School Librarianship: Past, Present, and Future

by Susan W. Alman PhD, San José State University School of Information

Overview

This publication focuses on the past, present, and future impact of school librarians. The contributors are recognized leaders within the information profession with expertise in school libraries, and they chronicle international issues in professional education, scholarship, organizations, and the innovations of practitioners –information that appeals to a global audience of professional educators, practitioners, and students involved in school libraries.
The book is divided into three parts with each chapter contributed by an individual who has made significant contributions to the profession. Part 1 focuses on the history of school libraries and children’s literature. Part 2 provides a perspective on the current trends and opportunities for professional development and scholarship for school librarians, and Part 3 offers views on the ways school librarians will interact with students and teachers in the future.

Readers will find authoritative information about the education, professional associations, scholarship, and innovations that are occurring internationally, and they will be inspired to perpetuate the legacy of school library advocacy established by Dr. E. Blanche Woolls. The book will appeal to a global audience of professional educators, practitioners, and students involved in school libraries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442272088
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	02/10/2017
Series:	Beta Phi Mu Scholars Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Susan W. Alman, PhD, is on the San José State University School of Information faculty. Prior to this appointment she was the Director of Online Learning at the University of Pittsburgh School of Information. She is a recognized author, consultant, and expert in futures studies, asynchronous learning, management, strategic planning, interpersonal communications, grant writing, marketing and public relations, group dynamics, and curriculum development.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations
Foreword by Sandra Hirsh
Preface
Chapter 1 A Brief Look at the Development of School Libraries in the United States by Ann Carlson Weeks and Diane L. Barlow
Chapter 2 100 Years of School Library Standards: The Evolution of the School Library by Lois Wine
Chapter 3 History of Children’s Literature: Reflections in Today’s Literature for Children by Elizabeth Tillapaugh Mahoney
Chapter 4 Empowering Students to Inquire in a Digital Environment by Barbara K. Stripling
Chapter 5 School Library Research: An International Perspective by Karen Gavigan
Chapter 6 Professional Growth Through International Associations by Nancy Everhart
Chapter 7 School Library Programs Around the World: From Training to Implementation by Lesley S.J. Farmer
Chapter 8 Developing Expertise through Library Education by Mary Ann Harlan
Chapter 9 Reimagining School Libraries to Lead Future Learning by Joyce Kasman Valenza
Chapter 10 Fostering the Next Generation of School Library Researchers by April Dawkins
Chapter 11 Seizing Opportunities: How the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Developed a Model Common Core Standards-based Information Literacy Curriculum and Leveraged Other Opportunities to Help School Librarians Develop Professionally by Mary K. Biagini
Chapter 12 School Library 4D: Disruption, Design, Data, and Dance by Ross J. Todd
About the Editor
About the Contributors

Editorial Reviews

This book offers an informative look at school library issues- historical and current, local and global. This is a good overview for those new to the field and a refresher for long-timers.

Barbara Immroth

Thought provoking, reassuring, and inspiring, this collection is fitting for both newbies to the field and experienced librarians looking to continue their growth and understanding of our profession. Recommended.

School Library Connection

In this superb collection of essays in honor of Blanche Woolls, school library educators and practitioners consider the past, present, and future potential of school libraries. A number of chapters focus in developments in library education that have changed or need to change in the 21st century. Two histories of school libraries and one on children’s literature are overlapping views of the past. Articles by Stripling, Todd, and Valenza are particularly informative in view of the developments in the world of information and technology. This is a must read for a field that has a great future if its professionals can rise to the opportunities.

David V. Loertscher

09/01/2017
The stated mission of Beta Phi Mu, the society that lends its name to this series, is to "recognize and encourage scholastic achievement among library and information studies students," and this title exemplifies that goal. As with any collection of essays, readers will find some of the pieces more applicable than others. Alman has scoured the field and assembled a cast of 12 luminaries, including such notables as Joyce Kasman Valenza, Barbara K. Stripling, and Karen Gavigan. The first chapters offer an overview of the history of school libraries and the development of standards associated with information literacy. The next two chapters present the history of children's literature—though a discussion of young adult literature is noticeably absent—and a valuable essay about fostering inquiry. Chapters five through seven introduce readers to a more global perspective, covering participation in international library organizations and the state of school libraries throughout the world. The final chapters focus on teacher librarian preparation programs and collaboration, ending with a look at the future of school libraries. Readers will find quick pieces of information that provide a springboard for future professional inquiry, though those seeking depth may be disappointed. Thoughtful insights are augmented by generally helpful photographs, charts, and reproductions. Each chapter concludes with references, and the end matter includes a biography for each contributor. VERDICT This cerebral collaborative effort contains several useful gems for the scholarly minded practitioner.—Jodeana Kruse, R.A. Long High School, Longview, WA

School Library Journal