Vision

Vision of a 21st Century Library

Cursory Review of UWSSLEC Administrator's Guide by Laura Effinger

I reviewed the Administrators Guide on the UWSSLEC site and found a lot of amazing tools, articles, links to help administrators and Library Media Specialists build, evaluate, and defend their programs. 

As far as aesthetics, the site was not very exciting or pleasing to the eye and not easy to find unless someone directs you to it.  I liked that the home page had an embedded video instead to draw visitors in.  It breaks up the look of the page and makes it looks more interactive and welcoming. I would love to see more variety of items on the other pages to break things up and draw attention to important things, and to differentiate between different types of resources. That being said, it had a lot of great resources, so maybe it isn’t so important to have the flash and bling found on many other sites.  The ease of movement and the well labeled sub-menus and links make it very easy to find my way around.  This will be great for administrators or board members, as well as LMS to quickly find articles.

I thought the topics covered were very useful and timely.  I especially loved the resources that outlined quality programs.  I plan to use these with my principals’ involvement to help gain support for building our program.  The evaluation tools will be useful for both my principals and me as we create the new evaluative and incentive based employee evaluation point plan that will be implemented in our district this year.

The Impact page was another page that I felt is very important.  The Key Findings and articles showing the impact of quality library program and having licensed, full time, LMS in buildings are very important for the future of libraries in our schools. 

I think that above all this site shows that librarians are more than the stereotypes portrayed in 1940’s movies. They are vital to our schools and our children and they do positively impact student academic growth and specifically standardized test scores. 

Cursory Review of UWSSLEC Administrator's Guide by Ellie Rumney

The idea of having resources available specifically for the administrators we are working with is a fantastic one.  However, the way those resources are organized is essential.  Administrators, like everyone in the education field today, are overwhelmed with tasks and information.  This information needs to draw their attention and be easy to navigate and be exceptionally appealing.  This site has some great resources, however it does not invite readers to browse through the articles, although the new green color is more appealing to the eye.  With the LibGuide resource we have, this could be done using a LibGuide with tabs to encourage the browser to click on the tabs.   I love the quote that heads the page, however it does not jump off the page and encourage itself to be read.  Busy principals need to have information that grabs their attention and makes them take notice.  I would emphasize this quote with a larger font and different text to make it more attention grabbing. 

To begin with, the “Vision” page has some exceptional resources, however one broken link can invalidate an entire website.  The 2nd posted article, “What Should an Administrator Expect a School Library Media Specialist To Be?” has a broken link, which can quickly turn a professional away.  The “Impact” page has the same issue with the article, “School Libraries Work.” 

The pages all have quality articles linked to them, however depending on which browser is being used, the articles open in the same window causing the reader to have to use the “back” button to return to the Guide.  As many administrators will multitask, having the links set to open in their own window may make it easier for one click browsing through the sites. 

The “Additional Resources” page is a good bibliography, however it is missing any information about the resource to encourage the reader to find the resource.  A brief summary of the work would be helpful, as would a link to a site that reviews the work, such as Amazon.   Allowing the administrator to see the book with one click would help make the material more usable and less likely to be passed over for another, more quickly located resource.

I know our principal is a big fan of visual information.  He is constantly finding current and interesting videos to share with his staff.  Having more videos embedded into the site would allow people like him to view the information and then decided to read further as necessary.   

Cursory Review of UWSSLEC Administrator's Guide by Polly LaMontagne

Visibility, Navigation, Access

My first question is, “Are principals aware of the UWSSLEC Website?”  I don’t know how they would be, and if they aren’t, then it is important for the library media specialist (LMS) to share this information with their principal. 

I found the drop down menu falling over the top of the green menu box to be distracting.  I understand that it offers a variety of methods to access the information, but maybe the green menu box could be moved to the left side of the screen. 

I thought this might be a good website to provide a link to: Institute for Library & Information Literacy Education.  Other than that, I found the site to be easily readable, easily navigable, and user friendly.

Topics Covered

The flow of the topics seems natural, and it makes sense.  The Administrator’s Guide begins with an overview of 21st century library skills.  The Vision tab provides more in-depth descriptions of a 21st century library and what a principal might expect from a library media specialist.  The information is rather current with no articles older than 2008.  Current topics are presented such as flipped classrooms and learning commons.  There might possibly be more updated resources available.    

It’s important that impact information be available to library media specialists and administrators.  I especially like that Wisconsin study results are made available.  

The information on licensing, job description, and interview questions is very useful.  

I liked that the evaluation tool that was included in the quality program tab, and intend to use it as a guide during my first years as a library media specialist.   I liked the quick and easy link to the article:  “Why Should Principals Support School Libraries?”  This article had useful resource links at the bottom also. 

The administrator's guide is very comprehensive in that it brings together so many important pieces that are useful and informative to administrators and library media specialists alike.  The links to the information and technology planning documents provide guidance should anyone be creating, evaluating, or updating their district’s tech plans.   Maybe information on writing a library selection policy could be included here:  ALA:  Workbook for Selection Policy Writing.  The link to the state statute is another example of important information that is brought together in one online location.

On the additional resources tab, I found the articles to be informative and pertinent to todays school libraries, even though some of the dates of the articles were beginning to look old.  I think a Badgerlink widget/link would look good on this page.   Maybe sort the resources by categories such as books and online resources.  I like that all the standards are listed in one place.   The Wisconsin Model Academic Standards for English Language Arts link is no longer operative and needs to be updated to the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts. 

I think it’s useful to have a glossary of terms available for the user.  The information included on the FAQ page was interesting.  I didn’t know that library aides were not allowed to provide instructional services to students!  I see that happening all the time.   I feel this is another area in which library media specialists must advocate for themselves and their positions.

Useful for Administrators

I think the information is useful for all principals and library media specialists.  It’s good information to peruse once or twice a year, even if only to remember what information is easily accessible on the site.  I’m not sure that administrators would have the time to go over the whole document in depth, but I think they would be very happy to have that information available when they have to answer specific questions.   

Reviewers

Laura Effinger

Ellie Rumney

Polly LaMontagne

Current Information

21st Century School Library Programs:  A Vision

"If we want to connect with today's learners and teachers, we need to redesign the library from the vantage point of our users"(David Loertscher, San Jose State University).

How does a 21st century school library program provide access to a wide range of materials and technologies, encourage literacy and a love of reading, develop 21st century skills, support the learning of all students, and inspire curiosity and creativity? How should today’s library program change to support today’s world of information, technology and digital natives?

Critical Overview of Vision Information

Directions:  Review in detail the links and synopsis of VISION.

The quote by David Loertscher captures the essence of the vision of today's libraries.  

The synopsis encompasses the questions that we, as library media specialists, need to continuously ask ourselves.  

  • Flip this Library: School Libraries Need a Revolution, not Evolution by David Loertscher (School Library Journal, November 2008:46-48) (Article Available in Badgerlink) (This article contains useful and up-to-date information about the "Learning Commons" shift that needs to occur in 21st century libraries in order to remain relevant to students and teachers alike.  A more easily accessible link:  http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6610496.html)
  • What Should an Administrator Expect a School Library Media Specialist To Be? by Carl Harvey (Library Media Connection, October 2009: 45) (Remove link:  inoperative.  This attractive poster/pdf file reviews eleven qualities that a principal can expect to find in a library media specialist.  Replace with:  http://hoorayforbooks.pbworks.com/f/lms+evaluation+ideas.pdf)
  • A 13 Point Library Media Program Checklist for School Principals by Doug Johnson (2009) (Useful information for principals on Doug Johnson's Blue Skunk Blog.)
  • Reframing the Library Media Specialist as a Learning Specialist by Allison Zmuda and Violet H. Harada (School Library Activities Monthly, April 2008) (Contains useful and current information about how library media specialists can support students' learning.)
  • School Libraries Renewed by Ann M. Martin (District Administration, October 2008) (An excellent article about how school libraries help meet the needs of a changing workforce by Ann M. Martin, president of the American Association of School Librarians.)
  • Carol Koechilin, Sandi Zwaan, and David Loertscher. The Time is Now: Transform our School Library into a Learning Commons (Teacher Librarian, October 2008) (Article Available in Badgerlink) (Useful information for teacher librarians about transforming their libraries into 21st century learning commons.)
  • One Administrator's View: Keys to Successful Library / Technology Programs in Wisconsin Schools by Patrick Kennedy and Ann Buehl, Parkview School District, Orfordville, WI (Link goes back to the UWSSLEC guide. One administrator's viewpoint may be helpful to other principals.  Typo needs to be corrected - capitalize Ann's name in the UWSSLEC guide.)
  • Hardy, Lawrence.  The Future of Libraries. American School Board Journal, January 2010, pp. 22-26 (Article Available in Badgerlink.) (“This article discusses the roles played by media centers and media specialists in helping American students navigate in the Age of Information.") 
  • Today's Library (Video from Henrico County, Virginia) (This video takes awhile to download, but the broad spectrum of information about 21st century libraries is well worth the wait.)

Specific Article Review

Doug Johnson created a library media program checklist for school principals in 2009 (http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2009/10/23/13-point-checklist-2009.html) .  This checklist includes questions to help the administrators evaluate the program in their school.  The main points of the checklist include staffing, budgeting, goals, policies, teaching and integration.  Each point gives the administrators questions they can be asking themselves to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

The checklist can and should be used by School Library Media Specialists to create their job description and almost be a check list to review through out the year to make sure that tasks, committee membership, and duties are being attended to. 

Some of the key areas looked at are the professional duties.  Key points look at licensure of staff, job descriptions of all library staff, AASL guidelines for the changin groles of the SLMS and professional organization affiliation.  The next key point looks at support to SLMS in terms of clerical staff available to the SLMS, technical support, leadership, administrative support, and participation in professional communities.  

The third key area covered in the checklist relates to collection size and development.  This topic looks at balancing media, print, electronic and online resources.  The next key point addresses the facility and its accessibility. The 5th point looks at curriular involvement in relation to content and grade level planning, as well as, integration of technology literacy skills.  The 6th point, Resource-based Teaching, addresses the method by which the previous point occurs.  The 7th point looks at access users of the library have to information technology, internet access, online reference materials, educational television, computer programs, etc.  The 8th point looks specifically at telecommunications and how student are able to use these recources.  

The 9th point addresses the SLMS ability to provide reference services and the networking available through the libraray to connect with and borrow from other libraries. Points 10 and 11 address planning, goal setting, and budgeting and how these are created and maintained.  The 12th key point looks at policies that relate to technology and technology use in the district as well as the role of the SLMS to communicate these policies along with the goals and services of the LMC and the SLMS.  The final point is Evaluation.  How does the LMS address the evaluation of the programming and other components of the LMC, and how with the SLMS present proof that goals and directives are being met?

This checklist is exceptionally informative and easy to follow for an administrator.  The principal could select certain areas of focus to evaluate the program at different times of the year.  It could also be used in collaboration with the library media specialist to create program goals for each year.  This checklist could be shared with the principal in its entirety, but modified into a form for the principal to easy use.  


Johnson, D. (2009). 13 Point Checklist 2009.[Web log message]. Retrieved from http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2009/10/23/13-point-checklist-2009.htmlhttp://blog.apastyle.org/.

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