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Starting a School Library Media Program from Scratch
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Resources for School Library Media Program Development

Starting a School Library Media Program from Scratch

American Association of School Librarians and Association for Educational Communications and Technology. Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. Chicago: American Library Association, 1998. ISBN 0-8389-3470-6

Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning includes the Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning that will help students become skillful producers and consumers of information along with the guidelines and principles that will help you create a dynamic, student-centered program. The books' underlying concepts will guide you in:
  • Helping students flourish in a learning community not limited by time, place, age, occupation or disciplinary borders
  • Joining teachers and others to identify links in student information needs, curricular content, learning outcomes, and a variety of print and non-print recourses
  • Designing authentic learning tasks and assessments
  • Defining your role in student learning.
Available from the ALA Online Store at http://www.alastore.ala.org/aasl or call 866-SHOP ALA (866-746-7252).

Roles and Responsibilities of the School Library Media Specialist
www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=Roles_and_Responsibilities

As published in from Chapter 1, "The Vision," of Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning (Chicago: American Library Association, 1998). ISBN 0-8389-3470-6

American Association of School Librarians. A Planning Guide for Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. Chicago: AASL, 1999. ISBN 0-8389-8073-2

A Planning Guide for Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning provides practical, step-by-step directions in workbook format for implementing the planning process described in Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. Also included in the booklet is the "School Library Media Program Assessment Rubric for the 21st Century," designed by AASL's Teaching for Learning Task Force to be used by administrators and school library media specialists as a self-assessment tool and action plan in each school. Working through the sequential steps presented in the planning guide and rubric can help you bring about desired improvements to the library media program in your school or district. Available from the ALA Online Store at http://www.alastore.ala.org/aasl or call 866-SHOP ALA (866-746-7252).

Erikson, Rolf, and Carolyn Markuson. Designing a School Library Media Center for the Future. Chicago: American Library Association, 2000. ISBN 0-8389-0790-3

Other than the students themselves, nobody will be affected more by a school library building, remodeling or renovation project than the school librarian. Designing a School Library Media Center for the Future will help the librarian anticipate needs and participate in the planning process with the architect, consultant(s), building committee and administrators. As technology is driving many projects, the book outlines how networking issues affect the design of the space. It presents a lay person explanation of interior zone planning, furniture selection and purchasing, lighting, etc. Available from the ALA Online Store at http://www.alastore.ala.org/aasl or call 866-SHOP ALA (866-746-7252).

Lavender, Kenneth. Book Repair. 2nd ed. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2001. ISBN 1-55570-408-5

Sager, Donald J. Small Libraries: Organization and Operation. Fort Atkinson, Wis.: Highsmith Press, 2000.

Valenza, Joyce Kasman. Power Tools Recharged: 125+ Essential Forms and Presentations for Your School Library Media Program. Chicago: American Library Association, 2004. ISBN 0-8389-0880-2

A completely revised hands-on guide to address school library media specialists' most pressing issues. A collection of must-have, customizable tools to help you:

  • administer everyday details and develop policies;
  • assess to measure impact and evaluate success;
  • teach information literacy using simple assignments;
  • support students with hands-on, project-based tools; and
  • make powerful presentations to administrators, teachers, students, parents and community leaders.

Available from the ALA Online Store at http://www.alastore.ala.org or call 866-SHOP ALA (866-746-7252).

Wasman, Ann M. New Steps to Service: Common-Sense Advice for the School Library Media Specialist. Chicago: American Library Association, 1998. ISBN 0-8389-3483-8

Recent library media school graduates, nonlibrarians, and others unfamiliar with the process may find setting up and running a school library media center a daunting task. New Steps to Service is a user-friendly, practical guide for creating and maintaining a school library media center that works for students and you. Available from the ALA Online Store at http://www.alastore.ala.org or call 866-SHOP ALA (866-746-7252).

Children's Catalog. 18th ed. New York: H. W. Wilson, 2001. ISBN 0-8242-1009-3

Includes annual paperbound supplements published 2002 through 2005. Also available as an online subscription product. Grades 1-8

Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog. 8th ed. New York: H. W. Wilson, 2000. ISBN 0-8242-0996-6

Includes annual paperbound supplements published 2001 through 2004. Also available as an online subscription product.

Senior High School Library Catalog. 16th ed. New York: H. W. Wilson, 2002. ISBN 0-8242-1008-5

Includes annual paperbound supplements published 2003 through 2006. Also available as an online subscription product. Grades 9-12

SUNLINK Weed of the Month Club
www.sunlink.ucf.edu/weed

Florida Department of Education's effort to help provide school library media specialists with guidelines and suggestions for weeding their collections a little at a time as well as for adding quality materials.
  


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