Every week, people land on our site website while searching for some variation of "What does an elementary librarian do?" Sometimes they might search for elementary librarian job duties, or even elementary librarian job description. If you've been wondering what's involved with being an elementary librarian, you've come to the right place!
When a lot of people think about school librarians, they think about someone who checks books in and out at a desk all day. Someone whose favorite sound is, "Shhhhh!"
Clearly those people have not stepped into a school library any time in the past decade or more! The truth is: checking books in and out is one of the things a school librarian spends the least amount of time doing in the library. And most of the time? The library is far from quiet!
Are you serious?
The 21st Century library is a very different place than the library you may have visited in elementary school.
The big card catalog case with the tiny drawers got kicked to the curb years ago in favor of computerized systems. Fewer manual processing tasks made time for more interactions with students and more time to promote reading programs... in theory. Unfortunately, some school districts didn't get the memo. To them, less manual processing for librarians meant more time to pick up additional duties related to today's laser focus on standardized testing.
That brings us to today's elementary librarian. It's a pretty safe bet that no two elementary librarians have the duties and job expectations these days. We know this based on the emails we get from our readers. Most days, school librarians have a stressful and often frustrating job. There's never enough time to do all the things we need to do and do them well.
Hold it!
I thought the librarian had the easiest job in the school?!
Where do people get this idea? If your librarian stops moving for more than a few minutes a day, he or she either isn't doing their job properly, or they have vastly different responsibilities than most librarians. It's true that librarians have a slight advantage of not having a homeroom to attend to, but it's usually more than made up for by additional duties they have.
School Librarian Job Duties
This is just one example of an elementary librarian's schedule. This librarian has checkout days and class days in her library. She doesn't have library classes on checkout days, and she doesn't check in/out on class days. This, however, can vary from library to library.
Typical Librarian Schedule - Monday (Checkout Day)
7:30-7:45 Bus duty with principal (every day)
7:45-8:15 Open library - check in/out, free reading, AR tests
8:20-9:20 Teach 3rd grade reading group
9:20-10:20 Teach 1st grade reading group
10:20-10:40 1st Grade homeroom checkout
10:40-11:00 2nd Grade homeroom checkout
11:00-11:30 Lunch
11:30-11:50 4th Grade homeroom checkout
11:50-12:10 Kindergarten homeroom checkout
12:10-12:40 Reshelve books
12:40-1:00 3rd Grade homeroom checkout
1:00-1:20 3rd Grade homeroom checkout
1:20-1:40 5th Grade homeroom checkout
1:40-3:00 Work on website, reshelve books, check e-mail, run Accelerated Reader reports, pull teacher requested books and materials, various other duties assigned by principal
3:00-3:30 Afternoon primary pickup duty
Typical Librarian Schedule - Tuesday (Class Day)
7:30-7:45 Bus duty with principal (every day)
7:45-8:15 Open library
8:20-9:20 Teach 3rd grade reading group
9:20-10:20 Teach 1st grade reading group
10:20-10:55 Teach 5th grade library skills class
10:55-11:30 Teach 4th grade library skills class
11:30-12:05 Lunch
12:05-12:40 Teach Kindergarten library skills class
12:40-1:15 Teach 1st grade library skills class
1:15-1:50 Teach 2nd grade library skills class
1:50-2:25 Teach 3rd grade library skills class
2:25-3:00 Teach 3rd grade library skills class
3:00-3:30 Afternoon primary pickup duty
As you can see, elementary librarians do much more than check books in and out. In fact, some even let their students check their own books out because they simply do not have time to get everything done if they don't.
Ok, that doesn't seem so bad. What are some other duties of an elementary school librarian?
In addition to taking care of the library's collection and teaching duties, a librarian may also be responsible for coordinating the Accelerated Reader program, coordinating quarterly Family Reading Nights, teaching drama skills related to arts education (which they often have no experience or training in, by the way), updating the school's website, updating the outdoor marquee sign, and helping coordinate the school's Program Review. Every now and then, if the librarian has a few spare minutes, she might attempt to collaborate with teachers and think of new ways to get students excited about reading.
Of course, none of those things would be possible if the librarian didn't work on library lesson plans at home. It's nearly impossible for school librarians to fit in lesson plan writing into their time at school. Having lesson plans finished ahead of time can make a huge impact on what they're able to get done every day.
Should I become an elementary librarian?
That's probably what brings many people to ask the question "What does an elementary librarian do?" and possibly what brings many people to our site. The answer is simple. If you're looking for an easy job in the school system, the answer is no. You'll be very disappointed. If you're interested in promoting student reading and helping your school in any way possible, it may be a good fit for you.
If you're an elementary librarian, what would you add to the question, "What does an elementary librarian do?" Please share with us in the comments.
Thank you so much for that! Also, I am our school's webmaster; I coordinate the spelling bee; I am a mentor for new teachers; I write and receive grants for all kinds of things; I post helpful videos; I run two book fairs per year, and I am the unofficial cool off referee and calm down corner for traumatized or sometimes just naughty kids. All that being said, I love the job!
Hi!
Thank you for posting your day and describing what all your role is as a librarian. I began looking for other "role descriptions" as I am rather conflicted on whether I should make suggestions to our librarian or bring them to administration first.
Allow me to introduce myself! My name is Bec and I am a fourth-grade teacher at a very low SES school in Florida. I have been teaching at this school for 10 years. Our students have significant literacy deficiencies - across the board. I teach at a school that has a population of roughly 700 students. Our classes visit the media center once a week for thirty minutes. While that planning time flies by - we all know that thirty minutes is a valuable number to utilize appropriately.
To begin, our media specialist has severe difficulties moving around; so, there is not much interaction with students other than "come to me" interaction. The only "activities" that are done during media are watch book fair videos, talk about rules, put those foam puzzles together, or free draw. There are zero academics being done. I have battled my tongue for about 4 years since she took the position. My suggestions I have expressed to my team have been project-based learning, HTML or web-design, coding, novel study, book club...something that ties with other subject standards. There are forty computers in our media center. Twenty for her instruction and twenty for K-2 computer lab. She has NEVER had the students log on to the computers and use them while she has them. We have a handful of programs that we use to supplement our interventions. Couldn't this be something she does as well? Every week, it's the same routine. Come in, sit on the floor, go over rules, watch a video from 1983, discuss rules again, then IF and only IF there is time left over, they can check out books.
My question is, can I make these suggestions? I am not one to offend or collide with confrontation. However, I am deeply offended that every week our students are taught nothing. The classroom teachers here - and across the board - are working their tails off and scratching brains on how to get these kids to excel and close achievement gaps. It only makes sense that cross-curricular and all hands on deck would be a good option.
I value anyone's suggestions and insight. I am at my wits end with the laziness, yes the laziness. No one else is doing something about it but they all want to blab their mouths. Please help me find a good way to convey my concerns!!
All the best,
Bec
I don't love it when librarians don't progress with the times but that is the admin's job to notice and address. Do other teachers come into your classroom, judge, and reach out to the admin about what they think you should do to be a better teacher? Probably not. Librarians have all eyes on them all of the time. Every librarian has different strengths and weaknesses. I don't agree with going to the admin. You could talk to the librarian about some ideas you would like to do with your students while they are in the library or ask her to collaborate with you on some of your ideas. Remember, librarians are teachers too. Plus, most teachers that don't work in the library don't realize how much goes into running a library and meeting the demands of patrons, staff, and the community. Put some of your ideas in her suggestion box or just meet with her.
I’ll be honest. Before I became a librarian I had strong opinions as well. Now that I am in the library, I see how wrong I was. Let me start by saying I am a “specials” librarian which means the students come to me in their break for the day. Some days they go to gym, some they come to me. I have noticed that these children are having academics forced down their throats all day and they need a break. I have puzzles, legos, STEM kits, IPads, and cozy reading areas and I don’t teach a thing. I read to them, and I let them breathe. Since I did this, our reading data has soared. Our kids love to read now. I totally get that librarians should be teaching, but I think that should take place when it’s not the teacher’s planning time and their only time other than recess or lunch for a break. All schools are different obviously! That’s just how it is at my school 😍
Thank you for the information you have provided plus all the comments. I have a BS in chemistry and looking into a media specialist master's degree. I know working in school libraries are completely different than when I was in school. Hopefully this job and the master's degree will be easier than chemistry!