Leadership and the School Librarian: Essays from Leaders in the Field » (New Edition)

In order for school librarians to continue to play a crucial role in improving student achievement, their leadership skills must be evident to administrators, teachers, students, and to the community. This book identifies the librarians' leadership role and provides ideas that will allow school library media specialists to utilize leadership skills in advocacy, collaboration, instruction, literature guidance, curriculum development, and professional growth. As librarians take a greater leadership role in the school improvement process, administrative leaders will rise up to take the advocacy role for school libraries.

VOYA

In this collection by Lankford, leadership is the recurring theme. Written by seven Texas library media specialists, the essays examine primary areas of professional responsibility: advocacy, collection development, finances, collaboration, professional development, and information access, focusing on the leadership opportunities that these areas afford. Lankford opens the book with a discussion of the attributes common to all leaders, corporate, political, and academic. JoAnn Moore's essay identifies three steps needed when advocating for libraries, "a good program, identifying and working with decision makers, and involving others to gain support." Collection Development, by Betty Carter, discusses setting up a library and choosing books in keeping with the school library's mission statement. Jim Hundemer's essay offers advice on making budget presentations. Collaboration by Mary Frances Long reminds the reader that working collaboratively means that "you will need to continuously work to expand and strengthen your skills and abilities." Mary Beth Green's Professional Development discusses various types of professional development activities and how to plan them. Barbara Bertoldo offers case studies on the role of the librarian as a learner-centered teacher in the information age. Striking a balance between theory and practical solutions, this book offers something of interest to both new and experienced media specialists. Its focus on the professional as a leader is a unifying theme. Each essay is thoroughly documented allowing for further reading. For those working in the field looking for a resource created by and for media specialists, this would be a good choice.