J. Corrado, M. Melencio, N. Ropelewski

1. Jenny Corrado Michelle Melencio Nan Ropelewski
Why you need to know your
school librarian
November 6, 2012

2. Not your 20th century
school librarian
“Shush." Flickr. Yahoo, 24 Sept. 2006. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/circulating/251649357/>.

3. The 21st Century school
librarian
Braun, Linda W. "Next Year's Model." School Library Journal. N.p., 1 Apr. 2012. Web. 15 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/articlesinterviews/893927-338/next_years_model_sarah_ludwig.html.csp>.

4. AASL Standards for the 21st-
Century Learner
Standards for the 21st-
Century Learner offer vision
for teaching and learning to
both guide and beckon our
profession as education
leaders. They will both
shape the library program
and serve as a tool for
school librarians to use to
shape the learning of
students in the school.
“Standards for the 21st Century Learner” Web 22 October 2012
<http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/AASL_Learning_Standard
s_2007.pdf>

5. AASL Standards for the 21st-
Century Learner
Learners use skills, resources, & tools to:
 Inquire, think critically, and gain knowledge.
 Draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply
knowledge to new situations, and create new
knowledge.
 Share knowledge and participate ethically and
productively as members of our democratic society.
 Pursue personal and aesthetic growth.
“Standards for the 21st Century Learner” Web 22 October 2012
<http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/AASL_Learning_Standard
s_2007.pdf>

6. The school library
Photo by Jenny Corrado

7. The school library
The mission of the school library program is to
ensure staff and students are effective users of
information and ideas.
The School Library Media Specialist empowers
students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic
readers, skillful researchers and ethical users of
information.
AASL. (2009). Empowering learners: Guidelines for school library
media programs. Chicago, IL: American Library Association.

8. Roles of school librarian
Program Administrator
Information Specialist
Teacher
Instructional Partner
Photo by Jenny Corrado

9. Roles of school librarian
Resources throughout the entire school
Print - books, texts, magazines
Non print - CDs, electronic databases, e-books, internet
resources
Examples of Services
Investigating electronic tools to enhance student learning
Professional developmentof teachers – training them on
use of tools
Providing resources (print and electronic) for research
Creating pathfinders for student projects

11. Favorites Resources

12. Instructional partners
Teacher and school librarian jointly identify:
Student information needs
Curricular content
Resources to be used
Learning outcomes
School librarian works with:
The entire school community
Teachers in designing authentic learning tasks and
assessments
Teachers in ensuring that content and AASL standards are
met
Association for Educational Communications and Technology, and American Association of School Librarians. Information
Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. Chicago: American Library Association, 1998. Print.

13. STEPS TOWARDS COLLABORATION
Teacher and school librarian work
independently but come together for mutual
Cooperation benefit. Their relationship is informal and
instantaneous.
Example: 3rd grade science teacher asks for books where students
can identify and compile a list of materials that can be recycled.
(Standard 3.0 – Life Science, Topic E – Flow of Matter and
Energy, Objective A)
Teacher and school librarian have a more formal working Coordination
relationship and an understanding of shared missions.
More joint planning and communication occurs.
Example: 4th grade science teacher is teaching a unit on genetic traits that are
inherited. She asks the school librarian to teach database search skills where
students can locate articles on this topic. (Standard 3.0 – Life Science, Topic C –
Genetics)

14. Teacher and school librarian create a unit of
study based on content and information
literacy standards. The unit is team-designed,
team-taught, and team evaluated.
Example: 3rd grade science teacher asks for
books where students can identify and
compile a list of materials that can be
recycled. Librarian suggests a collaboration
lesson on reducing winter waste. (Standard
3.0 – Life Science, Topic E – Flow of Matter
and Energy, Objective A)
"Susan Lester and Buffy Hamilton." Flickr. Yahoo, 26 Feb. 2010. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/10557450@N04/4391134586/>.

15. Data-driven
collaboration
The teacher and school librarian take
collaboration a step further. They plan
comprehensively based on the results
of evidence of student knowledge,
skills, and learning.
Example: 5th grade students have a deficit
in identifying main ideas and using graphic
organizers. The 5th grade team and school
librarian develop a sky watching and
constellation unit focused on addressing
these deficits.

16. Collaboration
challenges/solutions
 Finding a time to plan
 Participate on school-based teams that plan schedules
 Ask your principal for collaboration planning time
 Administrative support
 Keep administrator in the loop with reports (collaboration successes, lessons
taught)
 Invite your principal to collaborative planning meetings
 School culture
 Participate in school leadership teams
 Enlist the trust of colleagues
 Federal mandates/testing
 Brainstorm lists of collaborative projects that address specific deficits in your
school
 Data-driven collaboration
Buzzeo, Toni. The Collaboration Handbook. Columbus, OH: Linworth Pub., 2008. Print.

17. Benefits of collaboration
Teachers
Curriculum is reinforced during media lessons
Partner to share the task of addressing student deficits
Librarians
Chance to directly assess school learning goals and
influence student achievement
Opportunity to lighten teacher load in an age of
increased expectations
Buzzeo, Toni. The Collaboration Handbook. Columbus, OH: Linworth Pub., 2008. Print.

18. Benefits of collaboration
Administration
Assurance that collaborative partners are
working in service of ensuring an effective school
Resulting increases in measurable student skills
Students
Content units taught with seamless integration of
information, textual, visual, digital, and
technological literacy skills.
Reinforcement for skills that have proven difficult
on standardized tests
Buzzeo, Toni. The Collaboration Handbook. Columbus, OH: Linworth Pub., 2008. Print.

19. Building bridges
"Perrine Bridge." Flickr. Yahoo, 11 July 2007. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/jstorm/933704861/>.