Your library is your classroom, and you are responsible for it no matter what's happening there. Ineffective classroom management can hamper or completely negate your efforts at creating a strong library program, and that's true whether you're a new school librarian just starting out or one with many years under your belt. This powerful resource from Hilda K. Weisburg, drawing from her decades of mentorship and hard-won wisdom, will show you how to prevent, deal with, and overcome discipline problems you may face when communicating with and teaching K-12 students. You'll also learn ways to make the library a welcoming environment and incorporate trauma-informed learning into your practice. As you read, you'll gain crucial insights on issues such as how to stay centered and focused by drawing up plans, guidelines, and policies that will give you a formal basis for your decisions and actions; the differences between management and control; cooperation, collaboration, and co-teaching—and where curriculum fits in; techniques for handling distractions, disruptions, and defiance; practical steps for creating a safe and welcoming space through guidance on equity, diversity, and inclusion; time management as a tool for juggling extra responsibilities such as book clubs and extra-curricular activities; strategies for coping with stress when you feel overwhelmed; and ending the year right by creating your own checklist of "closing" tasks, including assessment and reflection. Complete with Key Ideas at the end of each chapter that will assist you in real-world implementation, Weisburg's go-to reference will guide you through the special challenges that come with managing the school library classroom.

With the recent passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), school libraries are poised for a potential turnaround. But there's only one way forward: school librarians must become leaders, fully interwoven into the fabric of the educational community. And to become a truly effective leader you've got to have a plan. In her new book, Weisburg builds on her decades of experience and mentorship in school libraries to offer a carefully crafted roadmap that guides readers step by step through the process of transforming into a leader, from becoming aware of what's at stake to learning and mastering the necessary skills for leadership. Using a pragmatic approach that acknowledges the challenges to come while also offering unabashed inspiration, this book incorporates first-hand understanding of the dynamics of the educational environment, from the building to the district level; begins by addressing common fears about taking on a leadership role, and shows how to move past them and gain confidence; demonstrates how to build credibility among stakeholders and peers through strategic risk-taking; discusses ways to rely on one's strengths to grow skills and expertise; explains how to know when to lead and when to manage, plus the fine art of delegation; gives pointers on communicating effectively, becoming visible, behaving ethically, maintaining a healthy life-work balance, and other important career issues; and shows readers what it takes to move onto a larger stage and become a local educational leader who also has a presence on the state and national level. By starting with the basics and offering concrete ideas for moving forward, the book shows readers how they can slowly build their confidence and skills to become the leaders their students and the profession needs them to be.

As if transitioning from library school or a different type of library job into the role of a school librarian wasn’t challenging enough, just factor in today’s straitened funding environment for the position itself. Librarians new on the job need expert advice on what to expect and how thrive, and since its publication in 2006 this guide has served as a wise mentor for the new school librarian. From job search strategies and discovering work philosophy to the nitty-gritty details of creating acceptable use policies, this revised and updated edition, which includes a new foreword from Sarah Kelly Johns, shares the joys and perils of the profession along with a wealth of practical advice from decades of experience in school library programs. With this guide as a roadmap, new school librarians can: Tackle the job search with confidence, with tips on everything from polishing a résumé and acing a job interview to ways of handling any potentially negative Google results and other digital footprints Learn the secrets to successfully collaborate with teachers Navigate new roles and responsibilities through orientation and organization Create dynamic interactions with students to deepen their learning experiences Master the art of communicating with the principal, IT experts, and vendors Become familiar with school library technology, including e-book collections, online databases, and library management systems Receive field-tested guidance on daily matters – from budgeting and purchasing to advocacy and programming The AASL Standards for the 21st-Century Learner, Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and Common Core State Standards are also thoroughly discussed. New school librarians as well as those already in the profession can set the tone for rewarding career with this one-stop, hands-on guide.

In theory if not practice, traditional school library career planning went something like this: get a degree, find a job, work towards tenure, then remain in the same district until retirement. If that was ever actually the case, it certainly isn't any longer. School librarians have learned that making smart choices and planning strategically are the best ways to create a career that is both within their control and professionally fulfilling. This practical, hands-on book covers the multifaceted aspects of how school librarians can successfully carve out a unique niche within the educational community, showing readers how to Present themselves to stakeholders, from the first interview through day-to-day job duties Learn the workings of the school and district while demonstrating expertise Develop the management skills needed to assume various leadership positions, both official and unofficial Stay current with developments in pedagogy and technology, and incorporate them into the fabric of the school Prepare for possible changes due to staff cuts or a personal decision For both long-time school librarians, as well as those who have recently entered the profession with a background in education, Weisburg's guide will be an invaluable resource for navigating their career path.