Being a researching teacher-librarian

Libraries are invaluable when building a research culture in your school, but it is the experienced and passionate people within them who are the most important assets.

We welcome Pooja Mathur to the Pymble Institute team in 2025 as one of the Inquiry Learning Leaders in the Year 7 to 12 Conde Library. Pooja is an active researcher and brings skills in writing and publishing which we look forward to leaning upon. To help us get to know Pooja and understand how teacher-librarians can support the research projects of students and staff, we asked her a few questions.

Tell us about your role as an Inquiry Learning Leader in Conde Library. 

As part of the Conde Library team, my aim is to ensure that the library is a dynamic environment where each individual student and staff member finds inspiration, support, motivation and encouragement. I strive to transform students into readers, conscientious researchers, critical thinkers, independent problem-solvers, and to assist them maximise their potential.   

I look forward to wide reading lessons across Years 7 to 10 to encourage and nourish a love for reading and to assist students and staff to grow as readers and forge their reader-identity. 

I am delighted to commence research lessons on inquiry skills and referencing along with collaborative teaching with colleagues from across the curricular areas.  

As the school library is a wellbeing hub, I assist the library team in ensuring it is a welcoming, safe, equitable and comfortable space for all students and staff members, and I get involved with setting up exciting, inspiring library displays. I also participate in collection development and management; and supervision around the library. 

What sorts of research projects have you been involved in?

I have been involved with various mini research projects for several years, however, formally, I was a part of International Boys’ School Coalition (IBSC) Action Research (AR) cohort for 2022-23 and our theme was ‘Shattering stereotypes: Helping boys cultivate healthy masculinity’. I focused on masculinities through literature and my research question was, ‘How can participation in literature circles in a Year 8 English class evolve boys’ perception of masculinity?’ For those interested, my research report is available as an academic article in SCAN journal: Mathur, P. (2024). From boys to men: using literature circles to explore year 8 boys’ perceptions of masculinity. Scan 43(2), 40-50. 

Over 2023-24, I also worked collaboratively on a mini AR with a global team of school library professionals under the umbrella of IBSC ‘Reading Culture’ Special Interest Group (SIG). I led the team focusing on ‘social aspects of reading’ through administering school-wide surveys about students and their families’ reading habits. Results were compiled, studied and presented by team members at the IBSC Annual Conference 2024 at Harrow School, London. 

Currently, at Pymble, I am involved with Year 12 History Extension and Year 11 Ancient History research projects and look forward to many more. 

Are you undertaking formal studies at the moment? What motivated you to do this course? 

Yes, I have completed two out of three subjects of a Graduate Certificate in Arts and Social Science Research at my alma mater, Charles Sturt University.   

My research focuses on contemporary, award-winning, multicultural Australian young adult novels written by self-identified Asian-Australian authors. I aim to investigate family dynamics and inter-personal relationships, especially the effects of acculturative gaps, and parental expectations encountered by the protagonists portrayed in a few carefully curated novels.

Most multicultural authors write diverse, coming-of-age stories to represent their own adolescence that was spent straddling diverse cultures and juggling parental expectations, while attempting to define their identity as a young Australian.    

As a first-generation immigrant, a mother to Australian-born, now adolescent children, living in a multi-generational family, including elderly parents, I have experienced an acculturative gap first-hand over the last two decades. Additionally, as a high school teacher-librarian catering to a wide multicultural student and staff demographic, there is direct professional relevance and connection with this research topic. 

As a successful Future Fellowship applicant, I was invited to share my research plan at 2024 Higher Degree Research (HDR) Colloquium held online on 28 and 29 October 2024. For those interested, recordings of all presentations are freely available at the Colloquium webpage.  

What interests you about research? Why do you think teachers and teacher-librarians should consider research as part of their professional learning? 

Participating in formal and/or informal research is a creative way to learn and expand our understanding in the field we are interested in and passionate about. Research provides us with an opportunity to investigate, observe and understand different perspectives, explore possibilities and satisfy our own curiosities and thirst for knowledge.

As a beginner researcher, it is prudent to start small and investigate a topic of your choice and interest giving yourself flexibility to formulate research questions and explore various methodologies and methods. For example, out of personal interest, I started investigating ways teacher-librarians and school library collection and programs could promote sustainability and counter eco-anxiety. My research culminated in an academic article published in SCAN and available for perusal here: Mathur, P. (2022). Curate, advocate, collaborate: Updating a school library collection to promote sustainability and counter ecoanxiety. Scan, 41(2).  

What advice can you offer people interested in starting their research journey?

I encourage you to ask for help at your school library; the library staff will assist you at every stage of your research journey, from narrowing down your topic, to formulating a research question/s, suggesting relevant methodologies, resources and assisting with academic writing and referencing. Like me, you may wish to share the results of your research by means of publications and presentations at professional learning events. Moreover, such endeavours assist you in enhancing your professional profile and building and growing a professional learning network. Finally, like me, you might feel motivated to enrol for formal research-based university courses.  

You’re also dabbling in the exciting field of children’s literature. Can you tell us about this? 

Multi award-winning Australian author, Susanne Gervay OAM, also an amazing, inspiring human being, approached me (at a professional learning summit) to collaborate with her as a cultural sensitivity consultant for her upcoming younger reader chapter book Parrot Palace. It is a delightful story of three youngsters from varied multicultural backgrounds, living in an apartment complex called Parrot Palace. Together the three friends have a lot of fun, learn about each other’s culture, solve problems and support each other when faced with adversities. Parrot Palace celebrates friendship, embraces cultural diversity and promotes inclusivity. Susanne’s beautiful story has been brought to life by Sarah Tabassum’s brilliant illustrations.  

Parrot Palace will be officially launched on Sunday 2 March 2025, and I can’t wait to see this delightful book in the hands of children, and on bookshelves (school and public libraries, and homes) across Australia.

Welcome to Pymble Ladies’ College, Pooja! We look forward to learning and researching with you in the years ahead.