Unit 1:

Unit 1: Leadership and Collaboration Best Practices

The American Association of School Librarians National School Library Standards (2018) defines what it means to be a leader as "An individual who displays high levels of persistence, overcomes significant obstacles, attracts dedicated people, influences groups of people toward the achievement of goals, and plays key roles in guiding their organizations through crucial episodes (Collins and Porras 1997)." In addition, the text defines collaboration as 'Working with a member of the teaching team to plan, implement, and evaluate a specialized instructional plan (AASL, 2016b; Montiel-Overall 2006)."

What do the best practices of leadership and collaboration look like in a school library? Although there is no one correct answer to this question, they are two elements that must always be present - student learning and trusting relationships. Leadership and collaboration do not have a beginning and an ending. They are continual processes that are ongoing, flexible, and as varied as the students, staff and community of each school library.

In Hacking School Libraries: 10 Ways to Incorporate Library Media Centers into Your Learning Community the authors Kristina A. Holzweiss and Stony Evans provide practical ideas and resources to help school librarians work towards these best practices. The subtitle might have been "10 Ways to Incorporate Library Leadership and Collaboration into Your Learning Community."

Read/View:

Hacking School Libraries: 10 Ways to Incorporate Library Media Centers into Your Learning Community by Kristina A. Holzweiss and Stony Evans

Website/Blog: Library Media Tech Talk ; Bunhead with Duct Tape

Facebook: Hacking School Libraries (and other classrooms!)

Twitter: @lieberrian #HackingSchoolLibraries

Activities:

• Unit 1, Activity 1: Background Knowledge
• Unit 1, Activity 2: Leading
• Unit 1, Activity 3: Collaborating