Strengthening teacher–librarian partnerships

Abstract

This article addresses the question: What would it take for collaborative teacher–librarian partnerships to flourish in Aotearoa New Zealand secondary schools? We provide a three-part model that explores how professional expectations and local (school) conditions can influence whether the school librarian is siloed or integrated within a school. Our analysis is based on Patricia Montiel-Overall’s 2005 categorisation of teacher–librarian partnerships. The article concludes by discussing how change can be effected in the role of the library in schools, arguing that school managers and teachers can take steps now to provide the local conditions to enable teacher–librarian partnerships in the interests of student learning.