The Interview Process

            After reading Riedling’s chapter on The Interview Process, it seems to me that this process plays an extremely important role in a student’s learning.  It teaches the student to communicate, as clearly as possible, what they are after and what they need in order to complete their task.  I have to honestly say that in all of my years of teaching I have never seen any of our Teacher Librarians conduct any form of reference interview.  Yes they have asked the students a few questions about what they are looking for and then proceeded from there.  Many of the students at my school often choose to do their own research, in the computer lab, rather than going down to the library and using the Teacher Librarian and his knowledge of appropriate resources.  We do however have a few teachers who choose to use the library and the Teacher Librarian when working on resource based learning projects.

            First and foremost, I must say that I believe that it is extremely important for the Teacher Librarian to have a great rapport with the students.  The students need to trust the Teacher Librarian and feel that they can ask him/her anything and not feel embarrassed or stupid when the question/s are asked.  The Teacher Librarian needs to establish the library as a warm and welcoming place where the students enjoying going.  Once this rapport and atmosphere have been established, I believe that the Teacher Librarian will experience a great deal of success with students approaching him/her for help with reports, research or even just the simple task of locating a great book to read.

            Until reading this chapter, I never realized that I would have to become an interview specialist.  I understand the necessity of these interviews.  They play an important part in helping the students choose and refine their topics and to find the necessary resources to complete their projects.  When I take on the position of a Teacher Librarian, the role of an interviewer is one that I will have to work on and refine.

            With a Teacher Librarian’s position decreasing in time, almost yearly, I would find this a difficult task to complete with the many different students in the school.  I would also find it difficult to get to know all of the students really well being that the library is only open fifty per cent of the time.  I think I would prefer to discuss, with the classroom teacher, what will be expected from the students prior to the interviews as this would give me some insight into what will be expected from the students.  Secondly, I would be able to access print copies and find appropriate sites on the web to aid the students with their research.  I believe this would help me with the interviews and I would have a better idea of what is available so that I may better assist the students.