The school librarian
The person and the credential — a master's-level educator who teaches every student, every year they're in the building.
What a school librarian does
Love of reading
Instills and fosters a love of reading, matching each child to the right book and protecting time for reading purely for pleasure.
The educational bridge
Connects literacy to every New Jersey Student Learning Standard area — ELA, math, science, social studies, health, the arts, and more.
More than books
Media, information, and AI literacy — research skills, source evaluation, digital citizenship, and the counterbalance to tech overuse in schools. New Jersey's 2022 information literacy law names this role as the one that delivers it, with a September 2027 deadline.
Guardian of knowledge
Protects free thinking and intellectual freedom — including under New Jersey's 2024 Freedom to Read Act — while curating a current, inclusive collection.
A welcoming third space
One room in the school with no grade attached to it, open before, during, and after the school day.
Professional development
Provides training for other educators and collaborates with public librarians, community groups, and families.
What the research finds
The credential
A master's degree in Library Media Studies, an instructional certificate, an NJDOE-approved School Library Media Specialist program, and a year-long school-based residency. Training covers learning theory, instructional design, literacy, collection building, and library leadership. An aide or volunteer — however capable — isn't a substitute.