Essentials of Elementary School Library Management
The library media specialist's job is a complicated one, and whether you're a novice or have years of experience, here's the one handbook you need. Created with the practitioner in mind, you'll find useful advice and information you can start using today.
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Thelen, a library media specialist at an elementary school in Texas, offers advice on collection development, administrative roles, day-to-day life in the media center, time management, and budgeting for novice and experienced elementary library media specialists. She provides ideas for supporting the reading advocacy role of the library media specialist, and gives tips on successful collaboration with teachers, parents, and administration. A sample library volunteer handbook is included, and appendices list Spanish language, bilingual, and ESL publishers, subscription service providers, and information literacy standards. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR School Library Journal This quick, readable guide covers the basics of school librarianship, with special emphasis on the one-person operation. Facilities planning, budgeting, technology advocacy, reading motivation, and student discipline are among the topics included. Each chapter contains checklists, graphic organizers, and other practical information. Beginning media specialists, as well as those facing a job change, will be especially interested in the "Starting Over" chapter-a treasure trove of useful survival tips for making a smooth move to a new position. There is also an excellent section on recruiting and managing library volunteers, with ideas for training, schedules, and rewards. Throughout the book, Thelen emphasizes the need for "solo" media specialists to network with others in the profession through state and national associations as well as through online communities. A handy and functional volume that will be appreciated by both newbies and veteran media specialists "in transition."-Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Table of FiguresviiIntroductionixChapter 1Planning a New Library Media Center1Participation in Building Committee Plans1Background Research1School Floor Plan: Library Media Center Checklist2The Library Media Center Space2Main Floor Space: Interior Design2Shelving Plan3Activity Areas3Supervision3Auxiliary Space3The Workroom3The Storage Room4Other Spaces4Conference Room/Area4Professional Reading Room/Area4Closed-Circuit Television Broadcast Room/Area4Computers and Servers5Groundbreaking and Construction Phase5Furnishings5Collection Development6Selection Tools8Special Language Collections8The Professional Collection9Audiovisual Materials10Audiovisual Equipment10Library Supplies11Before and After School Opening12School Opening12Student and Faculty Orientations12Scheduling12Responding to Feedback13Things That Go Wrong and How to Cope14Chapter 2Starting Over: The Library Media Specialist in a New School District15Finding a Mentor15The Function and Design of the Library Media Center16A Multipurpose Space16Flow of People16The Interior Design16The Office17Weeding17Shelved Materials18Audiovisuals18Evaluating Previous Library Service19Library Advisory Committee19Forming the Committee19The Committee Meeting Process20Inherited Programs from Your Predecessor21Introducing Yourself22To Staff22To Students22To Parents24To the Parent Teacher Association24Becoming Indispensable24"Mistake" Is My Middle Name24Chapter 3Time Management and the Library Media Center27Symptoms of the Time Management-Challenged27What Is the Problem?27The Reluctant Time Manager28What Is the Solution?29Step 1Plan29Step 2Define Your Work Style29Step 3Clear Out the Minutiae29Step 4Know the Library Media Center30Step 5Find Help30Step 6Publicize the Media Center31Step 7Avoid Professional and Personal Isolation32Chapter 4Budget Secrets33Organization of Accounts: Paper and Computer34Paper Copy34Solving the Spreadsheet Mystery34Making Do with Less36Materials: Books and Audiovisuals37Supplies39A Final Note39Chapter 5Grant My Wish41The Key to Grant Writing Success41Organization Identity41Where to Find Grants41Choosing the Right Grant42Writing a Letter of Inquiry43Writing a Winning Proposal43Basic Tips43The Parts of a Proposal44A Final Checklist44The Waiting45Chapter 6Programs to Motivate a Student to Read47The Goal47Supervision47Rewards48Reading Motivation Programs48Connecting with the Public Library49Adapting Sports49Using the School Mascot53Programs with Special Interest54One-Night Events57Chapter 7The Library Media Specialist as Collaborator and Reading Advocate59The Curriculum Collaborator Role59What Is Collaboration?60How to Start the Process60A Sample Collaboration Unit61The Reading Advocate Role63Chapter 8Encouraging Staff to Use New Technology65What Is Technology?66Why Use Technology?67For the Students67For the National Standards67For Professional and Personal Enrichment67How to Use Technology: Valued Training68The Principal: The First Point of Contact68Training the Staff68When to Use Technology69Making It Real69Conducting a Trial Run73Enticements for Reluctant Faculty73Conclusion 73: Helpful Web Sites for Library Media Specialists74Chapter 9Guidelines for Positive Student Behavior75Starting Out Right75Verbal Cues76Nonverbal Cues76Defiant Behavior77Instruction Techniques for Large Groups77Keeping Research Skills from Becoming Boring78The "Heart" of the School78Chapter 10Finding and Keeping Volunteers and Media Clerks81Recruitment82Parents82Grandparents84Other Groups84Advertising85Students to the Rescue85The Library Helper Job87The Training Program87Volunteer Motivation and Retention89Volunteer Center90Safety Concerns90Helping Volunteers Feel Special90Helping Volunteers Feel Important90Having Fun90Rewarding Teachers91Volunteer Evaluation91Working with Difficult People91How to Afford Rewards91The Media Clerk93Job Description93The Interview Process93Interview Questions94After the Interview94The First Day on the Job94To Do and To Go Boxes95General Information95Moments of Joy!95References97AppendixesAppendix APeriodicals for Library Media Specialists99Appendix BResources to Build Elementary Library Meida Center Collections100Appendix CSpanish Language, Bilingual, and ESL Publishers101Appendix DDirectory of Subscription Service Providers102Appendix ESuggested Periodical Titles for Teachers103Appendix FInformation Literacy Standards104Information Literacy104Independent Learning104Social Responsibility104Appendix GOrdering Information for the Colorado Studies105Appendix HLibrary Volunteer Handbook106Index111About the Author113
\ From the Publisher"This is an abundantly comprehensive guide to elementary school library management. Each chapter has been created to directly demonstrate efficient and practical ways to manage a school library. Keep this book handy if you are planning a new school media center, taking a position at an established school, or looking to improve your own program and facility. Implementing change can be a gentle process for the entire school when you consider the tips Thelen offers regarding time management, scheduling, budgeting, grant writing, collaboration, and more. Included in this guide are several lists of 'must haves' for presenting an organized media center with a successful program, from basics like a stapler to a/v equipment like video cameras. The author provides many samples of handouts and charts, which are easily reproducible. Low quality grayscale images contradict the otherwise clear and precise presentation of the material. . . . A detailed index and table of contents help you find your answers quickly; and appendices provide information for further references, pertinent periodicals, standards in information literacy, and more. This book would well serve as a text for courses in school library management, as it is designed for the practitioner. It is not a theoretical or research-based book: it is simply a handbook of tips based on the experiences of a single school librarian. Let's all learn from her success! Highly Recommended."\ -\ Library Media Connection\ \ \ \ \ \ School Library JournalThis quick, readable guide covers the basics of school librarianship, with special emphasis on the one-person operation. Facilities planning, budgeting, technology advocacy, reading motivation, and student discipline are among the topics included. Each chapter contains checklists, graphic organizers, and other practical information. Beginning media specialists, as well as those facing a job change, will be especially interested in the "Starting Over" chapter-a treasure trove of useful survival tips for making a smooth move to a new position. There is also an excellent section on recruiting and managing library volunteers, with ideas for training, schedules, and rewards. Throughout the book, Thelen emphasizes the need for "solo" media specialists to network with others in the profession through state and national associations as well as through online communities. A handy and functional volume that will be appreciated by both newbies and veteran media specialists "in transition."-Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.\ \
