How should teacher librarians or instructional leaders engage in action research to improve their school library and benefit students' learning? This book provides the answers. Teacher librarians need to get directly involved with the research process in the learning commons in order to create actions and strategies that will enhance student learning-and benefit their own professional development as well as demonstrate accountability through their action research efforts. This book provides practical tips and work spaces for educators at the local, state, and national levels, clearly modeling and explaining the process and the tools for conducting action research in a school library setting that will identify the program's strengths and weaknesses. The author coalesces current expert opinions on the topic of action research in the school library environment and highlighting what other teacher librarians in the field have identified as the pros and cons of using the process. Readers are directed to focus on mitigating the "cons" through the use of specific working pages and templates and by initially exploring "five favorite" links, thereby encouraging those who are new to action research to try what might otherwise seem a daunting process. School principals K-12 who read this book will be better equipped to support their teacher librarians and teachers in this important professional process. Supplies invaluable insights from experts and practitioners on the subject of action research Provides a clear model of the process in action Directs readers to additional resources that facilitate effective action research and timely topics for school library research, such as time management and technology in learning

ALA's popular and respected Whole Library Handbook series continues with a volume specifically geared towards those who serve young adults, gathering stellar articles and commentary from some of the country's most innovative and successful teen services librarians. Sections focusing on practice, theory, and the philosophical underpinnings of the profession are supported by current research and historical perspectives. Both instructive and reflective in scope, this essential handbook Provides a comprehensive introduction to the background and day-to-day realities of teen librarianship for LIS students and those new to the field Offers expert tips and wisdom invaluable to those already working with teens Highlights trends, challenges, and opportunities in the changing world of how teens interact with libraries, and what they expect Emphasises advocacy across all spectrums, including in local communities and among fellow staff who may be anxious about teens in the library Guides staff in providing readers' advisory to teens Includes ready-to-use marketing resources, templates, and sample teen services and teen volunteer plans Anyone who works with young adults will benefit from the thorough coverage provided by this volume's expert contributors.

This book is an invaluable resource for school library aides who conduct storytime activities, providing everything from instruction on how to read to children to a week-by-week read aloud curriculum for the entire school year. School Library Storytime: Just the Basics is the perfect resource for library aides, paraprofessionals, or other library staff who conduct storytime in a school library media center. It provides all of the essential information, materials, and step-by-step guidance needed to facilitate these all-important events for children in kindergarten through second grade, allowing library staff without previous training or experience to get started with confidence. The fifth title in the highly regarded Just the Basics series, this book starts with an introduction, followed by explanations of how to read aloud and tips for managing and working with children in the primary grades. The authors suggest specific picture books that tie into school year-based themes and supply materials that can be used as listed or easily modified to meet the individual library's needs. Event-specific lessons are supplied for many weeks within the school year, making this title one that educators will rely on for storytime ideas from September through May. Follows the school calendar, providing a lesson for nearly every week of the school year Uses both fiction and nonfiction readalouds Supplies a resource page for each month

Practicing librarians and library educators demonstrate the power of inquiry to achieve the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and promote school librarians as key partners in implementing this type of critical teaching and learning in K-12 schools. With the adoption of the CCSS in most of the nation's schools, educators and administrators at K-12 schools have a pressing need to find the best ways to implement these rigorous and comprehensive standards that challenge students to understand informational text and digital content at increasing levels of complexity. This text provides faculty with much-needed support in achieving this critical goal, thoroughly describing inquiry learning and how it links to the CCSS. The authors-nearly 30 contributors total, comprising librarians, library media specialists, educational leaders, teachers from the kindergarten level to college professors, and administrators, each with direct experience and knowledge regarding the subject matter-explain how the standards' emphasis on in-depth investigation and evidence-based reading and writing skills dovetail perfectly with inquiry-based learning initiatives. Acclaimed thought leaders such as Jean Donham, Kristin Fontischiaro, Leslie Maniotes, and Barbara Stripling clearly define and illuminate the librarian's role in school initiatives today and share lesson plans that have been proven effective in actual practice. Features a foreword by Allison Zmuda, former public high school teacher, renowned education consultant, president of Competent Classroom, member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), and author of numerous publications about learning, including Breaking Free from Myths about Teaching and Learning Defines and elaborates on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) as they relate to inquiry learning Describes the role of the school librarian in implementing the CCSS and inquiry learning in the school Introduces examples of inquiry-focused learning approaches, including guided inquiry design and project-based learning Provides lesson plans that will spark more practical ideas for inquiry-based instruction that address the CCSS

This book provides a straightforward, easy-to-follow procedural manual that will enable school library aides and new school librarians to develop excellent school library collections. School Library Day-to-Day Operations: Just the Basics provides essential knowledge for anyone running a school library, explaining how to build and maintain a collection that students and teachers alike will be able to use to easily find materials for research and pleasure reading. This hands-on manual will be invaluable to library clerks in developing sound procedures for preparing books and a wide range of other items-such as magazines, DVDs and audio books, and instructional materials- ready for circulation. The book also offers practical advice for establishing an efficient ordering process, checking in an order, and staying in compliance with school and district financial policies. And, because even the best library clerk can't always do it all on their own, the author identifies effective strategies for getting support.

Written by a well-known intellectual freedom advocate, this book is a one-stop source for school librarians on intellectual freedom and privacy issues that blends principles with best practices. In order to sort out fact from fiction and become effective, critically thinking adults in a global society, children need access to diverse points of view from authoritative sources in their school libraries. This book provides school librarians with easy-to-read guidance on specific aspects of intellectual freedom and privacy, explaining how the core values of the library profession translate into everyday practice. The readings supply current information and targeted, practical advice on a broad range of topics, including privacy and confidentiality in the context of a school library; working with homeless students, English language learners, and other special needs students; challenges to school library materials; filtering issues; and advocacy for intellectual freedom. Each of the nine chapters begins with an introductory essay examining the topic and concludes with a "key ideas" summary; a list of annotated resources to lead the reader to more information on the individual column topics; and discussion questions. The volume's appendices include the text of the ALA Library Bill of Rights and the Code of Ethics as well as an annotated list of pro-First Amendment and privacy protecting organizations with contact information. Presents practical guidance on important access and privacy issues facing school librarians, such as overdue materials, overcoming restrictive filtering, working with students with special needs, privacy concerns related to students' library records, preparing for challenges to school library materials, and advocating for intellectual freedom Provides up-to-date information on ALA and AASL statements on intellectual freedom and privacy, relevant state and federal laws, as well as court decisions Supplies sidebars with additional relevant information and interesting facts and furnish key ideas summaries for each chapter's topics, annotated resources lists, and discussion questions Offers practical evaluation tools such as a "Challenge-Proofing Your School Library Checklist" and a "Privacy Checklist: Evaluating the Library Media Program"

Prepared in collaboration with the Medical Library Association, this completely updated, revised, and expanded edition lists classic and up-to-the-minute print and electronic resources in the health sciences, helping librarians find the answers that library users seek. Included are electronic versions of traditionally print reference sources, trustworthy electronic-only resources, and resources that library users can access from home or on the go through freely available websites or via library licenses. In this benchmark guide, the authors Include new chapters on health information seeking, point-of-care sources, and global health sources Focus on works that can be considered foundational or essential, in both print and electronic formats Address questions librarians need to consider in developing and maintaining their reference collections When it comes to questions involving the health sciences, this valuable resource will point both library staff and the users they serve in the right direction.

Updated to include the 2014 award and honor books, The Newbery and Caldecott Awards: A Guide to the Medal and Honor Books 2014 Edition gathers together the books deemed most distinguished in American children's literature and illustration since the inception of the renowned prizes. Librarians and teachers everywhere rely on this guidebook for quick reference and collection development and also as a resource for curriculum links and readers' advisory. With an easy-to-use stsreamlined look and format, the 2014 guide features: * A new essay by Sylvia M. Vardell on the history and development of poetry for young people; * Explanations of criteria used to select the winners; * Updated bibliographic citations and indexes for the award winners. This perennial guide for locating information about the best in children's boosk is valuable for every collection.

This new edition of an ALA bestseller remains an indispensable all-in-one resource for everything related to the school library media center. Articles from dozens of respected authors and experts, culled from popular journals such as Knowledge Quest and School Library Journal, cover everything of interest to the contemporary school librarian, including Professional development and career guidance Information on collection development and school library resources such as books, periodicals, e-mail discussion groups, databases, websites, and more Programming, partnering, promoting, and collaborating for student success Innovative ways to use technology like social networking and e-books in service of education Tips for analyzing and strengthening ongoing programs Building and maintaining healthy relationships with stakeholders Covering a wide range of important information in one handy volume, this stimulating handbook is a must-have for every school librarian.

This handbook provides librarians and technology specialists with the tools to understand the issues and challenges related to their counterparts' jobs, and find ways to work together for the betterment of all concerned. School Librarians and the Technology Department: A Practical Guide to Successful Collaboration was inspired by the authors' collective realization that far too often librarians and technology specialists fail to collaborate successfully, and sometimes even find their groups at odds with one another. This book is the antidote: it is a powerful call to establish and improve relationships between the two for the benefit of the students as well as the librarians and technology specialists themselves. The book begins by providing background information about the history of librarianship and the use of computer technology in schools. The authors trace the origins of the positions related to educational technology, such as "technology specialist," "teacher," and "director." The following chapters describe and address specific concerns of both librarians and technology specialists. Most importantly, this collaborative work offers practical suggestions for cooperation between these two groups of educators as they work together to offer the best possible materials and instructions to students. School Librarians and the Technology Department concludes by hypothesizing what the future holds in the realms of librarianship and technology in this rapidly changing information age. Provides readers with a solid understanding of what school librarians do and what technology specialists do Clarifies the unique challenges, ethical concerns, and goals of both librarians and technology specialists Presents ways for both librarians and technology specialists to increase harmony and productivity as they work in concert to serve students Examines specific ways to work for the best interest of all patrons-both students and their teachers

This book will help public library administrators, managers, and board members to better plan, strategize, and understand their communities, enabling public libraries to become dynamic, proactive institutions. Research-Based Planning for Public Libraries: Increasing Relevance in the Digital Age takes readers through a logical and effective process for developing a plan and implementing it within the various functions of the library. Grounded in research and best practices, the book offers practical, easy-to-implement advice and direction for today's public library administrators, managers, and board members. Covering everything from goal-setting, policy-making, and budgeting, to collections, promotions, and access and evaluation, the book details how to better provide and promote access, convey its value to customers, and make the library a more integral part of the community. The author inspires library staff and administrators to reinvent themselves to meet-and overcome-the current challenges they face. The information is specifically tailored towards public librarians, particularly those in management or administration, as well as to LIS faculty and students of public librarianship and library management. Presents a game plan to help public libraries become dynamic, pro-active institutions through well-researched and optimized planning and strategizing Offers practical, easy-to-implement advice Provides information grounded in current research

How can libraries and librarians across the educational continuum work together to support student transitions from high school to college, utilizing free or low-cost resources? This book supplies the answers. Informed Transitions: Libraries Supporting the High School to College Transition identifies the ways in which libraries and librarians can work together and create valuable resources that help students transition successfully to college-despite the challenges of increasing demand and diminishing resources. The book is organized into three sections: background, expectations, and skills; conversations and collaborations; and programs and resources. Section 1 establishes a foundational understanding of the libraries' role in supporting college transitions. Section 2 shares model conversations that move this work forward, stressing its collaborative nature. The third section highlights some well-established programs and resources that effectively support high school to college transitions. Practical information is provided throughout, pinpointing what high school students need to know to smoothly transition to college, spotlighting the expectations of college professors, and discussing audience-specific methods of working with students at the high school and college levels.

Ephemeral Material: Queering the Archive articulates a queer approach to archival studies and archival practice, and establishes the relevance of this approach beyond collections with LGBTQ content. Kumbier argues that queering the archive (thinking through queer interests, experiences, explanatory frameworks, and cultural practices) allows us to think critically about established archival principles and practices. This project describes -- and supports -- the work of archivists, community documentarians, activists, and scholars seeking to preserve materials documenting queer lives and experiences, and imagines how we might respond to the particular demands of archiving queer lives. Further, this project intervenes in the repetition of practices that may exclude LGBTQ constituencies, render our experiences less-visible/less-legible, or perpetuate oppressive power relations between archivists and users or documented subjects. The project aims to make work by scholars in history, performance studies, queer studies, and other areas of the humanities who are encountering the limits of archives -- and are developing strategies for working with them -- legible and relevant to archivists and librarians. The book supports its conceptual work with concrete examples of collecting and documentation projects, a research ethnography, and analyses of popular media that represent -- and critique -- archival spaces and practices.

Learning which takes place "after hours," in a club setting, is often an undersupported component of children's education. After-school clubs built around books encourage independent, recreational reading, which in turn has a positive impact on the rest of a child's day. In this book, Shaia offers a year's worth of ready-to-implement program ideas for librarians and educators .Her month-by-month calendar of themed clubs is conveniently divided by grade level (K-2, grades 3-4, grades 5-6) to allow club leaders and organizers to closely align activities and book selections to the ages of the club's participants. This handy book Offers programming on such themes as science, math, animals, mysteries, art, fairy tales, and more, all of which can be adapted for either a half-hour or forty-five-minute time slot Details age-specific bibliographies and suggestions for read-alouds, music, and craft or game activities, with different ideas for each week in a month Presents information on publicizing the activity, community outreach, display ideas, set-up, supplies, management, and evaluation With its inviting approach to book-based programming, Shaia's start-to-finish guide helps promote reading as a fun, engaging activity for kids.

In the ongoing evolution of the academic library, embedded librarianship has become an important topic of debate across levels and departments. This book delves into the concept, examining everything from theory to best practices. Is the embedded librarian an equal partner in the course, or is the librarian perceived as a "value-added" extra? What is the place of technology in this effort? Is there a line librarians should not cross? Taking into account both theory and practice to discuss multiple facets of the subject, Embedded Librarianship: What Every Academic Librarian Should Know thoroughly examines these questions and more from the perspectives of experienced embedded librarian contributors who have worked in higher education settings. The chapters illuminate the benefits and challenges of embedding, explain the planning required to set up an embedded course, identify the different forms of embedding, and consider information literacy instruction in various contexts. Readers who will benefit from this work include not only academic librarians but any professor who wants their students to be able to do better research in their fields. Includes a foreword by Steven J. Bell, president of the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), addressing blended librarianship within the context of embedding the library into the curriculum or the librarian into the course Provides a detailed introduction to the embedded librarian concept and information to help a novice undertake the role of the embedded librarian Explores the opportunities and reasons for embedding, the demand for it, the challenges involved, and the potential benefits Presents several feasible models of embedding for the academic library setting

An MLIS can provide the skill set needed to get a library job, but building a library career means knowing how to maximise your potential every step of the way. Benefiting those fresh out of library school as well as experienced professionals, career librarians from every corner of the profession offer a personal, down-to-earth view of ""what it's really like out there."" Filled with valuable insights into how to better launch and manage a library career, this book addresses important topics like How to work and adapt at a new organisation What management expects and how to view everyday activities from that point of view How to make suggestions for change Advice on navigating the cyclical nature of a librarian's work year The rewards and challenges of professional organisations Why a library degree is valuable outside a traditional library setting Those new to the field will find the contributors' seasoned advice both inspiring and practical, while veterans of the profession will find guidance on retuning their careers in librarianship's changing environment.

In times of recession, the library is more critical than ever for those who want to start a business and need to do research, and academic and public libraries are at the heart of a growing need to research business questions. An "accidental business reference librarian by trade," Ross explains how to provide quality reference help on issues from marketing to finance--for business people, students, and even business faculty. Honing in on fundamentals, this practical guide - Explains how to conduct the reference interview, with tips for helping clients help themselves - Identifies important business resources, both free and fee-based - Offers chapters devoted to industry and market information; small-business needs; international business research; investing and the stock market; and marketing and demographics A detailed bibliography functions as both a standing reference for desk use as well as a collection development aid for building a core business collection. Including numerous illustrative case studies, Making Sense of Business Reference takes the guesswork out of doing business research.

In an information environment where the only constant is change, many wonder where libraries are headed. This edited collection brings together library leaders with some of the brightest new minds in the profession to envision the future of libraries. Drawing from their personal experiences, they bring their barrier-breaking perspectives to the task of reinventing the library in all its forms. From redesigning library services for the evolving needs of users, to functioning as a meaningful space in a digital age, implementing new infrastructure, and imagining the international future of school libraries, the contributors ask and answer questions such as: How do lessons from the past point the way forward? What should libraries look like in the future? Which safeguards will protect intellectual freedom, such as equitable access to information and anti-censorship policies, now and in years to come? How can we overcome obstacles such as feasibility, costs, and competing interests to realise the library of the future? This thought-provoking collection will challenge librarians at every kind of institution to start planning today for the library of tomorrow.

Social media allows you to scale up a core librarian practice connecting your community to information and learning-- across geographic boundaries, 24/7. Addressing curation as the term is used colloquially, this issue of Library Technology Reports draws from 17 in-depth interviews to show how libraries are using social media to collect, organize, share, and interpret in short, how to tell a digital story to a specific audience. Additionally the authors use data, collected through an online survey that encompassed all library types, to offer a snapshot of this important collecting-connecting-curating-contributing practice. Also included is an annotated directory covering 66 tools for social media curation, organized by category with links to the websites.

Reinventing the Library for Online Education Frederick Stielow Item Number: 978-0-8389-1208-9 Publisher: ALA Editions Price: $75.00 Email Friend Order Options: Qty: Add To Cart Add To Wish List 256 pages 6" x 9" Softcover ISBN-13: 978-0-8389-1208-9 Year Published: 2013 AP Categories: A, B, I, J, Z This title will be available Fall 2013. You may place an order and the item will be shipped when it becomes available. Have changes such as cloud computing, search engines, the Semantic Web, and mobile applications rendered such long-standing academic library services and functions as special collections, interlibrary loans, physical processing, and even library buildings unnecessary? Can the academic library effectively reconceive itself as a virtual institution? Stielow, who led the library program of the online university American Public University System, argues most emphatically that it can. His comprehensive look at web-based academic libraries synthesizes the changes wrought by the Web revolution into a visionary new model, grounded in history as well as personal experience. He demonstrates how existing functions like cataloging, circulation, collection development, reference, and serials management can be transformed by entrepreneurship, human face/electronic communicator relations, web apps, and other innovations. Online education can ensure that libraries remain strong information and knowledge hubs, and his timely book Shows how the origins and history of the academic library have laid the foundation for our current period of flux Identifies practices rooted in print-based storage to consider for elimination, and legacy services ready to be adapted to virtual operations Discusses tools and concepts libraries will embrace in a networked world, including new opportunities for library relevance in bookstore/textbook operations, compliance, library/archival/museum functions, e-publishing, and tutorial services Offers a thorough examination of the virtual library infrastructure crucial for an online learning program, with a special look at the particular needs and responsibilities of online librarians Looks at the evolving relationship between higher education and copyright, and posits how educational technology will bring further changes

How do you get young adults excited and engaged with books? Get them onstage! Readers Theatre is a stage presentation during which participants read from scripts, acting out the book's story using voice and facial expressions. It offers educators an innovative opportunity to acquaint young people with quality literature, test their grasp of English grammar, develop their public speaking skills, and learn about teamwork in an activity that is entertaining as it is educational. Elizabeth A. Poe, creator of many Readers Theatre programs, explains how to create successful programs, offering: Ways librarians can link basic educational goals with appreciation of good literature, A bibliography of books suggested for their Readers Theatre potential, with examples of texts converted into scripts and Core programming ideas that can be adapted for use across different age levels. Poe's book helps youth services librarians get students out from behind their desks and onto the stage by writing their own scripts based on children's literature.

This book assists the busy professional with ready-to-use materials to present entertaining, educational, and age-appropriate programs that introduce young learners to countries and cultures around the world. The result of a collaboration of children's librarians and educators with over 70 years' combined experience, Travel the Globe: Story Times, Activities, and Crafts for Children, Second Edition offers the busy librarian, teacher, or media specialist with ready-to-use resources that introduce children to countries and cultures around the world. It provides recommended books, stories, action rhymes, fingerplays, games, and activities that can be used to plan a series of programs or a single activity that are both entertaining and educational. The book is organized alphabetically by country, with simple, low-cost craft ideas included in each chapter. All crafts use low-cost supplies and are simple to prepare and execute. At least two craft projects are included in each chapter: one for preschoolers, with suggestions for additional simplification; and another designed for children in kindergarten through third grade. The wide variety of resources within makes this book a valuable investment, as it will be useful year after year with new presentations and activities.

A collection of versatile best practices for promoting literacy development by utilizing local community connections in school and public libraries. Modern libraries are recreating themselves as idea centers for today's Internet-savvy, digitally driven clientele. This book provides a fresh approach to learning as well as guidelines for creating dynamic and relevant library programs for children, teens, and families. Organized thematically, each chapter includes relevant topical research and three to eight community-focused approaches. Programs range from small, single-library initiatives in rural communities to multi-site, cross-border initiatives. This essential reference includes collaborative and locally inspired programs, many of which can be scaled to the budget of any library, school, or community organization. Offers strategies for specific populations, including inter-generational, preteens, and teens Features programs that match early literacy research and the Every Child Ready to Read model Includes programs for small, medium, and large libraries; schools; community centers; social service agencies; and literacy-focused organizations

Gaming offers a great way to reach teens. This book gives library staff the tools to deliver game programming that goes beyond the basic video and board game format. Games aren't just for fun; they can also play a critical role in learning. Libraries have an opportunity to integrate a variety of games into the services and collections they provide to the community. This book shows library staff how to do exactly that through a diverse variety of popular games, some that have been around for many years and others that are new. The authors present a comprehensive overview of the topic, supplying good practice examples from successful libraries, providing necessary details on format and implementation within a library program for teens, and covering different game formats ranging from live action role-playing (LARP) and Dungeons & Dragons to Minecraft and traditional board games. Whether you're adding games and gaming to your collection and services for the first time, or looking for ways to expand your existing gaming program, this book offers solid guidance. Covers a wide range of popular games, including live action role-playing (LARP), table-top games, PC games, and big games Supplies ideas for implementing novel summer reading programs through games Includes lists of games that are specifically applicable and other tools, such as game websites, resources for further reading, videos to watch, and specialist game communities that can provide help

Public libraries are keystone public institutions for any thriving community, and as such can be leaders in making cities better places to work, play, and live. In this important book, noted urban planner and librarian Dudley shows how public libraries can contribute to "placemaking," or the creation and nurturing of vital and unique communities for their residents. Using case studies and other information from the field, the author Shows how public libraries can address pressing urban and environmental sustainability issues through smart urban design practices, making contributions to economic regeneration, and a commitment to social equity Provides examples of innovation in public library design, management, collaboration and public services Offers librarians, library administrators, and even urban planners the practical knowledge, tools, and vocabulary to overcome professional and disciplinary barriers From the economic renewal potential of library development projects, to the provision of public space in a privatising world, from services for the homeless to crisis management during urban disasters, Public Libraries and Resilient Cities explores the vital role that public libraries can play in the promotion of ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable communities in challenging times.