Leadership, Advocacy, and Professional Responsibility

Candidates in school librarian preparation programs are actively engaged in leadership, collaboration, advocacy, and professional networking. Candidates participate in and lead ongoing professional learning. Candidates advocate for effective school libraries to benefit all learners. Candidates conduct themselves according to the ethical principles of the library and information profession. 

Description

I led two professional development sessions on how to use NoodleTools.com. These sessions were offered in person and remotely. I described this AASL recommended digital tool, reviewed its key features with my colleagues, and demonstrated my strengths as an instructional partner and leader.

Analysis

I practiced leadership, organization, communication, and technology skills while planning and leading these sessions. Participants gave me positive feedback as they left the session with a renewed (or new) interest in using NoodleTools. I successfully answered everyone’s questions, either immediately during the session or in a follow-up email after reviewing survey responses. Collecting these responses gave me valuable data to save and share with colleagues. Despite advertising the sessions in a timely manner, I had low attendance. I wish I gave the presentations to larger audiences and that more teachers were able to practice using NoodleTools. In the future, I will record the sessions so that everyone has more flexible access.

Reflection

My peers readily shared their curiosities and concerns about using digital learning tools. They also expressed their frustrations about finding the time to discuss and explore these tools together. Yet, we had productive conversations regarding both student and teacher success with NoodleTools. Not only did I deliver successful professional development, but I also collaborated with my colleagues and advocated for students and library resources. I’m excited to lead more tutorials on library resources, such as using scholarly databases in conjunction with NoodleTools, to improve all patrons’ ethical use of resources. 

Description

To improve my school library leadership, I assessed my knowledge, skills, and dispositions using personality and leadership tests. Then, I created a professional development plan including an annotated bibliography of resources.

Analysis

I used multiple methods of assessment for both personal and professional growth, practiced evidence-based decision making, and engaged in professional learning to meet the needs of my school community. I’d like to practice phrasing SMART objectives for future leadership goals; at times, I struggle with adding measurable components. Choosing professional development opportunities from countless available sessions, both face-to-face and virtual, became an unexpected challenge. I want to continue carefully selecting seminars I would realistically attend based on time, cost, and my school library’s needs.

Reflection

I learned about myself personally and professionally, including how to identify my leadership strengths and weaknesses and prioritize two competencies for improvement. To continue my professional growth, I will attend future conferences provided by the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association. I want to focus my energy on my improvement goals: marketing/advocating for the high school library and establishing more collaborative relationships with colleagues. Throughout my graduate work, I’ve felt honored to be part of a community of librarians and prospective librarians working together to improve our practice.

Description

I created a school library advocacy plan that identifies a target group, objectives, strategies, communication tools, and evaluation methods. The plan was enhanced through collaborations with colleagues, visually appealing promotional materials, effective timelines and assessment strategies, and future advocacy ideas.

Analysis

My advocacy ideas support ethical librarianship. First, I addressed access obstacles regarding library hours of operation. Second, I used SlidesMania, Canva, and Microsoft Forms for promotional materials, reflections, and data collection. I conveyed a strong sense of personal growth in collaboration and library promotion. In the future, I will seek more input from my library colleagues on my timelines and strategies. A significant learning outcome was noticing that simple advocacy strategies can go a long way; they do not have to be too grand or formal to be effective.

Reflection

I modeled and promoted the ethical practices of librarianship, especially with a renewed focus on working with others to achieve the objectives set forth by ALA guidelines. I will strengthen the WAHS library through more after-school activities, promotional events, and marketing strategies. I’m excited to work with my colleagues and engage the student body as we build a more positive culture within our school library. I will always advocate for all learners and library services through continued communication and collaboration. 

Description

While creating my personalized school library website, I provided 24/7 access to resources in multiple formats, including print, audio, and digital. In addition to self-made documents, presentations, and other school librarianship content, I included cited ALA contributions, school board policies, and current library procedures.

Analysis

My website promotes reading engagement and reading for pleasure. I created original book trailers, a reading guidance web for horror books, tutorials on Sora and research databases, and recommendations based on popular titles. I want my website to consistently focus on the most relevant needs for my school community. I will upload more bibliographies and reading guides as I update the website. Also, I will condense existing content and design a page solely devoted to reading promotions. I hope to include a “What Mrs. Frable is Reading” section, a monthly newsletter, and a blog/vlog spot.

Reflection

I am proud of how effectively I used technology throughout my website creation. I embedded videos, PDFs, PowerPoints, and Microsoft Forms. I included hyperlinks to original works and web-based resources and made my site visually appealing with properly cited icons and graphics where appropriate. When I share my website with faculty and administration at Wallenpaupack, I will take their feedback and adjust how we use and adapt it going forward. I want nothing more than to put all this hard work to good use as a future librarian.