The School Library Manager

Blanche Woolls is a former school librarian, school district supervisor, professor, and LIS director who has served as president of AASL. Joyce Kasman Valenza is associate teaching professor of library and information science at Rutgers University, USA. April M. Dawkins teaches at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA.

Preface, Sharon Coatney
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I: In the Beginning:
1. Becoming a School Librarian
Essential Questions
Choosing This Career
Where Do You Belong?
A Day in the Life of an Elementary School Librarian
A Day in the Life of a Middle School Librarian
A Day in the Life of a High School Librarian
A Day in the Life of a (Multi-School) Middle/High School Librarian
School Librarian Competencies
Choosing a Pre-Service School Library Education Program
Key Takeaways
Challenges to Promote Growth
Note
2. From Then to Now
Essential Questions
History of Education in the United States
The Education Environment in the 21st Century
Restructuring and Administration
Standardized Testing
Challenges with Charter Schools, Home Schooling, and Vouchers
Remote and Hybrid Learning
History of School Libraries in the United States
The School Library Environment Today
Key Takeaways
Challenges to Promote Growth
Notes
3. Getting That Position
Essential Questions
License/Credential to Practice
How to Find a Job
What to Prepare for the Job Hunt
Interviewing for the Position
Coping with Reality
Key Takeaways
Challenges to Promote Growth
Notes
Part II: Going to Work:
4. Beginning the Job
Essential Question
Getting Started
Finding Out Who Supervises Your Work
Finding Out About Your School Board
Finding Out About Your Superintendent
Finding Out About Parents and Caregivers
Finding Out About Your Building-Level Administrators
Finding Out About Your Teacher Colleagues
Finding Out About Additional Friends with Powers: School Facilitators
Finding Out About Your School Culture
Finding Out About the Learning Environment
Finding Out About Your Digital Assets and Considering Other Front Doors
Finding Out About Your OPAC
Finding Out About Daily Operations
Finding Out About Library Staff
Finding Out About Your Students
When Students Arrive
Getting Ready for Orientation
Key Takeaways
Challenges to Promote Growth
Notes
5. The Education Program
Essential Questions
Reading
Ready Access to a Good Book Helps Improve Reading Skills
Commercial Reading Incentive Programs and Suggestions to Encourage Reading
Sharing Reading and Curriculum Research
The Education Program and the Curriculum
Analyzing Teaching Methods
Helping Enhance Teacher Assessments
Understanding the Learner
Understanding Curriculum
Inquiry-Driven Learning
Making Inquiry Happen
Inquiry Learning Models
Beyond the Curriculum
The School Librarian as Teacher
Formal Lesson Plans
Anchor Charts
Teaching All Kinds of Literacies
The School Librarian in the Classroom and the School Library as a Classroom
Current Awareness and Research Support for Teachers and Administrators
Key Takeaways
Challenges to Promote Growth
Notes
6. Assessment and Evaluation
Essential Questions
Who Evaluates Your Work?
Standards-Based Evaluation
Evaluating and Reflecting on Your Own Work
On Counting
Defining Terms
The Problem with Numbers
Deciding What to Measure
Evidence to Promote Growth
On Collecting Local Evidence of Practice
Leveraging Your Camera for Evidence of Practice
Assessing Student Learning
Educators and Action Research
Documenting Your Role as Lead Teacher
Evidence for Practice
Evaluation as an Awareness Device
Appraising the Facility
At the End of the Year: The Importance of Reporting
Key Takeaways
Challenges to Promote Growth
Notes
7. Planning and Management for Growth
Essential Questions
Policy Statement and Needs Assessment
Goals and Objectives
Organizing
Systematic Feedback and Adjustments
Planning for Growth
Scheduling the School Library
Digital Calendars and Daily Plans
Budget
The Development of District Budgets
The Fiscal Year
Acquiring Resources: The Purchasing Process
Purchasing Materials
Selecting Equipment
Cost Accountability and Return on Investment (ROI)
Cost Accountability
ROI
Writing Proposals to Expand Programs
Developing the Statement of Needs
Preparing Goals and Objectives
Establishing the Plan of Action
Planning for Evaluation
Deciding the Dissemination
Describing Local Resources
Building the Budget
Key Takeaways
Challenges to Promote Growth
Notes
8. Library Spaces
Essential Questions
Background Thinking on Spaces
Changing Spaces
The Learning Commons Model
First Impressions
A Culture of Accessibility
Engaging with Your Space
Making Room for Making
Factors That Affect Use of Space
Creating Flexible Zones
Rearranging Your Facility
Remodeling the Facility
Planning New Facilities
Storing and Moving a School Library
Branding Your Space
On a Serious Note: Safety
Ensuring the Integrity of Library Space
Staying Positive
Key Takeaways
Challenges to Promote Growth
Notes
9. Curating Your Collection for Growth
Essential Questions
The Collection: Moving Beyond Print
The Life Cycle of Your Collection
Selection and Reconsideration Policies
Intellectual Freedom and the Right to Access Information
Privacy and Intellectual Freedom
What to Do in Case of a Challenge
What CIPA Requires
Copyright and Fair Use
Preservation and Archival Functions
Building and Maintaining the Resource Collection
Organizing Information
Evaluating Your Collection
Acquisition: Selecting Materials
Curating the Web
Deselection of Materials (Weeding)
Key Takeaways
Challenges to Promote Growth
Notes
10. Managing and Partnering with Personnel
Essential Questions
The Library Advisory Committee
Analyzing Your Leadership and Collaborative Style
Library Staff
Standards-Based Evaluation
Hiring Staff
Practicum Students
Support Staff in the Library
Students and Their Library
Teachers and the Library
Administrators and the Library
Parents and the Library
Friends of the Library and Student Staff or Volunteers
The Community and the Library
Relationships with Other Types of Libraries
Key Takeaways
Challenges to Promote Growth
Notes
PART III: KEEPING UP
11. Leading through Technology
Essential Questions
Role of Librarians as Technology Leaders
Types of Technologies School Librarians Use and Integrate
Thinking About Software and Applications
Intellectual Property
Copyright
Creative Commons
Fair Use
Opportunities for Connected Experiences, Global Connections, and Participation
Immersive Reality
Makerspaces
Engaging Students in Technology Leadership
Librarians and Digital-Age Learning: Social Media and Digital Citizenship
Regulations Relating to Student Privacy and Safety
Models for Examining the Impact of Technologies on Learning
Impact of Technologies on Instruction
On Curation
Curation and Subscription Databases
Curating OER
Curating Your Library’s Virtual Presence
Website Accessibility Matters
Other Technology Staff and Possible Turf Issues
Getting a Seat and Making a Difference at the Tech Table
Finding Your People
Key Takeaways
Challenges to Promote Growth
Notes
12. Professional Development
Essential Questions
Personal Learning Networks (PLNs)
Blogs
Podcasts
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
Visual Social Media Curation Platforms
Pinterest
Instagram
TikTok
Wakelet
Webinars
Workshops and Institutes
Your Local School District
Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
Planning Professional Development
Professional Associations
Education Associations and Events
Library Associations and Networks
International Associations
Certifications as Professional Development Opportunities
Journals to Know
Leading Professional Learning
Key Takeaways
Challenges to Promote Growth
Notes
13. Advocacy
Essential Questions
Changing Perceptions Through Public Relations
Marketing
What to Market
How to Market
PR or Promotion Ideas
Preparing Presentations
Advocacy to Activism
School Librarians and the Political Process
Lobbying at Home
Mini Presentation: The Elevator Speech
Reaching School Boards, Parents, and the Community
State and National Legislative Lobbying
School Librarians as Politicians and Elected Officials
School Librarians: Advocating in the Global Community
Collecting the Evidence
Key Takeaways
Challenges to Promote Growth
Notes
Part IV: Looking Forward:
14. The Future
Essential Questions
Connecting the Dots
Connecting the Chapters of This Book to Change
The Future Is Yours and The Future Is You
Some Advice from Your Authors
Key Takeaways
Challenges to Promote Growth
Notes
Additional Resources
Appendix A: Mindset for School Library Innovators
Appendix B: Interview Questions for School Librarians
Appendix C: List of Student Volunteer Activities
Appendix D: Messaging: The Elevator Speech or Signature Pitch
Appendix E: Journals to Know
Appendix F: Article for the Los Angeles Times
Appendix G: A School Librarian’s Desert Island Toolkit
Appendix H: Librarian Checklist of Reminders
Appendix I: Your Library Website: It’s a Destination, Not a Brochure!
Index
About the Authors