The Principal's Guide to a Powerful Library Media Program: A School Library for the 21st Century, 2nd Edition : A School Library for the 21st Century, Second Edition

This book of best practices documents how school administrators and librarians can work together to optimize their library media services. School Library Journal Five well-paced chapters provide administrators with a knowledge base of library-related philosophy and research; best practices in collaboration and instructional issues; responsibilities that effective librarians assume; nuts and bolts of hiring, scheduling, budgeting, and facilities; and professional development. Each chapter opens with questions that a principal might ask and includes a concise introduction, specific suggestions for action, and extensive citations, resources, rubrics, and examples. A four-step model for improvement with the acronym GEAR (Gather information, Establish goals, Apply strategies, and Reflect) is included. The appendixes consist of useful guides and forms to use for assessing unit planning, evaluating the search process, integrating research and writing, suggested time allocations, budget, interview questions, checklists, and GEAR worksheets. While administrators are unlikely to seek out this volume, librarians would do well to read it for their own professional development, highlighting and passing along information to their principals with hopes that they become interested enough to continue reading on their own.-Mary R. Hofmann, Rivera Middle School, Merced, CA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information. Instructional leadership, research, and standards for library media programs Effective practices in integrating the library media program across the school and curriculum Understanding the roles and responsibilities of the library media specialist The principal's role in supporting and sustaining the library media program Continuous improvement and the library media program Apendix A. Administrator self assessments for important chapter concepts Appendix B. Evaluating collaborative units of instruction Appendix C. Providing access to materials through the library's catalog (cataloging and circulation) Appendix D. Library media specialist interview question worksheet Appendix E. Library paraprofessional interview worksheet Appendix F. Budget proposal worksheet Appendix G. Blank budget form Appendix H. Library walk-about checklist Appendix I. Library media specialist instructional activities feedback form Appendix J. Administrator's library media program feedback form Appendix K. Guide sheets for library self study : budgeting, scheduling and usage, and staffing Appendix L. Action research Appendix M. GEAR worksheets for concepts in chapters two and three, including blank worksheet. A campus administrator looking to improve an existing library media program or create a new one. A teacher or librarian seeking the principal's support for establishing a more effective program. A university professor requiring the foundation for a curriculum to instruct preservice librarians and campus administrators. In each of these scenarios, __The Principal's Guide to a Powerful Library Media Program__ can provide relevant background information, clear guidance, and tangible techniques. This unique text draws on professional literature, research, site visits, interviews, and the coauthors' collective years of experience to help principals be effective practioners, and to facilitate full comprehension of the far-reaching benefits a successful library media program has on the entire campus. The anecdotes and insights on best practices illustrate the principal's role in managing and facilitating the library media program—including hiring, budgeting, scheduling, and professional development. The methodology of "GEAR"—Gather information, Establish goals, Apply strategy, and Reflect—is championed throughout the book. This book of best practices documents how school administrators and librarians can work together to optimize their library media services.• Includes a collection of practical tools, such as a library walkabout description and form, a list of administrative enablers and inhibitors, GEAR process documentation and worksheets, administrator self-assessments in each chapter, planning paperwork for budgeting, scheduling, staffing, and feedback forms for the administrator and the library media specialist• Each chapter concludes with a comprehensive list of additional resources• Contains 13 helpful appendices sections This book of best practices documents how school administrators and librarians can work together to optimize their library media services.A campus administrator looking to improve an existing library media program or create a new one.