School Librarians and Leadership

LIB 604 Libraries in the School

CurriculumSpring 2012

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School Librarians as LeadersA curricular leader and a full participant

on the instructional team, the library media specialist constantly updates

personal skills and knowledge in order to work effectively with teachers,

administrators, and other staff--both to expand their general understanding of

information issues and to provide them with specific opportunities to develop

sophisticated skills in information literacy, including the uses of

information technology.

Roles and Responsibilities of the School Library Media Specialist(from Chapter 1, "The Vision," of Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. Copyright © 1998 American Library Association and Association for Educational Communications and Technology. )

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As expressed in Empowering Learners:

Leading SLMSs create an environment where collaboration and creative problem

solving thrive. They continuously strive to advance their skills by leading professional journals and books, attending conferences,

and networking with other librarians.− Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School

Library Media Programs

The newest set of guidelines from the American Association of School Librarians (AASL).

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What is Leadership?

At its essence, leading is all about relationships – growing the connections among individuals that permit collective, collaborative thinking

and action.

Leaders motivate, join forces in articulating a common vision and goals, and support others

in conceiving and implementing plans for action.

April 8, 2023

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Is there a leader type?We say, “So-and-so is a born leader.”

No such thing. Leadership is a relationship between a person and a group plus the skills to guide the

group to success. As with any relationship, success depends on both parties. One group’s stellar

leader may fail utterly when leading another group.

Stever Robbins: Stever Column - The Essence of Leadership

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Leadership is a relationship between those who aspire to lead and those who chose to follow.

Sometimes the relationship is one-to-one. Sometimes it’s one-to-many. But regardless of

whether the number is one or one thousand, leadership is a relationship.

Leadership Development is Character DevelopmentBy JIM KOUZES and BARRY POSNER

April 8, 2023

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Leadership is relationship?

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Leadership in contextLeadership is not just dependent on

an individual’s unique qualities. “Successful leaders have learned

to view their organizations’ environment in a holistic way.” (Leadership for School Culture,

1994).  They understand and model the core values of the

institution.Leading on the Wave of Change

Knowledge Quest on the Web:January/February 2001Debbie Abilock, Editor

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Are Teachers Leaders?

Teachers provide a powerful and insightful voice regarding

decisions about school change because teachers have

knowledge of local school conditions

. . . a teacher’s power is essential both within and beyond the

walls of the classroom.

April 8, 2023

Preparing for Leadership

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eJournalBC Educational Leadership Research. Issue 3. March 16, 2006

Taylor Webb

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Teacher leadersVarious studies indicate that effective teacher leadership involves a move away from

top-down, hierarchical modes of functioning and a move

toward shared decision-making, teamwork, and

community building.

Teachers as Leaders in Education Reform

. ERIC Digest.  by Wynne, Joan 

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Characteristics of good leadership

Being creative

Being interactive

Being vision-headedEmpowering others (by encouraging

participation and involvement)

Being passionate about their work Based on

Leadership: A Communication Perspective (2003), reproduced in Empowering Learners

(AASL, 2009).

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Media Specialist Leadership

April 8, 2023

Preparing for Leadership

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LMS Leadership Pays Off!

Academic achievement increases when school librarians are leaders in their schools.

Library media specialists who seek leadership roles and partnerships with administrators

create strong library media programs translating into academic achievement. This is

an indirect relationship. That is, leadership translates to higher collaboration with teachers in creating quality learning experiences that in

turn, has a direct impact on academic achievement.

David LoertscherPowering Achievement:

School Library Media Programs Make a DifferenceApril 8, 2023 12

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Finding from Colorado:

Loertscher: Leadership and AchievementPowerPoint SlidesFor Colorado (and other) studies see School Library Impact Studies

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http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/leadership.html

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Preparing for Leadership?

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Applying Action Research

Understanding the concept and process of

action research will prepare the library media

specialist to take a leadership role in

improving both the library media center and

the entire school program.

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Evidence-Based Practice is not complicated. It is a simple process of paying attention to what you do and keeping a record of how that helps teachers and students. As Ross Todd explains, Evidence-Based Practice is “knowing and showing how the school library program helps students learn.”  For more information on Evidence-Based Practice, please click here.

Read Building Evidence-based Practice Through Action Research by V.H. Harada.

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A more recent example

April 8, 2023

21Another on school librarian leadership

April 8, 2023Preparing for Leadership 21