STANDARD 5: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
Candidates plan, develop, implement, and evaluate school library programs, resources, and services in support of the mission of the library program within the school according to the ethics and principles of library science, education, management, and administration.
Candidates evaluate and select print, non-print, and digital resources using professional selection tools and evaluation criteria to develop and manage a quality collection designed to meet the diverse curricular, personal, and professional needs of students, teachers, and administrators. Candidates organize school library collections according to current library cataloging and classification principles and standards.
I did a group project on nonfiction for LIS 617. This project required the use of selection tools and evaluation criteria to select nonfiction resources. I had never used something like Wilson Core before and had been a bit confused about how to go about selecting the best nonfiction titles for a library collection. It was much easier than expected to select resources as long as I focused on a section at a time. Collection development is definitely something that requires a strategy.Using selection tools like Wilson Core, and reviews from Booklist and the Horn Book, allows librarians to build a collection of quality, age-appropriate resources for their school that meet curricular needs.
Candidates practice the ethical principles of their profession, advocate for intellectual freedom and privacy, and promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility. Candidates educate the school community on the ethical use of information and ideas.
I helped a teacher find a resource her students could use for projects and presentations with copyright free images. The use of images can be a major issue in terms of intellectual property and responsible digital citizenship. I loved being able to help with a request like this because it shows that the teacher is mindful of teaching her students to be mindful users of information and intellectual property. I was able to recommend one of the AASL Best Websites for Teaching and Learning, Pixabay.com, which was exactly what she was looking for. Digital citizenship is included in the Standards for the 21st Century Learner because all learners need to learn how to behave ethically in terms of using and sharing information. Using sites like this and explaining why they are being used helps us open that discussion with students about how to give others credit for their ideas and creations.
Candidates apply best practices related to planning, budgeting, and evaluating human, information, and physical resources. Candidates organize library facilities to enhance the use of information resources and services and to ensure equitable access to all resources for all users. Candidates develop, implement, and evaluate policies and procedures that support teaching and learning in school libraries.
In LIS 650, I wrote a Leadership and Management Treatise. The assignment required consideration of the resources, physical design, budget, and policies of an ideal library. I talked to my mentor, Robin, last year about how I would change my ideas based on what I have learned in class and working in schools. My original plan did not make mentions of any design elements or policies that would affect equitable access for all students, although it did outline budgeting, resource selection, and physical resources. Were I to create a new plan now after 2 additional years in the MLIS program, I would amend certain policies and put a new focus on designing a library space that is considerate of physical limitations of some users (easily-accessible shelving, movable furniture, clear paths of movement, etc.). Two important policy changes would be having the library open before and after school, and eliminating fines for overdue books and printing. After working in public schools, I now understand that lack of time to access the library and library fines both act as barriers to lower-income students and discourage them from using library facilities and resources.
For further proof of my budgeting ability, see the collection development plan I included under standard 2.3.
Candidates communicate and collaborate with students, teachers, administrators, and community members to develop a library program that aligns resources, services, and standards with the school's mission. Candidates make effective use of data and information to assess how the library program addresses the needs of their diverse communities.
I completed a Demographic analysis of Mint Hill Middle School at the beginning of the practicum. The demographic analysis serves as a way of identifying the school’s mission and community needs, so that the school library program can be adjusted to meet those needs. Sometimes there are aspects of a school that are not immediately obvious. Mint Hill is located in a fairly affluent area, which typically would equate with high achievement, yet the school’s reading scores were lower than expected. Further investigation revealed that free voluntary reading is not being supported by most classroom teachers. There are a number of things that “best practice” declares we should do as librarians, but we always have to remember to consider what is best for our school and our students in particular. A good librarian works with her school community to design a school library program that meets their needs.