To What Extent Is the Shift to Digital Readers Impacting the Role of the Elementary School Librarian?

Abstract

Elementary school librarians and teacher-librarians are facing a new challenge in preparing students to become lifelong readers. By regularly and consistently promoting the principles of reading and aiding in the selection of new programs that connect students to literature, teacher-librarians can have a positive impact on student learning and help students to become lifelong readers. With the influx of new technology, the availability of electronic materials, and the changing demands placed on school librarians, the shift to digital reading may be impacting the elementary school librarian. This case study focuses on elementary school librarians and how electronic books and electronic readers might be affecting the way they perform their jobs. An intrinsic case study method was employed for this research.

Librarians from 27 elementary schools in a fast-growing large school district in southeast Texas were asked to participate. Librarians from all 27 campuses were asked to complete a brief online survey and have a face-to-face interview with the researcher. The interview contained 10 comprehensive questions to gain additional information on electronic books and electronic readers in the school library and how these devices might be changing the role of the school librarian.

Although not all librarians participated with only eight surveys returned and four interviews completed, themes surfaced in examining the librarians’ responses. Now, with this research, it appears that elementary school libraries would be better served by continuing to purchase traditional paper books and supplement the library inventory with electronic books. Even though the students of today are growing up in a fast paced, ever-changing digital world, it appears that electronic readers are not currently a critical part of that world at the elementary level.