Open AccessThe Introduction of School Library Coordinators to Assist Teacher Librarians: A Grass-roots Challenge for Local Government in Japan
Author(s) -
Kasuko Masuda
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
iasl conference proceedings
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2562-8372
DOI - 10.29173/iasl8009
Subject(s) - government (linguistics) , school library , reading (process) , plan (archaeology) , local government , sociology , political science , pedagogy , psychology , public relations , library science , medical education , medicine , public administration , geography , computer science , philosophy , linguistics , archaeology , law
This paper discusses the role of the School Library Coordinator, a post created by Kawasaki City, Japan local government, in accordance with the legislated introduction of teacher librarians into all Japanese schools. It is difficult for teacher librarians to play the roles of both teacher and librarian simultaneously. They are expected to play the central role in school libraries, to support pupils’ spontaneous learning activities as well as to foster pupils’ imaginative minds.Teacher librarians are also expected to coordinate schools, families and communities to promote pupils’ reading activity by the Basic Plan to Promote Children’s Reading Activity. Kawasaki City local government introduced School Library Coordinators to assist teacher librarians and to complement their onerous duties in schools and society. Although this paper’s research and analysis indicates that Kawasaki City’s innovation of School Library Coordinators has been successful, it is noted that there is potential for more efficient performance by library coordinators in collaboration with teacher librarians.