scholarly journals School Library Research Rocks

2021 ◽  
pp. 22-41
Author(s):  
Gooneshwaree Beesoon ◽  
Jennifer L. Branch-Mueller
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
School Library ◽  
The United States ◽  
School Librarians ◽  
Library Media ◽  
Library Research ◽  
Instructional Role ◽  
School Librarianship ◽  
Development Analysis

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.

The Roles of Professional Organizations in School Library Education

2013 ◽  
pp. 170-193
Author(s):  
Lesley S. J. Farmer
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
School Library ◽  
The United States ◽  
School Libraries ◽  
Professional Organizations ◽  
School Librarian ◽  
School Librarians ◽  
Library Education ◽  
Library Associations

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.

The Roles of Professional Organizations in School Library Education

2016 ◽  
pp. 1631-1654
Author(s):  
Lesley Farmer
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
School Library ◽  
The United States ◽  
School Libraries ◽  
Professional Organizations ◽  
School Librarian ◽  
School Librarians ◽  
Library Education ◽  
Library Associations

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.

scholarly journals The Role of Culture and Folk Art in School Library Programming

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy Santos Green ◽  
Melissa P Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Research Study ◽  
School Library ◽  
Ways Of Knowing ◽  
School Librarians ◽  
The World ◽  
Library Programming ◽  
School Librarianship ◽  
Teacher Librarians

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.

scholarly journals Professional Development via Facebook Group: Perception of School Librarians

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zakir Hossain
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
School Library ◽  
Study Data ◽  
School Librarians ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Teaching Resources ◽  
Development Tool ◽  
Complex Process ◽  
School Librarianship

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.

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

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Schultz-Jones ◽  
Jennifer Branch-Mueller ◽  
Karen Gavigan ◽  
Ross Todd
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
School Library ◽  
National Standards ◽  
School Librarian ◽  
School Librarians ◽  
Library Education ◽  
The World ◽  
School Librarianship

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.

scholarly journals The Shifting sands of School Libraries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross J. Todd
Keyword(s):  
New Jersey ◽  
School Improvement ◽  
School Effectiveness ◽  
School Library ◽  
School Libraries ◽  
School Librarians ◽  
Effective School ◽  
Library Research ◽  
Instructional Role ◽  
Key Dimensions

This paper reports on selected findings from the Phase 2 New Jersey School Library research study “One Common Goal: Student Learning” completed in 2011 that provides insights into the future of school libraries, and their evolution and transformation in the digital age. The study examines a selected sample of effective school libraries in New Jersey to establish the key inputs (both library and school-wide inputs) that enable these effective school libraries to thrive, contribute richly to the learning agendas of the schools, and to continually be developed and improved in their schools. The findings are selected through the lens school effectiveness and school improvement literature, and identify dimensions of school library practice that have contributed to their sustainability and continuous improvement. Key dimensions include a substantive instructional role of the school librarians, an inquiry-centered pedagogy, a collaborative school culture of distributed leadership, a knowledge-outcomes orientation of the school library, and school librarians as professional development leaders.

scholarly journals The Open Source School Library Research Database: Learning without Borders

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Branch-Mueller ◽  
Wei Wei ◽  
Pauline Nicholas
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
School Library ◽  
School Libraries ◽  
Research Database ◽  
Library Media ◽  
Core Group ◽  
Library Research ◽  
Media Research ◽  
School Librarianship ◽  
Conference Papers

This paper introduces the Open Source School Library Research Database (OSSLRD) and highlights the 940 items in the database. Clyde’s checklist (2001) was used to identify articles, conference papers, dissertations and theses that are included in the OSSLRD. Each identified piece of research was examined and key information was gathered including author(s), date of publication, journal, participants, method(s), location of the study (if available), research methods, themes, and findings. 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. There are a small core group of researchers working in the area of school librarianship. More than half of all research is by a single author.

scholarly journals University Preparation Programs for School Librarians

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona Kerby ◽  
Jennfer Branch-Mueller ◽  
Kasey L. Garrison ◽  
Jody Howard
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
School Library ◽  
The United States ◽  
National Standards ◽  
School Librarians ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
University Preparation ◽  
Library Studies ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
School Librarianship

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.

scholarly journals Doctoral Studies: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know (and Then Some)!

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Mueller-Branch ◽  
Barbara Schultz-Jones ◽  
Melissa Johnston ◽  
Nancy Everhart ◽  
Ross Todd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
School Districts ◽  
Doctoral Programs ◽  
School Library ◽  
Doctoral Studies ◽  
Faculty Advisors ◽  
Library Research ◽  
School Librarianship ◽  
Teacher Librarians ◽  
Phd Program

This session was designed to help teacher-librarian participants answer the questions, “Why might I consider doing a PhD program? What opportunities might it open for me?” The School Library Research SIG designed the session to help participants learn about opportunities for doctoral studies that prepare teacher-librarians for work in the academy and in school districts and government departments. Three panel presenters described various doctoral programs and related professional development opportunities in school librarianship. After the panel presentations, several faculty advisors provided information and advice for participants in a “speed-mentoring” session.

scholarly journals Evidence or Evidence Based Practice? An Analysis of IASL Research Forum Papers, 1998-2009

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Marcia A. Mardis
Keyword(s):  
Evidence Based Practice ◽  
International Association ◽  
School Library ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
School Librarians ◽  
Research Reporting ◽  
Library Research ◽  
Or Practice

Objective - Conferences are essential opportunities for professional development and for learning about research. This study analyses papers presented in the Research Forum track of the International Association of School Librarians (IASL) conferences to determine whether the amount of school library research reporting increased or decreased over time; who (i.e., what author roles and affiliations) has written about research; which countries were represented in the research articles; what topics were discussed in research articles; and what research methodologies were used. The aim was to determine the extent to which the Research Forum provides research evidence that relates to practice. Methods - This study continues the longitudinal analysis of published school library research begun by Clyde (1996) by analyzing Research Forum papers published in IASL conference proceedings from 1998-2009 and using the same approaches and metrics as previous studies by Clyde (e.g., 1996; 2002; 2004), Clyde and Oberg (2004), and Oberg (2006). Results - Conference paper topics, author origins, quantities, and research approaches remained static through the 11 years analyzed. The analysis reveals that the papers’ authors, methods, and topics reflected those found in previous studies of school library research. As well as replicating previous studies, the role of academic research at a practitioner-based conference was investigated. Conclusions - Based on long-established imperatives from leaders in the profession, the IASL conferences provide both evidence and evidence -based practice for school librarians from all over the world. However, when scholarly research is shared at practitioner venues, it is possible that school librarians may assume that research results constitute evidence -based practice (EBP), not evidence upon which practice should be based. This distinction is important if considering that the purpose of academic research is to objectively inform, not to advocate a particular position or practice. The Research Forum can be a valuable venue for the presentation of empirical research findings and conclusions and objective program evaluations and provide a valuable complement to the evidence -based practice descriptions shared in the Professional Papers portion of the conference program. It is argued that the Research Forum must be clear in its purpose: to present the results of research; to present effective practice determined by rigorous evaluation; or to present research-supported arguments for the support of school libraries. Through a reconceptualization of EBP, the paper demonstrates how EBP is both a method and a methodology for the presentation of school library research and practice in a conference atmosphere.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document