Description
For librarians, educators, and administrators, Abilock, a former school administrator, curriculum coordinator, librarian, and information and communication technology director who speaks and consults in schools, et al. compile 27 stories that describe the role of the school librarian as a staff developer. They explain why librarians' perspective, role, and connection and knowledge of the school make them optimal individuals for taking the lead in professional development, then present stories by librarians at K-12 public and private schools, district and regional units, and universities in the US and Canada who relate different processes and techniques that have worked in various contexts and for different learning goals. Stories relate to the themes of creating a sense of play in personalized professional development, promoting evidence-based practice, building professional learning communities, and working with diverse participants with diverse purposes, and address action research, mentoring, and online, embedded, interactive, and collaborative learning, among other techniques. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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Presenting examples of school librarians leading professional learning in numerous contexts and for diverse learning goals with remarkable success, this book will inspire other practitioners to initiate and refine professional learning in their schools and districts.School administrators are recognizing that school librarians are ideal to lead professional development because they service the entire school network, from the students and faculty to families and the community. As a national downturn in educational funding is diminishing districts' ability to optimally staff libraries, investing energy in professional development is a sound strategy to bring information literacy skills to every student—especially in buildings with part-time librarians, or districts with only a single librarian of record.Growing Schools: Librarians as Professional Developers stands apart from other works as the first book that directly addresses the potential role of the school librarian as a staff developer. Within the chapters, the authors relate their professional development journeys, collectively representing experience within K–12 public and private institutions, district and regional units, and universities across the United States and Canada. The work provides various approaches to professional development with a range of processes and techniques that have been proven effective in different contexts and in achieving diverse learning goals. Practitioners at the building and district levels as well as school principals, state and district personnel, and library educators will find this book insightful and instructive.
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