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Salinero, R. (2016). [Image of human hand holding plasma ball]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/vEE00Hx5d0Q

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Rather than seeing technology as a threat, libraries can use new and emerging tech to maintain a competitive edge.  

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Rather than seeing technology as a threat, libraries can use new and emerging tech to maintain a competitive edge.  

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(Portland Community College. (2022). [Image of students in maker lab]. The Maker Lab. https://www.pcc.edu/maker/makerlab/) 

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One emerging trend in school libraries is the maker movement. School libraries are increasingly becoming a place for maker spaces. Teacher librarians can think creatively about how to best utilize their space to support student projects; providing students with tools like cameras, microphones, 3D printers, or recording spaces allows the school library to remain an important space in student lives (Harlan, 2018).

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How can school libraries make space to integrate new technology tools? Turn to resource sharing! Rather than having every print item available in the library, teacher librarians can free up space by exploring partnerships with other libraries, including the local public library (Krasluski, 2018). This innovative line of thinking is a win for everyone; students can check out the materials they need, and the library can make the best use of their space.

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For a great example of innovative student services, check out the novelty cake pan program at my local high school's library! Aside from books and course materials, this library allows students to check out a wide variety of cake pans, a fun way to support student creativity.

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Cake Pan Check IN/OUT Instructions: Cake Pans cannot be placed in the Book Return slot, please take directly to Mrs. Arata inside the library. Because we have (temporarily) simplified loan periods, due to COVID-19, Cake Pans can be borrowed for one month. Automatic renewals have been discontinu…

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Dimmock, D. (2017). [Image of eyeglasses on book beside laptop]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/sNwnjxm8eTY

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Managing the budget, collections, and staff of the school library are all responsibilities of the teacher librarian.

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Managing the budget, collections, and staff of the school library are all responsibilities of the teacher librarian.

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Teacher librarians should seek input from teachers, students, and administrators when planning spending for the year, and should tie all budget requests back to the strategic plan.  This places the library as an integral part of the success of the school as a whole. By seeing ourselves as student advocates, teacher librarians can  frame spending requests as supporting the entire organization (Kachel, 2017).

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Robertson, E. (2018). [Photo of books in stacks]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/eeSdJfLfx1A

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Collection management allows a school library to always ensure relevant, meaningful, and topical materials are available for students and teachers. A small budget doesn't mean standing for outdated or poorly cared for materials; for example, one trick teacher librarians can use to see if materials are relevant is to check the U.S. president. If it is outdated, time to replace (Ozoh, 2021). Additionally, teacher librarians should strive to build collections where diverse student groups not only see themselves reflected, but they are also exposed to ideas, lifestyles, and families that are different than their own (Bishop, 1990).

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Smart hiring and management practices ensure staff are happy and reflective of the community in which they work. As noted by Nneka Edih, giving regular and meaningful feedback to staff allows teacher librarians to build a culture of trust and respect with their paraprofessionals (Ozoh, 2021). Additionally, making choices to hire diverse individuals who are representative of the patrons whom they serve allows students to see themselves reflected in the library, ultimately creating a more welcoming space (American Library Association, 2019, June 17).

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American Library Association. (2019, April 8). Librarian JJ Pionke on diversity, equity, and inclusion in libraries: "It's personal to me" [video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58FmnzlFzzs

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American Library Association. (2019, June 17). Multnomah County Library: Creating conditions for equity to flourish [video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKGlxh-zc0Y

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Bishop, R. (1990). Mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors. Perspectives,6(3), ix–xi.

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Cervone, H.F. (2018). Managing data and data analysis in information organizations (pp.314-330). In Hirsch, S. (Ed.), Information services today: An introduction. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

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Folsom Cordova Unified School District (n.d.). Check out novelty cake pans. https://www.fcusd.org/Page/41488

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Harlan, M. (2018). Library and media centers: School libraries (pp.71-80). In Hirsch, S. (Ed.), Information services today: An introduction. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

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Houston, A. M. (2015). Revisiting library as place. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 55(2), 84–86. https://doi-org.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/10.5860/rusq.55n2.84

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Kachel, D. (2017). Advocating for the school library budget. Teacher Librarian, 45(2), 48–50.

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Krasulski, M. (2018). Accessing information anywhere and anytime: Access services (pp.183-194). In Hirsch, S. (Ed.), Information services today: An introduction. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

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Martin, A.M., Westmoreland, D.D., & Branyon, A. (2011). New design considerations that transform the library into an indispensable learning environment. Teacher Librarian, 38(5), 15–20.

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Ozoh, R. (2021). Library management [Zoom video recording]. https://sjsu.zoom.us/rec/play/5AFxTsbHTP33vcoLOxN8nMzh3Xud-7m4qpXMXe2pXdQjDQ20Bk9oU_Y84d-drI41e6PBxtYCurqA6ie0.hFrZqCNivMrk7TNb?autoplay=true&startTime=1608258471000

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Beamer, D. (2018). [Image of pink and yellow hello neon light]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/3SIXZisims4 

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Strategic thinking by teacher librarians creates a school library that is welcome, accessible, and user friendly.

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Strategic thinking by teacher librarians creates a school library that is welcome, accessible, and user friendly.

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Creating a positive user experience starts with identifying the library's core purpose, the most important role of the organization that sets it apart from other groups (Houston, 2015). This allows teacher librarians to identify the single most important way to support students; if this purpose can be met, the school library can be considered successful.

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Getting input from all stakeholders, including those who don't use the school library, is critical for designing a functional space with an excellent user experience (Kowalski, 2011). An outstanding example of this design thinking is demonstrated at Glen Allen High School in Virginia. Library leadership engaged in extended consultations with students and staff to get an idea of how the library could support their needs. The team considered how every aspect of the design would impact users, taking into account how to best use the space, provide adequate access to technology resources, and even where windows and lighting would be located (Martin et al., 2011). The result is a space where students want to be, and where they respect the facility. This is exactly the type of forward thinking school libraries should embrace.

(Video: Branyon, A. (2011). Glen Allen High School: Building a library for success [video]. Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/24013894)

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Glen Allen High School: Building a Library for Success

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Creating a positive user experience for students also entails focusing on equity and inclusiveness. As noted by librarian JJ Pionke of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaigne, fifteen percent of Americans have a disability (American Library Association, 2019, April 8); if teacher librarians design spaces, services, and programming with this in mind, ultimately the library becomes a space that can serve a much broader community.

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Furtado, F. (2017). [Image of sticky notes on paper besides pens]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/2zDXqgTzEFE

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A thoughtful strategic plan allows school libraries to meet the challenges of providing information, materials, and resources in a changing environment.

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A thoughtful strategic plan allows school libraries to meet the challenges of providing information, materials, and resources in a changing environment.

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A good strategic plan starts with a SWOT analysis and an environmental scan.  Taking stock of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats faced by an organization allows for thoughtful and meaningful goals. In addition, an environmental scan allows the school library to gain a sense of the population and community which it serves. As stated by Rosenblum (2018), these steps "determine the gaps between how the information organization serves its community and how the organization should be serving the community in the future" (p. 238).

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Rosenblum, L. (2018). Strategic planning (pp. 231-245). In Hirsch, S. (Ed.), Information services today: An introduction. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

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Keeping the strategic plan at the forefront of all programming, staffing, or collections decisions allows the school library to successfully serve its students and staff; demonstrating this effectiveness makes it easier to ask for and receive important funding requests, additional technology tools, or even a new space (Rosenblum, 2018). By continually striving to meet these goals, the library can maintain its strategic advantage as an important part of the school community. The King Library at San Jose State University (2020) is an excellent example of an information organization with a smart, thoughtful strategic plan.

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Mission Statement

San José State University (SJSU) King Library brings people, ideas, and information together through its spaces, resources, and expertise to facilitate community building, innovation, and knowledge creation.

Vision Statement

SJSU King Library is a vanguard developer of innovative services, spaces, and collections that inspire a globally impactful community of university leaders and scholars.

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Ready for Transformation 2025 [PDF]Mission StatementSan José State University (SJSU) King Library brings people, ideas, and information together through its spaces, resources, and expertise to facilitate community building, innovation, and knowledge creation.Vision StatementSJSU King Library is a vanguard developer of innovative services, spaces, and collections that inspire a globally impactful community of university leaders and scholars.

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San Jose State University. (2020). Ready for transformation: SJSU King Library’s five year strategic plan. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library. https://library.sjsu.edu/sites/library.sjsu.edu/files/images/Ready%20for%20Transformation-1.22.2020.pdf

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Once the goals are set, how can they be measured? Through a tight data management and analysis system, teacher librarians can not only set ambitious and realistic goals, they can also measure their progress. As noted by Cervone (2018), “data are essential for planning how to evolve to meet future needs and take advantage of opportunities the organization may have to enhance and expand the scope of their products and services” (p.314). Understanding the school library's data on reference services, door counts, or circulation patterns can allow teacher librarians to make informed decisions on how to best serve their students and staff.