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Recently, I have had a few Librarians reach out to me asking how they might learn about the IB Curriculum and what a librarian’s role might look like in this curriculum.
Having worked in an international school for decades, I recommend these few tips. Please consider this my opinion. Please know you will need to unpack and understand many educational, academic vocabulary words when learning about the IB program. The IB curriculum focuses on process, collaboration, student agency, international mindedness, transdisciplinary themes, program of inquiry and much more. Understanding these concepts comes in slowly as you begin to grasp the curriculum and the methodology or process of teaching & learning. Here is the IB Ideal Libraries document for an overview.
Tips for a New Librarian
1. Understand the IB Framework
Familiarize yourself with IB standards, practices, and terminology. If you are not working in an IB school, it is important to connect with the Liferarian Members or IB school Librarians and practically unpack the terminology of the Themes in the PYP, the Transdisciplinary Approach in the MYP and the Research Aspects of the Diploma program from a Librarian’s point of view.
3. Audit & Learn the Current Library Collection
As practising librarians, it is our role to assess available resources, identify gaps aligned with the IB curriculum, and identify new resources that will match the new descriptors of the IB themes in the primary year program. Print materials like books and magazines are heavily used in the elementary or primary section compared to the middle and high schools. Identifying fiction/nonfiction books and digital resources for middle and high school students is important as you continue to keep the school library current and add books to meet the various needs of the students and the curriculum.
4. Ensuring a Robust Budget
Identifying your needs and providing reasons for requesting a budget, as well as always learning and justifying your budget by purchasing resources that are available to all members of the community, is an important part of the role. Resources that match and support critical thinking, global awareness and a deeper understanding between human and natural worlds and the society/economic structures of the world.
5. Building Strong Relationships Slowly and Steadily
Connecting with teachers, students, and IB coordinators to integrate library services is essential to the IB curriculum. This can be challenging, but slowly approaching one teacher and student at a time will help. However, as a Librarian, you will need to be proactive and ask, share, request, learn and grow; you cannot wait for people to upskill you. Librarians can take an active part in the curriculum by supervising Service, Personal projects and being a part of the Extended Essay, which is an independent research paper. Primary school librarians are involved in the Grade 5 Exhibition Unit, which is an inquiry-based research project. These opportunities help librarians connect with students and teachers.
6. Develop Information Literacy Programs
Plan sessions on research skills, digital literacy, and citation practices while understanding the IB’s policy on Academic Integrity. If you are not aware, scour the net and learn from credible websites, how might you teach the above and match it to your library curriculum or embed them in the units of inquiry for the PYP or in the social studies/sciences in the Middle school and supporting the research components in the High School.
7. Curate a Diverse Collection
Ensure materials support global perspectives, multilingualism, and IB themes. Books and resources that cater to all sections of society and all subject areas, from Psychology to Ecology to Media and even Economics and Entrepreneurship.
8. Leverage Technology
Use library management systems and digital databases effectively. Learn what other academic resources can be used to support student learning. If the school cannot budget immediately, then curating a list of open education resources in the form of videos, academic papers, eBooks, and more can be helpful.
9. Promote the Library
Organize book clubs, author visits, community books or literary magazines for writers and poets, empower students to participate in book awards that highlight students’ voice and power, like the National Jarul Book Awards, and support IB-aligned reading challenges. Book displays, and book talks can support and promote reading.
10. Stay Updated
Engage in IB librarian networks and professional development opportunities through online learning communities like the Liferarian Association and other platforms that are open to learning collaboratively.
If you are looking to learn more, contact
Resourceful as always.
Well documented
Very informative
precise explained
Thankyou very much