The high-quality instruction offered in the school library and in collaboration with classroom teachers helps students understand and practice the content standards. School librarians should begin by collaborating within their school building and then thoughtfully expand those connections to neighboring schools, community organizations, and state…

This article describes a practical, sure-fire way for media specialists to boost student achievement. The method is called data-driven collaboration, and it's a practical, easy-to-use technique in which media specialists and teachers work together to pinpoint kids' instructional needs and improve their essential skills. The author discusses the…

While volunteers can be the backbone of a library, there's a fine art to crafting a well-oiled team of helpers, especially in these tough economic times when a nonpaid assistant can end up taking one's job. Case in point? Librarians at Bridgewater Middle School and Raynham Middle School in Massachusetts recently lost their positions, and parent…

This descriptive research study examined principal support of collaboration in Georgia schools designated as having exemplary library media programs from the perspective of media specialists, classroom teachers and principals. A pilot study generated a survey instrument to be used for the exemplary school media program study. The literature on…

Focuses on the potential role of the media specialist in the delivery of professional development. The role of the school principal is described, and it is suggested that the media specialist can be a valuable source of assistance with instructional leadership responsibilities. The team concept and various approaches to instructional leadership…

Discussion of the relationship between school librarians and principals covers budget, use of the library for other purposes, and involvement in school activities. The qualifications of a school librarian for the position of principal are also considered. (MES)

California is ranked 50 out of 50 states for providing school library services, with a ratio of student to public school media specialist of 6,361 to 1. The second worst state is Rhode Island, which has a ratio of 1,941 to 1. California's school libraries are declining at a time when technological developments and research in academic achievement…

Describes various approaches for the media specialist to use in getting teachers involved in library media activities: the Traditional Approach; the "Keeping up with the Jones" Approach; the "Sneak up on Your Enemy" Approach; the "Element of Surprise" Approach; and the "Kill Them with Kindness" Approach. (MES)

Teacher-librarians in a learning organization must function both as members of teams engaged in organizational learning and as leaders of leaders. Teacher-librarians must be a mirror image of teachers, plus contribute more to the school. This paper examines the characteristics of the work of teachers and teacher-librarians in four major…

School librarians and school library programs critically need definition of their relationship to media specialists. All shoud be united in one organization, a division of ALA, to best meet the challenges of the present and future. The author's address at his inauguration as President, American Association of School Librarians (AASL), June, 1969.…

Reports that the cooperative program planning and teaching (CPPT) role of teacher-librarians is for the most part not taking place to any degree in the majority of primary schools in Australia. Reasons for the failure of CPPT to gain wide acceptance in Australian primary schools are analyzed and the benefits of CPPT are discussed. (six references)…

Presents responses of approximately 16 principals in Halifax City School District (Nova Scotia) who were interviewed to elicit their personal professional opinions regarding scheduling of classes in the library, the concept of cooperative program planning, the adjustment to flexible scheduling and its inherent difficulties, and the type of staff…

The ideal media service program is based upon the concept that services can be rendered most effectively when unified and administered as a single, comprehensive program. Guidelines for such a program are laid down in this book. Suggestions for organizing the program include planning media services, coordinating media with curriculum and staff…

The DeWitt Wallace-Readers Digest Library Power Initiative has been instrumental in precipitating reform efforts in school libraries. National Library Power programs have strengthened the role of the school library media specialist and the school library program. The initiative emphasizes that library media specialists integrate information…

Suggests strategies for improving communications between school media specialists and teachers as a means of establishing a better working relationship and improving library collections and services. An outline of a proposed four-day media specialist/teacher workshop is provided as well as six references and three sources of additional…