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School Librarians and Leadership
LIB 604 Libraries in the School CurriculumSpring 2010
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School Librarians as Leaders
A curricular leader and a full participant on the instructional team, the library
media specialist constantly updates personal skills and knowledge in order
to work effectively with teachers, administrators, and other staff--both to expand their general understanding of
information issues and to provide them with specific opportunities to develop
sophisticated skills in information literacy, including the uses of
information technology.Roles and Responsibilities of the School Library Media Specialist
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As expressed in Empowering Learners:
Leading SLMSs create an environment where collaboration and creative problem
solving thrive. They continuously strive to advance their skills by leading professional journals and books, attending conferences,
and networking with other librarians.− Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School
Library Media Programs
The newest set of guidelines from the American Association of School Librarians (AASL).
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What is Leadership?At its essence, leading is all about
relationships – growing the connections among individuals that permit
collective, collaborative thinking and action.
Leaders motivate, join forces in articulating a common vision and goals,
and support others in conceiving and implementing plans for action.
April 8, 2023
Preparing for Leadership
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Is there a leader type?We say, “So-and-so is a born
leader.” No such thing. Leadership is a relationship
between a person and a group plus the skills to guide the
group to success. As with any relationship, success depends on both parties. One group’s stellar leader may fail utterly when leading another group.
Stever Robbins: Stever Column - The Essence of Leadership
April 8, 2023
Preparing for Leadership
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Leadership is a relationship between those who aspire to lead and those who chose to follow.
Sometimes the relationship is one-to-one. Sometimes it’s one-to-many. But regardless of
whether the number is one or one thousand, leadership is a relationship.
Leadership Development is Character DevelopmentBy JIM KOUZES and BARRY POSNER
April 8, 2023
6Preparing for Leadership
Leadership is relationship?
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Leadership in contextLeadership is not just dependent on
an individual’s unique qualities. “Successful leaders have learned
to view their organizations’ environment in a holistic way.” (Leadership for School Culture).
They understand and model the core values of the institution.
Leading on the Wave of ChangeKnowledge Quest on the Web:
January/February 2001Debbie Abilock, Editor
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Are Teachers Leaders?
Teachers provide a powerful and insightful voice regarding
decisions about school change because teachers have
knowledge of local school conditions
. . . a teacher’s power is essential both within and beyond the
walls of the classroom.
April 8, 2023
Preparing for Leadership
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eJournalBC Educational Leadership Research. Issue 3. March 16, 2006
Taylor Webb
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Teacher leadersVarious studies indicate that effective teacher leadership involves a move away from
top-down, hierarchical modes of functioning and a move
toward shared decision-making, teamwork, and
community building.
Teachers as Leaders in Education Reform
. ERIC Digest. by Wynne, Joan
April 8, 2023
Preparing for Leadership
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Characteristics of good leadership
Being creative
Being interactive
Being vision-headedEmpowering others (by encouraging
participation and involvement)
Being passionate about their work Based on
Leadership: A Communication Perspective (2003), reproduced in Empowering Learners (AASL, 2009).
April 8, 2023Preparing for Leadership 10
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Media Specialist Leadership
April 8, 2023
Preparing for Leadership
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LMS Leadership Pays Off!
Academic achievement increases when school librarians are leaders in their schools.
Library media specialists who seek leadership roles and partnerships with administrators
create strong library media programs translating into academic achievement. This is
an indirect relationship. That is, leadership translates to higher collaboration with teachers in creating quality learning experiences that in
turn, has a direct impact on academic achievement.
David LoertscherPowering Achievement: School
Library media Programs Make a DifferenceApril 8, 2023Preparing for Leadership 12
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Finding from Colorado:
Loertscher: Leadership and AchievementPowerPoint SlidesFor Colorado (and other) studies see School Library Impact Studies
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http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/leadership.html
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Preparing for Leadership?
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Applying Action Research
Understanding the concept and process of action
research will prepare the library media specialist to take a leadership role in
improving both the library media center and the entire
school program.
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Evidence-Based Practice is not complicated. It is a simple process of paying attention to what you do and keeping a record of how that helps teachers and students. As Ross Todd explains, Evidence-Based Practice is “knowing and showing how the school library program helps students learn.” For more information on Evidence-Based Practice, please click here.
Read Building Evidence-based Practice Through Action Research by V.H. Harada.
