Activism and the School Librarian

Levitov, D. D. (Ed.). (2012). Activism and the School Librarian: Tools for Advocacy and Support. Santa Barbara , CA: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN: 978-1-61069-187-1

Publisher's Description 

This book provides practical strategies and step-by-step plans for developing advocacy initiatives for school libraries.

School libraries provide an essential service to the community, but without proper funding few libraries stand a chance to maintain the resources they offer—or to survive at all. School librarians can play an instrumental role in the survival of their programs. This how-to book provides school librarians with effective advocacy and activism strategies for promoting and improving their library programs.

Activism and the School Librarian: Tools for Advocacy and Survival offers straightforward, practical approaches for creating advocacy programs. This guidebook examines the characteristics for becoming an advocate, explores the meaning of advocacy/activism as an effort that is ongoing and proactive, and provides the steps required for initiating a successful program. The contributors address the various types of advocacy and activism, including legislative advocacy at the local, state, and national levels; school and district level programs; and community-based initiatives. The book includes expert advice from successful advocates and provides helpful reproducible tools.

Features

• Practical advice from expert advocates
• Step-by-step guidance for developing an advocacy program
• A comprehensive glossary of terms
• An examination of the proactive role of school librarians in successful advocacy initiatives

Highlights

• Covers various types of advocacy, including legislative, school-based, and community-driven strategies
• Includes helpful reproducible tools
• Reveals personal characteristics of successful advocates
• Contains resource lists for additional reading

Seven Steps

Martin, A. M. (2012). Seven Steps to an Award-Winning School Library Program (2nd ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN: 978-1-59884-766-6

Publisher's Description 

This comprehensive book takes the reader through the necessary steps to develop user buy-in and assistance in creating a learner-driven library program. The result? A unique, exemplary school library program that is eligible for national awards.

Creating an award-winning school library program involves more than simply following the guidelines and standards available that describe what an exemplary program should accomplish. Effecting the changes necessary is often a process that presents multiple challenges along the way—especially when there is insufficient buy-in to the changes.

 

This updated second edition of Seven Steps to An Award Winning School Library Program begins with a description of an existing model school library program and then describes steps that emphasize how to develop user buy-in and assistance in achieving the results of a learner-driven library program. In addition to providing descriptions of detailed actions to perform, advice on working with staff, and background information on change theory, this book also includes practical documents, diagrams, processes, workshop ideas, lesson plans, and tips when filling out applications for awards.

Highlights 

• Provides a framework in which the reader uses the national library program standards to meet local user needs
• Serves as an excellent resource for library management and administrative courses
• Presents a living model that helps readers understand the ways the national guidelines and principles for exemplary library programs need to be incorporated
• Identifies essential actions which will produce librarians who are active leaders

Leading the Common Core Initiative

Harvey II, C. A., & Mills, L. L. (2015). Leading the Common Core Initiative: A Guide for K-5 School Librarians. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN: 978-1-61069-491-9

Publisher's Description
Defining both the Common Core Standards and the school librarian's role in their implementation, this book offers ready-to-use lesson plans and other tools for grades K–5 and identifies opportunities for collaborative teaching.

As elementary schools in nearly all 50 states are faced with meeting the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), school librarians need to understand the challenges and have lesson plans ready to help. This resource introduces the CCSS in English and mathematics to K–5 librarians and aides, helping them to understand the concepts, analyzing the impact on the school library, and providing lesson plans, resources, and other tools for implementation in integrated instruction with other curricula and collaborative teaching with other elementary teachers. Based upon the authors' own experiences in adopting the CCSS in their school, the included exemplar lesson plans and ideas are designed to support school librarians as they begin to collaborate with teachers in using the Common Core Standards in their daily classroom instruction. The book also discusses the opportunities for advocacy that result from the librarian's instrumental role in implementing the CCSS, both as a staff developer and a collaborative partner teacher.

Features

• Defines the Common Core State Standards in English and mathematics
• Draws parallels to American Association of School Librarians (AASL) standards
• Discusses the impact of the CCSS on specific aspects of library administration, such as policies and collection management
• Examines how CCSS affects classroom and collaborative instruction in the library
• Identifies opportunities for the librarian to help in staff development in the CCSS

Table of contents

Collaborating for Inquiry

Wallace, V. L., & Husid, W. N. (2011). Collaborating for Inquiry-Based Learning: School Librarians and Teachers Partner for Student Achievement. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.
ISBN: 978-1-59884-850-2

Publisher's Description
Student learning is enhanced when teachers and librarians work collaboratively. This cutting-edge guide offers a model for collaboration that incorporates information literacy and technology standards to engage students and move them to higher-order thinking skills and greater achievement.

Collaborating for Inquiry-Based Learning: School Librarians and Teachers Partner for Student Achievement is a step-by-step guide to collaborative lesson planning that promotes inquiry learning among students of various ages and abilities. With the best practices and the models outlined in this book, teachers and librarians can combine their expertise to create highly motivating and engaging units that meet standards and emphasize skills needed for the 21st century.

The book is directed at collaborative research projects that take advantage of the individual strengths of classroom teachers and school librarians. The recommended model can be used to create inquiry-based units that incorporate prior knowledge; higher-order thinking skills; essential questions; information-search skills; research models; authentic assessments (needs, formative, and summative); rubrics; and reflection. Ideal for both novices and experienced practitioners, the guide also addresses student variables (diversity, multiple intelligences, learning styles, cognitive abilities); state standards; increased information literacy; and integration of Web 2.0 tools.

Features

• More than two dozen ready-to-use tables, charts, rubrics, and sample lesson plans
• A research process explored through a variety of research models
• Sample collaborative units that illustrate key concepts, strategies, and implementation
• Comparison charts and grids showing AASL and ISTE standards
• A glossary of key pedagogical terms and their relationship to inquiry-based learning
• A bibliography of professional, practical print and online resources on inquiry-based learning and collaboration

 Highlights

• Shows how to create collaborative units that address state standards, increase information literacy, and integrate Web 2.0 resources 
• Enables classroom teachers and school librarians to differentiate instruction to meet the individual needs, multiple intelligences, and learning styles of their students, while encouraging the development of critical thinking skills
• Incorporates best practices culled from learning theory, brain research, research on student learning, and formative and summative assessment
• Identifies the best Web 2.0 applications and resources for creating constructivist student presentations and products as the culmination of collaborative, inquiry-based units

Reference...for Info Lit Skills

Lanning, S. (2014). Reference and Instructional Services for Information Literacy Skills in School Libraries (3rd ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN: 978-1-61069-671-5

Publisher's Description
Students need to be able to distinguish good information from bad. This book gives you the tools to transmit those essential skills to your students.

Being an effective school librarian requires acting as an active instructional partner, an advocate for information literacy and information resources, and a reference librarian. Now in its third edition, this concise book provides you with a solid foundation in providing reference services to students as well as teachers. It details all aspects of providing essential reference services in the context of the AASL Standards, the Common Core State Standards, and the evolving role of today's school librarian.

Author Scott Lanning emphasizes service and instruction while addressing topics such as inquiry, critical thinking, building core reference skills, electronic and Web resources, leadership skills, and virtual reference services. The book begins with chapters that discuss information and the information-seeking process. The following sections cover the provision of reference services, methods for teaching information literacy, the use of electronic resources in general, and the creation of library resources that support reference and instruction. The text concludes with an assessment of the value of reference and instruction services to the school and beyond.

Features

• Covers theories of information behavior, models of information literacy, and provision of reference services in various mediums
• Emphasizes reference and instructional services and examines the impact of the Common Core State Standards on reference services in schools
• Explains how to conduct the reference interview

Table of contents

Teaching the Scientific Literature Review

Schmidt, R. K., Smyth, M. M., & Kowalski, V. K. (2014). Teaching the Scientific Literature Review: Collaborative Lessons for Guided Inquiry (2nd ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.
ISBN: 978-1-61069-739-2

Publisher's Description
An essential resource for teachers and librarians who work with students in the later high school years through college and graduate school levels, this book explains and simplifies the scholarly task of researching and writing a scientific literature review.

This thoroughly updated and revised follow-up to the popular text Lessons for a Scientific Literature Review: Guiding the Inquiry is designed for pre-collegiate and early collegiate educators in the sciences, high school and college librarians, curriculum directors and common core supervisors, school district leaders, and principals. The book provides step-by-step guidance on instructing students how to perform the necessary research and successfully integrate newly acquired information into a high-quality final product.

In addition, you'll find an emphasis on using quantitative science research reports as well as white papers discussing more theoretical science topics, a student timeline for assignments, and a handout specifically for students working on writing a scientific literature review. More than 20 workshops/lessons that are aligned to standards dealing with digital literacy, information handling, research, and textual interpretations and representation are provided. The book allows you to easily adapt it for use of investigation of subjects in the humanities, and for the teaching of an extended essay.

Features

• Teaches the Information Search Process (ISP) of Carol Kuhlthau through carefully designed workshops that guide students through the inquiry process
• Encourages inquiry into science-based subjects by directing students towards a topic of personal interest linked to those studied in their science class
• Aligns instruction on researching and writing a scientific literature review with the Common Core State Standards
• Covers use of databases, general press articles, peer-reviewed studies, white papers, and creating tables, charts, and graphs

Beyond the Textbook

Bernadowski, C., Del Greco, R., & Kolencik, P. (2013). Beyond the Textbook: Using Trade Books and Databases to Teach Our Nation's History, Grades 7–12. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN: 978-1-61069-037-9

Publisher's Description
This collection of standards-based lessons will guide middle and high school teachers while teaching the nation's history in a user-friendly, ready-made fashion.

During a time of standards-based instruction, Beyond the Textbook: Using Trade Books and Databases to Teach Our Nation's History, Grades 7–12 will fill the gap in today's middle and high school classrooms to simultaneously engage students in effective literacy skill exercises and teach our nation's history. Authored by three experienced former public school teachers, these ready-made lesson plans for classroom teachers and school librarians make planning easy for implementation in a social studies, history, or English classroom.

The book covers topics from Native Americans to the Louisiana Purchase, offering evidence-based reading strategies throughout that can hold adolescents' attention and develop their vocabulary and comprehension. Each chapter will include bibliographic information; suggested grade level; Information Literacy and National Social Studies Standards; before, during, and after reading strategies; database integration for classroom use; and suggested readalikes. Users will find the standards and evidenced-based research perfectly applicable in today's classrooms.

Highlights

• Incorporates research-based instruction within standards-based lessons that utilize historical fiction trade books to teach American history
• Includes ready-to-teach lessons educators can immediately put to use
• Highlights predetermined vocabulary study words
• Supplies ready-to-use assessment tools

Using Primary Sources

Bahde, A., Smedberg, H., & Taormina, M. (Eds.). (2014). Using Primary Sources: Hands-On Instructional Exercises. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN: 978-1-61069-434-6

Publisher's Description

...Special collections librarians and archivists in academic settings are often confronted with the challenge of teaching classes outside their personal area of expertise, with very little notice or guidance—as the authors of this book can attest. Using Primary Sources: Hands-On Instructional Exercises features 30 adaptable, hands-on exercises that special collections librarians, archivists, museum professionals, and teaching faculty can use in a multitude of instructional situations with K–12, undergraduate, graduate, and library school students.

The exercises teach lessons in both archival intelligence—such as building skills in using finding aids and locating primary sources—and artifactual literacy, such as building skills in interpretation and analysis of primary sources. Each exercise includes sections for audience, subject area, and materials used so that instructors can find customizable, easy-to-follow "recipes" to use regardless of personal experience and expertise. In addition, this consultable reference resource includes a bibliography of readings related to instruction in special collections, archives, and museum environments.

Features

• Presents adaptable, time-saving, and practical exercises for different audiences, disciplines, and types of collection materials
• Advances pedagogical practice in special collections and archives beyond "show-and-tell" to mirror the current methods of practitioners in information literacy, which will serve efforts toward primary source literacy and assessment
• Provides straightforward, time-saving exercises that provide enough detail to offer specific guidance to instructors but allow for flexibility and adaptability

Table of contents

Graphic Inquiry

Lamb, A., & Callison, D. (2012). Graphic Inquiry. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN: 978-1-59158-745-3

Publisher's Description

This full-color book provides a practical approach to incorporating graphic inquiry across the curriculum for school library media specialists, technology coordinators, and classroom teachers.

...Designed to bridge theory and actual practice, Graphic Inquiry contains applications for new and practicing educators and librarians that can truly bring classroom learning into the 21st century. This visually rich book provides numerous, standards-based inquiry activities and projects that incorporate traditional materials as well as emerging social and collaborative technologies.

...Although research is cited and references are provided, lengthy text passages are avoided in favor of practical, visual examples rooted in best practice and presented in graphic format. Readers will view this book as a quick reference to timely, realistic activities and approaches as compared to a traditional textbook.

Table of contents

Story Smart

 

Haven, K. (2014). Story Smart: Using the Science of Story to Persuade, Influence, Inspire, and Teach. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN: 978-1-61069-811-5

Publisher's Description

This one-of-a-kind book explores the neuroscience behind persuasion and influence to reveal the role that storytelling plays in inspiring, enlightening, and educating an audience.

Storytelling has been used for centuries as a means to sway public opinion, influence behavior, and inspire change. Yet according to recent research, 98 percent of stories shared are ineffective, and one-third of all narratives are actually counterproductive to delivering the meaning intended by the teller. Author Kendall Haven contends that you can craft messages that will resonate effectively with your audience by learning and utilizing the science of story.

Based on breakthroughs in the fields of neural and cognitive sciences, this book demonstrates how stories can exert influence and persuade audiences. Through step-by-step guidance, you will learn how to construct communications for impact, meaning, and accuracy. This practical guide is organized into four sequential parts: the neuroscience of words; the set of tools provided to each user; the influence of narratives in changing beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviors; and the techniques needed for building powerful, influential, and effective (PIE) stories. This book will help you master the tools and critical skills of effective story-based communication.

Features

• Shows how to use the power of story to get your message across in any medium or venue
• Explores the convergence of the neural science of story with the art of communication to reveal the power of words
• Provides tips, techniques, and strategies for structuring your stories for the most impact
• Reveals the common communication pitfalls to avoid

The State Library also has the related book, Story Proof: The Science Behind the Startling Power of Story.

Creativity and Children's Literature (book)

Saccardi, Marianne. (2014). Creativity and Children's Literature: New Ways to Encourage Divergent Thinking. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. 978-1-61069-355-4.

The children in classrooms today will soon become adult members of society: they will need to apply divergent thinking skills to be effective in all aspects of their lives, regardless of their specific occupation. How well your students meet complicated challenges and take advantage of the opportunities before them decades down the road will depend largely upon the kind of thinking they are trained and encouraged to do today. This book provides a game plan for busy librarians and teachers to develop their students' abilities to arrive at new ideas by utilizing children's books at hand.

Following an introduction in which the author defines divergent thinking, discusses its characteristics, and establishes its vital importance, chapters dedicated to types of literature for children such as fantasy, poetry, and non-fiction present specific titles and relevant activities geared to fostering divergent thinking in young minds. Parents will find the recommendations of the kinds of books to read with their children and explanations of how to engage their children in conversations that will help their creative thinking skills extremely beneficial. The book also includes a case study of a fourth-grade class that applied the principles of divergent thinking to imagine innovative designs and come up with new ideas while studying a social studies/science unit on ecology.

(book description)

The Maker Cookbook (book)

Wall, Cindy R. and Pawloski, Lynn M. (2014). The Maker Cookbook: Recipes for Children's and 'Tween Library Programs. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. 978-1-31069-661-6.

The Maker Movement is sweeping the nation because it is creative and educational—and a lot of fun. Nonetheless, some librarians have hesitated to incorporate the movement into their programming because their libraries do not have dedicated makerspaces. If that describes you, then take heart. Written by librarians for librarians, this "cookbook" proves that every library is already a MakerPlace and provides you with recipes to make your library come alive with creativity.

Easy-to-use, step-by-step guidance helps you create engaging K–8 programs in science and technology, arts and crafts, and home skills that are perfect for the library setting. The menu of ideas is broken into four types of programming. "Appetizers" add a taste of the Maker movement to existing library programs. "Entrees" present full programs for a lengthy one-day event or a short series. "Side Dishes" are programs you can use if you have limited staff, budget, space, or any combination of those. "Desserts" are low-tech programs, suitable for young children. Each "recipe" includes extensions, variations, and curriculum tie-ins that give you even more ways to present the program ideas, whether to a different audience or as part of other related activities. Programs that involve creating a "Balloon Zip Line," a "Zen Garden," or a "Maker Marketplace" will delight library users and generate activity and excitement in your library.

(book description)

Crash Course in Children's Services 2nd Ed. (book)

Peck, Penny. (2014). Crash Course in Children's Services, 2nd Edition. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. 978-1-61069-781-1.

A basic explanation of children's services for persons working in small libraries with limited staff. Tips include conducting reference interviews, handling homework centers, building collections, and planning storytimes. Sources of help are provided with age-appropriate themes and activities. Working with parents and teachers can be a major assignment for the children's librarian. Programming information includes how to conduct tours for school groups and summer reading programs. How to partner with others to share ideas for summer programs is suggested. Providing book discussion groups for students is one method to keep them reading. Issues in providing children's services are detailed.

Children need public library services. Even in small rural libraries managed by small staffs, children's services are critical. This handbook gives practical advice on performing essential duties in the Children's Room of the public library. The tone is how to with little theory, but providing the fundamentals of day-to-day services. Tips are given on reference service including the reference interview, a simple overview of child development, and tips for assisting parents and teachers. Hints are given for managing children who are in the library to do homework or to wait until they are collected by a parent or caregiver. A chapter is given on how to help children find recreational reading, how to market the library, and useful Web sites.

 (book description)

The Essential Lapsit Guide (book)

Ernst, Linda L. (2015). The Essential Lapsit Guide. Chicago, IL: Neal-Schuman. 978-1-55570-761-3.

Not just a sourcebook or a reference, but a complete multimedia guide, this innovative, comprehensive resource will help you stimulate the minds of your youngest patrons with rhymes, songs, fingerplays, books, and other creative activities. The engaging materials and methods in this book are equally useful for experienced children’s librarians looking for new ideas and new librarians starting to build their own program for the very young. Through researching the latest in early learner and developmental theories, Ernst

• Carefully details the physical, mental, emotional, and social development of children 12 to 24 months
• Guides you through using Lapsit programming to perform effective outreach to all segments of your community
• Shows how to build and maintain effective partnerships with caregivers, child-care providers, early childhood educators, and others
• Offers tips for seeking funding for early childhood services

A detailed Web Extra provides further ideas and instructional techniques not featured in the book. Included are a bibliography of chapter resources, a list of rhyme lyrics that appear in the book, full-page sample handouts and templates, and 47 video clips featuring rhymes and activities that encourage audience interaction, performed by the author.

(book description)

The Coretta Scott King Awards (books)

McCollough, Carole J. & Poniatowski Phelps, Adelaide. (2015). The Coretta Scott King Awards 1970-2014. Chicago, IL: ALA Editions. 978-0-8389-3610-8.

Marking the 45^th anniversary of the prestigious awards that honor the best in children’s and young adult literature representing the African-American experience, the fifth edition of this unique guide remains an excellent tool for collection development,  readers’ advisory, and classroom use. More than just a bibliography, this resource includes

• A selection of  biographical profiles introducing the creative artists and illustrators behind the award-winning books

• Excerpts and color plates from many of the titles

• A subject index, ideal for curriculum planning

Educators, librarians, and others who work with children will find this one of-a-kind guide invaluable.

Check out this title's Web Extra!