactions, responses, and ideas is a lovely point of connection.
Beyond parents, how can the wider community (schools, libraries, bookshops) help make reading feel more accessible and fun for kids?
A straightforward way wider communities already help are through specific and displayed recommendations, especially ones that are written by other young people. Another simple way to help is by having a space where people can show, display, or discuss books they have loved or are currently reading. Finally, asking a young person to recommend your next read shows that you value their ideas and opinions.
Are there any books you find yourself recommending to kids again and again?
Absolutely. I love recommending Saaba Tahir’s Heir, Namina Forna’s Deathless series, Cally Black’s In the Dark Spaces, Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman’s The Aurora Cycle Series, The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson, and If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang. That said, I usually ask a few questions before I suggest any book, starting with ‘what’s the last book you loved?’ or ‘What TV show/movie did you last enjoy?’ That usually narrows it down a bit.
What do you think the future of school libraries looks like - and what would you like it to be?
I recognise my bias, but I believe we will always need school libraries. Our library is very busy before school, during breaks and after school. Of the students there, maybe 10% are reading. The rest are playing games together, studying together or solo, or chatting. Libraries are no longer quiet spaces, but the hub of the school. I’d love for libraries to be places where every student knows they’re safe, valued and seen.
Sources:
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/resources/find-resources/the-wellbeing-benefits-of-reading-for-children
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6927670/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190404074947.htm
