Today's School Libraries

School Library Programs Improve Student Learning Advocacy Brochure Series Helps School Librarians Speak to Stakeholders Developed and distributed through a grant from the Bound to Stay Bound Books Foundation, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) presents a new advocacy tool to help school librarians generate and guide discussion with stakeholders about quality school library programs. School Library Programs Improve Student Learning is a series of advocacy brochures each designed to speak to a specific stakeholder audience within the school library community, including administrators, policymakers, parents, and teachers.

It was the "aha!" moment that Stephanie Rosalia was hoping for. A group of fifth graders huddled around laptop computers in the school library overseen by Ms. Rosalia and scanned allaboutexplorers.com, a Web site that, unbeknownst to the children, was intentionally peppered with false facts.

A new report released by the National Center for Literacy Education (NCLE) reveals that school librarians are highly involved leaders playing a critical role in their schools through consistent and sustained collaboration with other educators. Additionally, school librarians not only participate in but deliver professional development to peers, educators and staff in their schools.

Insights from Leaders in the School Library Community AASL presents 30 Second Thought Leadership: Insights from Leaders in the School Library Community, a video podcast series delivering brief and practical advice from respected school library leaders on important questions about school libraries today and in the future.

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) acknowledges the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the state-led Common Core State Standards Initiative in the development of the college- and career-readiness standards for English-language arts and mathematics.

Senior/Capstone projects provide students with the opportunity to direct their own investigation of a topic of interest. The process includes research, collaboration, communication and presentation skills. School library programs, and specifically school librarians, are integral to the successful implementation of these projects.

On librarians and technology--

*Scroll down for a full-text sample issue. See Melissa Johnston's article about school librarians and technology specialists!

Volume 42, No. 1 September/October 2013 The theme for the September/October 2013 Knowledge Quest is Imagining the Future. This issue explores how to plan for the future. It outlines methods and tools school librarians can use in their programs. Topics include outlining your library's mission statement, professional development planning, and planning for technology.

on school libraries and ebooks --

A library with a hearty selection of quality eBooks can go a long way in deepening understanding and use of a library's carefully cultivated, scholarly eCollection. Also important is a quick and clever explanation for why library digital collections represent the academic gold standard, and how they are different from the free Web.

On what librarians teach students, and what they might offer teachers in PD--
What do Teacher Librarians teach? (.pdf poster)

On PLCs--

Twitter can bring unique experiences to students and the school library through author and illustrator Skype and Google Hangouts. It can also be a way to facilitate experts teaching students, link students to classrooms from halfway around the world, creating and collaborating as part of a class project between several schools, and so much more.

On PLCs--
How librarians work within and lead professional learning communities

On school librarians and reading--
Reading workshop (also referred to as reader's workshop) has a natural link to school libraries and school librarians, yet many of the most respected experts on the subject do not mention this connection. It is up to the school librarian to help teachers and others see and understand the role of the school librarian and the library in establishing and making the idea of reading workshop work.

On school librarians and reading--
Matrix aligning reading skills and library skills

On professional development for librarians--
eCollab, free and fee-based PD content from AASL, A Division of the American Library Association

On school librarians and reading--
Excerpt from the School Librarian's Role in Reading Position Statement Reading is a foundational skill for 21st-century learners. Guiding learners to become engaged and effective users of ideas and information and to appreciate literature requires that they develop as strategic readers who can comprehend, analyze, and evaluate text in both print and digital formats.

On school librarians leading PD and educational technology--
"School librarians perform an integral role in promoting the effective use of educational technologies in their schools."

Principals Know: School Librarians are the Heart of the School was crowdsourced by Dr. Judi Moreillon and Dr. Teresa Starrett using funds provided by the Texas Library Association, Demco, and the Dean's Research Funds (College of Professional Education, Texas Woman's University).

On this page, we'll explore ways to combine content from various subject areas such as language arts, science, social studies, and math with information and technology skills and strategies to meet diverse learning needs and address Standards for the 21st Century Learner.

By working together, principals, librarians, and teachers can transform learning environments to ensure that students achieve digital literacy. By Ann M. Martin and Kathleen R. Roberts Principal, January/February 2015 Web Resources While working on homework, a 9-yearold asked if he could use a tablet computer.

Issuu is a digital publishing platform that makes it simple to publish magazines, catalogs, newspapers, books, and more online. Easily share your publications and get them in front of Issuu's millions of monthly readers.

In this presentation, learn about leveraging the resources of the school librarian and library to help attain your student learning priorities. Examples of spaces, collaborations, and learning activities that characterize today's best school libraries; guidance in identifying needs that library programs can support; and strategies for building or refining a library program that provides academic rigor, stimulates curiosity, and lays the groundwork for independent reading, critical thinking, and information seeking.