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Reading advocate

Technologist

Curriculum Creator

Teacher

Information Specialist

Co-teacher

Research leader

Technology programs expert

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We love libraries and librarians. We want them to succeed and we made this video to help the public understand how libraries have changed in the Internet Age. Libraries and librarians have evolved, and these days what they can do may surprise you. This video explains why libraries are more important than ever.

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Public Library Online supports the existence of library and the crucial roles played by Libraries today

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AASL and AECT information Literacy Standards for Student Learning

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Pappas and Tepe Pathways to Knowledge Information Skills Model

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California School Library Association Information Literacy Model

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Eisenberg and Berkowitz The Big Six Skills

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The Kuhlthau Model of the Search Process

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Stripling and Pitts Research Process Model

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Benjamin Bloom

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John Dewey

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Wikipedia was created. The creation of wikipedia led to the decline in the use of encyclopedias. It is far easier to search in wikipedia than to find an encyclopedia to find information.

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Google started, which provided access to an unlimited amount of information on the internet.

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Standards for School Library Programs was published.

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The first set of national K-12 school library standards were published.  These became the precedent for today's library media programs.

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National Education Association's Committee on Library Organization and Equipment published standards for elementary schools.

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National Education Association's Committee on Library Organization and Equipment published standards for senior and junior high schools.

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School Library Month theme: Because School Libraries Empower Students #slm17

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First "School Library Month" observed

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Monti, Jim. “Library Media Specialists: Changing Roles in Turbulent Times.” Follett Learning, Follett/Aspen Article, Feb. 2015, www.follettlearning.com/wps/wcm/connect/3108d2eb-9b74-452e-8236-78cd367c17e7/library-media-specialists-changing-roles-in-turbulent-times.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.

Mashriqi, Khalida. “The Importance of a School Library Media Specialist.” Journal of Research Initiatives, The Pomonok School, 31 Dec. 2013, digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1009&context=jri.

Work, Josh. “The Shift: Media Specialists and the Common Core.” Edutopia, George Lucas Educational Foundation, 18 Mar. 2014, www.edutopia.org/blog/media-specialists-and-common-core-josh-work.

Admin. “School Library Month History.” American Association of School Librarians (AASL), AASL, 12 May 2017, www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/slm/history.

McCracken, Anne. “School Library Media Specialists’ Perceptions of Practice and Importance of Roles Described in Information Power.” School Library Media Specialists’ Perceptions of Practice and Importance of Roles Described in Information Power, vol. 4, Apr. 2001, pp. 1–29., www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslpubsandjournals/slr/vol4/SLMR_SLMSPerceptions_V4.pdf.

“ FAQ's and Definitions.” I Love Libraries, www.ilovelibraries.org/school-libraries/faqs-and-definitions.

American Association of School Librarians, Association for Educational Communications and Technology. Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. American Library Association, 1999.

Loertscher, David V., and Blanche Woolls. “The Information Literacy Movement of the School Library Media Field: a Preliminary Summary of the Research.” Review of Research - LIBR 250, School of Library and Information Science, 26 June 1997, ischool.sjsu.edu/courses/250.loertscher/modelloer.html.

“Role of Library in the Society.” Role of Library in the Society, PublicLibraryOnline, 7 Dec. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUPaKBACIUQ.

“Libraries in the Internet Age.” Libraries in the Internet Age, Common Craft, 1 Apr. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9MDKPC9yeM.

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With the addition of the Common Core State Standards, LMS could add the title of "curriculum developer" to their resume. In order to rewrite numerous curriculums to meet the standards of the CCSS, the LMS was able to provide districts with the information they were seeking. Library Media Specialist had the tools to provide educators with ideas on how to integrate critical thinking, communication, collaboration, information, media, and technology skills into their classrooms.

"The library media
specialist is essential
to finding and aligning
standards-based
resources to units of
study. ...our library media
specialists and district
support personnel assist
teachers in getting the
appropriately aligned
resources to support
the teacher’s work." (Monti, 2015)

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"This infographic points out the obvious importance of the K-12 school library media
specialists, and their overall impact on technology integration in schools across the
country."

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Digital Transition.

Librarians could possibly be responsible for the start of the digital transition. By moving from card catalogs to programs like Follett - librarians were at the head of the technology shift. Because of this discovery of converting paper documents to computer files, it became apparent that these tools used in the library could be utilized in the classroom as well.

Library Media Specialists were then able to share with classroom teachers how to integrate the internet and technology in to the classroom to enhance their current curriculum.

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The number of K-12 librarians dropped to 52,541, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

The number of school librarians had been reduced by 25% in the state of California. Because districts were eliminating the librarian position due to budget issues, librarians began to preach that the role of the librarian was shifting from a "content curator" to a "technology integrationist and curriculum developer" in order to remain relevant and important to the school districts. (Monti, 2015)

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The Global Financial Crisis accelerated the change in school librarians . "Many districts were confronted with shrinking revenues and rising costs resulting in unsustainable bugetary situations. The response by many was to initiate austerity measures with dramatic cuts to programs and school personnel. Library media specialists suffered the same fate as other non-tested area teachers and we laid off by the thousands."

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The invention of the internet changed the role of a librarian even further.

School librarians now evolved into Library Media Specialists.

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With the invention of the personal computer, the role of the librarian began to change rapidly.

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54,444 librarians in K-12 public schools

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17,363 librarians in K-12 public schools.

During this time period the role of a librarian was to gather materials and keep them in the school - similar to public librarians.

School librarians remained this way until technology came on the scene in the 1980s.

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Based on your experience, how do you perceive the librarian in your school?  How have you worked with your school's librarian?

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Based on your experience, how do you perceive the librarian in your school?  How have you worked with your school's librarian?

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As a 3rd grade teacher, I see my school librarian as an information source as well as a co-teacher, in a way.  Because of the CCSS our curriculum has become information and research based.  For writing we have many projects that require research.  Here is where my LMS comes into play.  Together we are able to get students ready to create projects to the best of their abilities.  By working with students in my classroom on how to take notes, use their research appropriately in their writing, and creating a well written piece I am able to provide half of what is needed to complete a writing project.  Our LMS is able to provide the other half.  The LMS is able to show students how to research with books and the internet.  Students learn how to find reliable sources on the internet from their LMS and then take notes on their topics.  Our LMS has access to materials that a classroom teacher may not have, so the librarian is able to give students learning experiences that I cannot always provide. By co-teaching with the LMS, students are able to have everything they need to produce a well researched and informed writing project.

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How are library media specialists perceived by themselves and their fellow colleagues, principals, students and others in their community?

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How are library media specialists perceived by themselves and their fellow colleagues, principals, students and others in their community?

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Library media specialists perceive themselves as information hubs. LMS's are able to provide students, colleagues, principals, and community members with information that they seek in a variety of ways that these individuals may not have realized. A LMS knows the power of their worth and all they can offer to a school or community, but others may not. Some may still think of librarians as people who help you find books. But in today's world, they are so much more than that. It is important that schools and communities change their perception of librarians to see that they provide so much in this technology-based world we are now living in.  According to McCracken, many people in the school system share misconceptions about a LMS's role.  These misconceptions are harmful to an LMS's reputation because it limits what they are able to provide a school or a community.  A librarian is so much more than someone who offers books to people.  Today, librarians allow people to escape in a different way - through creation.  When students are creating and developing new ideas, they get lost in a world of imagination.  By having students create with robotics, legos, technology, etc. they are able to grow intellectually.  They are still learning, but in a more hands on way.  Once schools and communities see the shifting role of librarians, LMS will be able to provide them with the ability to make life long learners who, later, become an asset to society.

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What are the roles of the library media specialist?  Are these roles shifting?  How?  And, Why?

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What are the roles of the library media specialist?  Are these roles shifting?  How?  And, Why?

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The roles of the library media specialist are definitely shifting. In the 1950s, a librarian's sole purpose was to gather books and information for a school or public library. Today, a librarian is now referred to as a library media specialist, which proves that a librarian's job is much more than books. Today, the library is the information hub of any school. It is the library media specialist who provides staff members with the tools and skills to gather information from books and technology for them to use in their classrooms. A library media specialist also works as a technologist by helping staff understand how to use technology in the classroom - from laptops and iPads to robotics and web design.  According to Mashriqi, "A skillful library media specialist knows exactly what to do for the students, teachers, parents, and the community."  Many may think a library media specialist's role is to foster a love of reading within children.  Although this is true, a library media specialist does much more than that. The implementation of the CCSS has caused the role of a librarian to continue to shift by encouraging inquiry and deep research skills. A LMS "helps students with the skills to locate, collect, organize, evaluate, analyze, synthesize, and cite information for their reports.  These skills are beneficial throughout the academic career as early as elementary school through college and beyond."(Mashriqi, 2013)  According to Work, "School librarians are uniquely positioned to influence and implement many of the school-wide goals and initiatives to ensure that all students are college and career ready, because they work across grade levels and across the disciplines." Today the role of a library media specialist is to encourage exploration and discovery of information through research, technology, and creativity.