Table of Contents
Preface xiii
Acknowledgments xv
Part I In the Beginning 1
1 Becoming a School Librarian 3
A Day in the Life of an Elementary School Librarian 5
A Day in the Life of a Middle School Librarian 6
A Day in the Life of a High School Librarian 9
School Librarian Competencies 10
Choosing a School Library Education Program 11
2 From then to Now 15
History of Education in the United States 15
The Education Environment Today 17
Challenges to Traditional Education 20
Distance Education 21
History of School Libraries in the United States 22
The School Library Environment Today 25
Exercises 26
Notes 27
3 Going to Work 29
License/Credential to Practice 29
How to Find a Job 31
Interviewing for the Position 33
Coping with Reality 34
Managing a District with Only Aides or Volunteers 35
Exercises 35
Part II Going to Work 37
4 Beginning the Job 39
Determining District Administrative Practice 39
The School Librarian in the School 42
Facility Factors 43
Digital Resources 44
The Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) 45
Human Factors 45
Finding Out about Library Staff 46
Finding Out about Building Administrators 46
Finding Out about Teachers 46
Finding Out about Students 47
Finding Out about Parents and Caregivers 49
Collection Factors 49
Locating Curricular Resources 50
Circulation of Materials and Equipment 50
When Students Arrive 51
Exercises 53
Note 53
5 The Education Program 55
Reading 55
Ready Access to a Good Book Helps Improve Reading Skills 57
Commercial Reading Incentive and Software Programs 59
Sharing Reading and Curriculum Research 60
The Education Program and the Curriculum 60
Analyzing Teaching Methods 61
Helping Improve Teacher Assignments 62
Understanding the Learner 63
Understanding Curriculum 63
The School Librarian as Teacher 65
Teaching All Kinds of Literacy 65
Inquiry Learning 66
The School Librarian in the Classroom 67
The School Library as Classroom 67
Makerspaces 68
Awareness for Teachers and Administrators 68
Improving the Curriculum 69
Exercises 70
Notes 71
6 Assessment and Evaluation 73
Quantitative and Qualitative Measures 75
Deciding What to Measure 76
Assessment and Evaluation beyond Standards 77
Finding Out What Is Right or Wrong 77
Evaluation as an Awareness Device 78
Evaluation as a Management Device 78
Appraising the Facility 79
Appraising Staff Performance 79
Appraising Resources 81
Services and Program Appraisal 82
Administrator's Program Appraisal 83
Evaluation to Assess Value 83
Assessing Student Learning 84
After the First Year 86
The Continuing Need for More Research 86
Exercises 87
Notes 87
7 The Business Side of Management 89
Policy Statement and Needs Assessment 90
Objectives 92
Organizing 92
Systematic Feedback and Adjustments 94
Planning for Extended Projects 94
Scheduling the School Library 96
Electronic Calendars and Daily Plan Books 98
Budget 99
The Fiscal Year 101
Acquiring Resources: The Purchasing Process 102
Purchasing Materials 102
Selecting Equipment 103
Writing Specifications 104
Cost Accountability and the School Librarian 105
Writing Proposals to Expand Programs 107
Developing the Statement of Needs 108
Preparing Goals and Objectives 109
Establishing the Plan of Action 109
Planning for Evaluation 110
Deciding the Dissemination 110
Describing Local Resources 111
Building the Budget 112
Additional Considerations 113
Exercises 114
Notes 115
8 Library Spaces and Contents 117
The Library Space 117
Rearranging Facilities 120
Remodeling the Facility 123
Planning New Facilities 125
Moving a School Library 128
Housing the Collection 129
Exercises 129
Notes 130
9 Information Resource Management 131
Creating a Collection Development Policy 132
Goals and Objectives 135
Materials to Be Included or Excluded 135
Selection Guidelines 135
Acquisitions Processes 135
Policies on Donations 136
Circulation of Resources 136
Weeding Collections 137
What to Do in Case of a Challenge 137
Protections for Privacy/Intellectual Freedom 138
Defending the Right to Access Information 139
What CIPA Requires 140
Policies Regarding the Ethical Use of Information 141
Copyright 141
Preservation and Archival Functions 142
Building and Maintaining the Resource Collection 142
Organizing Information 142
Selecting Materials 143
Relevance of Materials 145
Selecting Information from the Internet 145
De-selection of Materials (Weeding) 146
Exercises 148
Note 148
10 Managing Personnel 149
The Library Advisory Committee 150
Analyzing Your Leadership Style 151
Library Staff 151
Standards of Performance 152
Hiring Staff 154
Practicum Students 154
Support Staff in the Library 155
Students and the Library 155
Teachers and the Library 157
Administrators and the Library 158
Parents and the Library 160
Friends of the Library 161
The Community and the Library 161
Relationships with Other Types of Libraries 162
Exercises 164
Notes 164
Part III Keeping Up 167
11 Leading through Technology 169
Infrastructure and Access 169
The School Librarian and Technology 170
Willingness to Change 171
The Tech Squad 171
Building the Technology Plan 172
Thinking about Software 172
The Challenges of Social Networking 173
Keeping Up with Technology 174
Level of Impact 175
Micro Documentation of Impact 176
It's Not Going Away 177
Exercises 178
Notes 178
12 Professional Development 179
Personal Learning Networks (PLNs) 180
Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) 180
Planning Professional Development 182
Professional Development for the School Librarian 185
MOOCs 185
Webinars 185
Workshops and Institutes 186
Professional Associations 186
Education Associations 186
Library and Media Associations 187
International Associations 189
Exercises 191
Notes 191
13 Advocacy 193
Changing Perceptions 193
Marketing 195
What to Market 197
How to Market 198
Promotion 201
Preparing Presentations 203
Advocacy to Activism 204
School Librarians and the Political Process 204
Lobbying at Home 204
State and National Legislative Lobbying 206
School Librarians as Politicians 209
School Librarians: Advocating in the Global Community 209
Exercises 210
Notes 211
14 The Future 213
How Fast Everything Changes 214
Maintaining a School Library Program That Is Appropriate 214
The School Librarian as Leader 215
Gathering Support 216
Student Support 216
Teacher Support 217
Administrator Support 217
Parent Support 218
Community Support 218
Not Jumping onto Every Bandwagon 218
The Future 219
Place 219
Content 220
Lifelong Learning 221
Survival 223
Exercises 223
Note 223
Appendix A Sample Letter of Application 225
Appendix B Questionnaire 227
Appendix C List of Research Resources 231
Appendix D Presentation of a Five-Year Long-Range Plan 235
Appendix E Publications List 241
Appendix F Sample Budget 249
Appendix G Volunteers 253
Appendix H Writing a Technology Plan 255
Appendix I Article for the Los Angeles Times 257
Appendix J Sample Letter to Legislator 259
Appendix K 50 Ways 261
Index 267
