Post on 27-Mar-2015
The School Librarianin California Secondary
Schools:One Head, Four Hats
Information Specialist Library Program Administrator
Instructional
Partner
Co-teaches to increase information literacy
collaborates with
core teachers to improve reading comprehension
shares in curricular, instructional, professional development schoolwide
helps develop plans to integrate ICT into
curriculum & instruction Plans, evaluates, executes library media
programs/services Creates library collection supporting
school curriculum/state standards Manages library information resources Creates inviting, accessible, efficient
library environment
Teacher Provides instruction in:
organization of print and digital resources;
relevant characteristics of print materials;
critical evaluation of print and media content;
productive, effi cient use of: catalogue software;
print materials; digital resources
Provides information-
seeking services for
learning community
California Professional
Standards for School
Librarians
The Middle School
Librarian’s 4 Hats
Why so many hats?
•Strong school libraries raise test scores
dramatically, in more ways than one…
It is crucial that California schools have complete library staffing.
Unfortunately,
• Less than a quarter of California school libraries have library media specialists at
all, part or full time, compared to three-quarters of school libraries nationwide.
• The U.S. average librarian/student ratio is 1 librarian for every 870 students.
California’s ratio is 1 librarian for every 4,531 students.
Your school librarian makes
teachers more productive and
raises test scores.
These results are regardless of race or family income.
When you use your librarian’s information specialist and educator skills to support
your own work, scores go up.
Other library conditions that directly affect student scores:
Library Collections and Student Scores
Scores and technological access
Yes, but what does the school librarian actually do?
As a Teacher,the librarian
Delivers instruction in:
organization of print and digital resources;
critical evaluation of print and media content;
productive, efficient use of:
the library materials catalog;
print materials; digital resources.
As an
instructional partner,
the librarian
• Collaborates with teachers to increase information
literacy (the skills needed to find, critically
analyze, and effectively use print and media content);
• Works with teachers to improve reading comprehension and fluency.
As a library administrat
or and
information specialist,
the librarian
•Creates an inviting, accessible, efficient library environment;
•shares in curricular, instructional, professional development school-wide;
•helps develop plans to integrate ICT into curriculum & instruction;
•Plans, evaluates, executes library media programs/services;
•Creates library collections supporting school
curriculum/state standards;
•Provides information-seeking services to school and
community;
•Manages library information resources.
Things have
Changed.
Perceptions of School Librarians
Because so many schools lack appropriate library materials and staff, our idea of the library may be 40 years old:
a book warehouse run by a quiet woman who may be well-read in juvenile literature, who gives book-talks, read-alouds, and can match students with books.
From Hair buns to HeadsetsIn California schools we have a literacy crisis magnified by meteoric expansion of resource formats and sheer quantities of information (not to mention high-stakes testing).
Library staff does much more than check out books.
Today’s school library staff…
Read, analyze,
& acquire from a booming,
multi-lingual, cross-cultural
market of juvenile
materials;
Teach students, teachers, and parents
how to use complicated, changing
digital resources efficiently and
accurately
(often in communities with few home
computers or media savvy);
Find digital resources that in effect remove the library’s walls by creating access to international sources;
Push the library into the classroom by providing carts with custom-picked collections for classroom projects;
Teach side-by-side with teachers to smoothly integrate media literacy into academic work;
& increase literacy levels while fostering love of reading through skillful matching of students with books, interesting displays, inviting atmosphere, and engaging book talks in person and digitally.
Your librarian also:• Makes replacement I.D.
cards;• Handles LCD, VCR
checkout;• Distributes, orders
overhead bulbs;• Orders equipment repair
for classroom overheads and VCRs and all other library equipment.
• Creates and updates• the library’s website.
School librarians are
teachers, information
professionals, and
administrators.
References:
Illinois School Library Media Association. (2005). Powerful Libraries Make Powerful Learners: The Illinois Study. Retrieved December 1, 2005 from http://www.alliancelibrarysystem.com/illinoisstudy/TheStudy.pdf
California School Library Association. (2004). Standards and Guidelines for Strong School Libraries. Sacramento; CSLA.