Do MYP standards require their schools to have a teacher-librarian?

[Susan P. MacDonald]

I'm the teacher-librarian in a school which is in it's first year of the 3-year application process to become an MYP school.   Our county is now looking at the possibility of cutting media specialists and guidance counselors due to budget issues.  Are schools being considered for the Middle Years Programme required to have a media specialist/teacher-librarian on staff before they will be accepted into the IB programme? Thank you! 

[Klaudia Janek]

I don't think there is a requirement, but there are definite guidelines for IB libraries. They also look at schools in the US differently than they do in poorer nations. I can tell you that during our IB authorization visit, they spent a lot of time in the library. They looked at how much my materials supported Language B, how the magazines fit into the collection, the quality of our databases. They made sure I had at least a shelf full of stuff on Canada :) Look at the MYP Coordinator handbook to see what they expect in terms of research resources. I think there is an expectation that students will learn basic-advanced library skills. Having "the internet" available for student research is not enough without guidance/paid resources.
In most MYP schools the teacher-librarian is a critical component in the Personal Project. They are also at the center of the curriculum. Teacher-librarians are the ones that are responsible for making sure the required Technology components are integrated into the curriculum. It cannot be the head of Tech Services because they are not licensed to teach nor are they in the classroom with students.
An IB candidate school should not be getting away with not having a teacher-librarian. It violates the spirit of the IB curriculum. An IB curriculum is a financial commitment and not a program that tolerates "shortcuts". I would raise a big stink about that with IBNA if they cut you.

I feel pretty strongly about this and I love the IB Curriculum. I just don't see how a IB school can get away with not having a teacher-librarian. I'm sure they CAN, but I don't know how they will make up the skills.

Klaudia Janek, MLIS
IB Teacher-Librarian
Bloomfield Hills, MI

[Tina]

I don't know that it's written anywhere about librarians- but we're working on it!

Standard B1.18 says:

The school recognizes and promotes the role of the library/media centre in the
implementation of the programme.

Tina
MYP Librarian Workshop Leader