scholarly journals Education for Teacher-Librarianship: Anywhere, Any Time

Author(s):  
Barbara Schultz-Jones ◽  
Jennifer Branch-Mueller ◽  
Karen Gavigan ◽  
Ross Todd

Best practices in education for teacher-librarianship increase opportunities for diversity in candidates, in modes of learning, and in location and time of learning. This session was sponsored by the School Library Education SIG. The panel presentation considered education for school librarianship in light of the IFLA School Library Guidelines, 2nd edition (2015) and current research on best practices. Innovative programs for educating school librarians from around the world were shared to illustrate the diverse ways to prepare school librarians for the roles identified in the Guidelines and in national standards. Presenters described ways for delivering school librarian credentialed programs and for providing professional development opportunities for in-service school librarians.

Author(s):  
Lesley S. J. Farmer

International guidelines for school libraries and school librarians exist. However, the role of professional library associations in school librarian education has been largely overlooked. This exploratory study examines the role of professional library associations in Brazil, Honduras, Nepal, and the United States (specifically California) relative to school librarian pre-service education and in-service professional development. The associations are analyzed in light of communities of practice and the contingency theory of socialization. The findings demonstrate how professional library associations provide culturally relevant professional development that melds professional expertise and socialization.


Author(s):  
Lesley Farmer

International guidelines for school libraries and school librarians exist. However, the role of professional library associations in school librarian education has been largely overlooked. This exploratory study examines the role of professional library associations in Brazil, Honduras, Nepal, and the United States (specifically California) relative to school librarian pre-service education and in-service professional development. The associations are analyzed in light of communities of practice and the contingency theory of socialization. The findings demonstrate how professional library associations provide culturally relevant professional development that melds professional expertise and socialization.


Author(s):  
Judy O'Connell

Technology and social media platforms are driving an unprecedented reorganization of the learning environment in and beyond schools around the world. Technology provides us leadership challenges, and at the same time offers opportunities for communication and learning through technology channels to support professional development. School librarians and teacher librarians are often working as the sole information practitioner in their school, and need to stay in touch with others beyond their own school to develop their personal professional capacity to lead within their school. The Australian Teacher Librarian Network aims to make a difference, and supports school library staff in Australia and around the world to build professional networks and personal learning connections, offering an open and free exchange of ideas, strategies and resources to build collegiality. This ongoing professional conversation through online and social media channels is an important way to connect, communicate and collaborate in building a vibrant future for school librarians.


Author(s):  
Lucy Santos Green ◽  
Melissa P Johnston

Exploring the practices of teacher librarians in other countries fosters new knowledge, contributing to global communities of practice. The need to equip today’s youth with complex 21st century skills has served as a catalyst for change in the traditional practices of school librarians all over the world. It is this necessary change that led to questions regarding school library practices at an international level and to the need to explore school librarianship on a global level. This research study explores ways program design grounded in cultural understanding, experiences, and ways of knowing the world, are applied by practicing school librarians in Brazil, Russia, and Belize.


2021 ◽  
pp. 22-41
Author(s):  
Gooneshwaree Beesoon ◽  
Jennifer L. Branch-Mueller

This research examined the state-of-the-art of research in school librarianship. Similar trends from previous research were confirmed: research in school librarianship is published in two major journals -- School Library (Media) Research and School Libraries Worldwide. Almost 80% of the research was carried out in the United States. There is a small core group of researchers working in the area of school librarianship. About half of all research is by a single author. The main themes from the research included collaboration between teachers and school librarian, technology integration, the instructional role of school librarians, professional development, analysis of materials, information literacy instruction, practices and assessment, hiring, professional development and retention of school librarians, use of multimedia resources, role of school librarians in the provision of health information, motivation of students, and research in other parts of the world. Frameworks (Aharony, 2011; Koufogiannakis, Slater & Crumley, 2005; Mardis, 2011) were incomplete and the authors present a new framework for categorizing school library research, in particular, but also LIS research, in general.


Author(s):  
Zakir Hossain

Facebook offers the ability to its users to create a group on a specific subject or interest and ask friends and acquaintances to join and share information which is entirely driven by them. This study seeks to explore whether and how Facebook group adds value to the complex process of school librarians’ professional development. The successive objectives are to understand the current and future professional learning trends in school librarianship through Facebook group posts. An online questionnaire was posted to selected Facebook groups and sent to two school librarians’ listservs, and 404 usable responses were received. Study findings indicate that with the Facebook group, School Library Professionals (SLPs) are able to stay informed with new knowledge in their field by exchanging information, opportunities and ideas. The findings also confirm that more and more SLPs are using, or at the very least, experiencing Facebook groups as a Professional Development Tool (PDT). Study data shows that 78.4 percent of SLPs desire to see posts related to ‘teaching resources’ and 63.8 percent ‘how to use technology’ on the Facebook group and are also indicative of the current professional learning trends of SLPs. Research skills tips (67.9%), makerspace ideas (57%) and how to collaborate with classroom teachers (51.6%) are found to be the top future professional learning aspirations of SLPs. This paper provides valid empirical evidence and highlights that many SLPs are using Facebook groups and 38.4 percent regarded it as a ‘very useful tool’ for professional development. The discussions that take place on Facebook groups empower and enhance librarians’ professional practice and networking.


Author(s):  
Fredrik Ernerot

Introduction: As the IASL conference theme in Istanbul, Turkey was “Information, innovation and impact of school libraries” it is interesting, a year later, to focus on how the school library, as well as the school librarian, will have to adopt the field, as well as: looking back at the material brought out during the first two occasions of this theme, presented to the public at the IASL conferences in Long Beach (2017) and Istanbul (2018). The third part of the theme will mainly be a contribution of useful material and methods, practically applied in Sweden for over ten years. The material and methods function as an inspiration to the work and progress for school libraries and school librarians, both on a national and international level. This time a wider scale of the recurrent subject will be presented - mainly to create a practically developed knowledge adapted for school libraries. Knowledge ready to be transformed directly as the participants return to their homes, facing their own school library activities. Objectives of the presentation: The following subjects are set to be the material and methods, presented through the session: Efforts and changes around school libraries in Sweden today. Part three – What’s new after Istanbul? The topics are: Sweden’s reference group for school libraries - an effective working tool established and developed by The Swedish National agency for Education. 2. School library associations, networks, social media platforms, as well as digital portals and work modules, created by The Swedish National agency for Education – as useful working tools dedicated to each and every school librarian, located in the shadow of a nonexistent education for school librarians. 3. A future investment in a national school library education. Something that is not the reality in Sweden today, but will be, tough on a smaller scale, with a start in autumn 2020. A first start that hopefully will spread rings on the water to other major educational sites. The ambition is to give participants in Dubrovnik thoughts on how changes around school libraries can be done in a practical way. Also, learn how to use a reference group, where discussions can lead to knowledge. Learn more about the advantages of working with and through a school library association, as well as how to use different digital tools in a more effective way. And… if participants in Dubrovnik wants to use the material and methods directly during the conference – then there will for sure be even more knowledge to gain.


Author(s):  
Mona Kerby ◽  
Jennfer Branch-Mueller ◽  
Kasey L. Garrison ◽  
Jody Howard

This three-hour workshop provides an opportunity for school librarianship professors to discuss and share with their peers best practices in creating relevant assignments for school librarians in the 21st century on the topics of collaboration and leadership. For each topic, the professors from Australia, Canada, and the United States will share the following on a large screen and with handouts: (a) national standards that guide course preparation, (b) the course description, (c) course objectives, and (d) one sample assignment. Assignments for both topics will include the instructions and also the rubrics. After each topic presentation, participants are encouraged to share how they teach collaboration and leadership, and they will then be divided into small groups to share additional ideas. A third component of the presentation focuses on a 2013 U.S. grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Studies to deliver four online courses for doctoral candidates from various institutions with an interest in school library doctoral studies. The session will close with the participants brainstorming critical issues and topics for future IASL presentations from school librarianship professors. Before the IASL conference begins, emails will be sent to attendees who are school library professors to encourage them to attend and to bring sample assignments on teaching collaboration and leadership as a way to extend our conversation beyond the Australia, Canada and the United States.


Author(s):  
Cynthia Houston

Developing a community of learners and leaders in school librarianship is fundamental to effective practice in professional preparation programs. As more and more school librarian preparation programs go online, staying focused on community building and collaboration becomes the key challenge to the best practices ideal. The Internet provides excellent tools and resources for developing online professional communities, as well as opportunities for academic programs to create social landscapes that students will engage in after they finish their academic program.


2021 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amelia Anderson ◽  
Selena Layden

School librarians work with students across their organizations, including those with disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, little is known about how prepared school librarians are to serve these students. Using a mixed-methods survey, this study sought to explore training school librarians have taken about ASD and students with disabilities, as well as the effects of training on librarian confidence and library services. Based on results, librarians who received training through their school district or professional development outside of coursework reported being more confident in supporting students with ASD in the school library.


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