What are the responsibilities of a high school librarian?

I love being around books and research and thought about becoming a librarian. What's the job like for high school librarians? Is it mostly about organizing books, or are there other community responsibilities?

A high school librarian plays an integral role in promoting literacy, cultivating a learning environment, and providing access to information resources. While organizing, cataloging and maintaining books are indeed fundamental parts of their work, these responsibilities are just the tip of the iceberg.

As a school librarian, you're expected to assist both teachers and students in accessing and evaluating information in various formats. Whether they're searching for e-books, online databases or articles for a research project, you'd be their go-to information expert. Furthermore, librarians often directly instruct students on everything from basic research techniques to digital citizenship and the ethical use of information.

Part of the role centers around collaborating with teachers to develop classroom content that integrates information skills. For example, you could be asked to develop a lesson on citing sources for a research-heavy course, or to curate a reading list relevant to a particular unit of study in English literature.

High school librarians also perform administrative tasks. They manage acquisitions, library budgets, and oversee general functions of the library, like loaning out books or settling late fees.

Community engagement is a key aspect of this role too. This might involve hosting book clubs, author visits, poetry slams, or other literacy-themed events. You'd also connect with the larger community, arranging after-school programs and collaborating with local public libraries.

Finally, librarians often play a role in technological integration in schools, managing digital resources and even assisting in the implementation of school-wide technology initiatives.

Overall, this career involves a mix of student instruction, resource management, community engagement, and curriculum collaboration. It goes beyond merely managing a collection of books: it's about making library resources accessible and useful for the entire school community.