People as the key to success in the multiverse of the school library

Swiss school libraries are evolving from traditional spaces for promoting reading into multidimensional educational environments – a ‹multiverse›, in the sense of Borges’ literary vision. This article highlights the central role of the school library professional as a navigator within this complex system, describing the corresponding transformation from ‹clerical› function to that of education professional. Based on the Bibliosuisse School Library Guidelines, revised in 2025, this article outlines the many requirements for school librarians, from core library competencies and pedagogical skills to digital literacy. Three key challenges can be identified: school transformation, AI integration, and the professionalisation of the role. These challenges give rise to fields of action in networking, quality management, and establishing a professional profile. At the core is the insight that it is not infrastructure but qualified professionals that represent the ultimate success factor in effective school library work.