Leadership, Administrati

on, and Integration

of Technology

Module 2Group Discussion Threads

Laurie BryantOctober 29, 2015

Massive Changes in our Educational

CultureTopic 5: Practices Library Media

Specialists are doing that Highlight the Library Media

Center and the Library Media Program

Image credit: Steve Wacksman

A New Spin on Library Media

Centers: The Hub of the School with

the Help of Technology

by Linda R. Kaser• According to Kaser (2005), “By promoting the

tantalizing aspects of technology, the library media specialist can enlighten fellow teachers, administration, students, and the community in general to library media center treasures and activities that promote classroom technology integration.”

Collaborative Teaching

• For a teacher who is intimidated by technology and does not find it enjoyable to use within lessons, collaborative teaching is one way to introduce the teacher to lessons in which media skills are integrated and to promote technology tools (Kaser, 2005).

• Provide a schedule to the teachers in which they can schedule computer sessions along with their class periods in order for students to access the resources available in the library media center (Kaser, 2005).

Hub of the School• “With continued cooperation, support

from within and outside the school and organization, any library media center can be active and spinning as the technological, informational, and recreational hub of the school” (Kaser, 2005).

Visit your Media

Center!

Getting Parents Involved in the

School Library Media Center

by Julie Harris• According to Harris (2015), “When

parents know you are working diligently to develop and implement a library program that helps their children be successful, they will become important advocates for your library program” (p. 20).

Special School Events

• Open House• PTO Meetings• Family Literacy Night

Maintaining a positive relationship with parents will keep the lines of communication open (Harris, 2015).

Parent Volunteers• Activities for Volunteers Parents reading books to students

Helping students locate books from the OPAC

Shelving books

Preparing new books

Weeding books

“Positive learning experiences can be created by involving parents” (Harris, 2015, p. 23).

Fundraising Events• School-wide book sale• Arts and Crafts Fair• Golf ScrambleSome parents might not know how to connect with the library media center. One way parents can begin to connect with the library media program is to organize fundraising events (Harris, 2015).

Library Media Center Website

“With so much of today’s communication taking place online, setting up a website would enable parents to stay informed” (Harris, 2015).Harris states that posting research tips for students, book recommendations, special event dates, and reading strategies can help keep parents informed (2015).

Communication• When the media specialist keeps the

lines of communication open with parents, there is a better understanding of each child and their educational needs (Harris, 2015).

• The school media center is the learning hub in a school and when parents become more comfortable with the library resources, they are able to give their child more help at home with assignments (Harris, 2015).

ReferencesHarris, J. (2015). Getting parents involved in the school library media center. Library Media

Connection, 33(6), 20-24.

Kaser, L. R. (2005). A new spin on library media centers: The hub of the school with the help of technology. Library Media Connection, 24(1), 64-66.

Image CreditMicrosoft Clip Art Gallery (2011).PTOtoday.com (2015). https://www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-clip-art-gallery?igtype=category&ighidemenu=1&igchild=1&searchAll=1&igtags=volunteers#gallery-1