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The Teaching Librarian 22.3 33 It was halfway through the first week of my much anticipated full-time teaching job when I realized that I was in over my head. I did not have the professional knowledge or the experience to deal with the class I was assigned to teach. fortunately, I had the help of a wonderful teacher-librarian. He helped me to develop my lesson plans, he took groups of students out of my classroom to work with them and more importantly, he was there to listen, to offer advice and to talk me down off the precarious ledge I found myself balanced upon daily. It is because of him that I decided to become a teacher-librarian. The role of teacher-librarian in 2015 is a diverse one, especially when both technology and numeracy are a big focus of some school boards, prompting librarians to adapt their programs in new and dynamic ways. The perception of the stern librarian in an oversized rocking chair, peering over her glasses to make sure that the students looking through the card catalogue are silent from the moment they walk in the door, has long been put to rest. These days, the job is more akin to that of an octopus, our many arms busily instructing, organizing, collaborating and inspiring. although the teacher-librarian job description comes with a long list of duties, the one thing that never seems to come up, at least in any interview I've experienced, is the actual physical and emotional presence in the library that a teacher-librarian must have. we are in our libraries before school, during nutrition breaks and after school. we are there for students, teachers and parents when they need us. There have been several articles published in the last couple of years about teacher stress and the overwhelming demands of the profession. as teacher-librarians we are in a unique position to help. whether it is seeking out teachers to work on collaborative projects, keeping an eye out for those who may be struggling, or simply acting as a good listener, our doors are always open. we have the ability to make a classroom teacher's work a little bit easier. as mental health becomes an issue for more and more of our students in schools today, again our doors are open. we are there for those kids who can't handle another recess standing outside alone by the door. we are there for the students who don't have a computer at home and need some extra time to finish their homework. we are there for the kids who just need to talk things through and for those who need a quiet spot to curl up and escape with a good book. Libraries have always been the central hub of a school, where people come to learn, to explore and often, to find solace. Teacher-librarians have the fortunate situation of 'being there' to meet the diverse needs of their school community. so who does the teacher-librarian go to for advice? Personally, I pay a visit to the music teacher down the hall. z Being There allison Hall " "Teacher-librarians have the fortunate situation of 'being there' to meet the diverse needs of their school community.