Bargaining for Learning: How a Teacher-Librarian Union Supports School Libraries

Abstract

The Korea National Teacher Librarians Union is a labor union for teacher librarians in Korea. The union strengthens school libraries by protecting teacher librarians’ rights, improving working conditions, and advocating for the placement of qualified teacher librarians in schools. We argue that secure staffing, clear roles and responsibilities, the right to professional development, and school-library-based curriculum and instruction are not only labor issues but also essential conditions for student learning.

Through collective bargaining, policy advocacy, and professional community building, the union has worked to improve book-purchase budgets, expand teacher librarian quotas and training opportunities, support supervisory systems for school libraries, and promote library-based collaborative instruction. These efforts help teacher librarians carry out reading and media education through books and media, inquiry-based instruction, and partnerships with the communities that support students.

School libraries are places where students learn to read, empathize, inquire, and think critically. By advocating for teacher librarian placement and school library support, the union helps teacher librarians serve as information experts, curriculum partners, and future-oriented educators while protecting the freedom of learning and the right to teach.