The Leaders in the Library: 9 Ways Librarians Make Critical Differences in Successful Schools

They can see the big picture. #1: They can see the big picture.

There are few teachers in a school setting that have the opportunity to work with all the students and all of the staff. The school librarian is in a unique position to identify curricular connections between disciplines and to help shape a school’s learning culture from the inside out through the library media program.

#2: Research. Research. Research. (They’re really good at it, and can teach others this critical skill.)

Historically, the nature of librarianship demands that librarians teach sophisticated critical thinking and research skills to students, helping them to identify, evaluate, incorporate and create new information. The Common Core’s emphasis on these essential skills means that the school librarian’s contribution to student learning is more important than ever before.

#3: Librarians are often liaisons between the IT Department, students and staff.

Librarians are often the first line of defense when students experience problems related to technology. Their ability to diagnose and solve technological issues can alleviate much of the burden on an undermanned and overwhelmed IT staff.

Librarians make great staff developers. #4: Librarians make great staff developers.

In the face of ever-contracting budgets, librarians are an excellent resource for professional development. Staff development is one of the many things that the modern librarian is called upon to perform. This sometimes occurs out of necessity, but more often than not it is because they are the most well-equipped to instruct the staff when it comes to things like sharing and teaching web 2.0 tools. In her article “School Librarians As Staff Developers” Karen Hayes states that “Research supports the idea that teacher learning enhances student learning. Effective staff development focuses on the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required of teachers, administrators, and other school employees so that all students can learn and perform at high levels.”

Librarians are curriculum leaders. #5: Librarians are curriculum leaders.

Librarians see it as their responsibility to be informed about building-wide curricular needs. They are well-versed in the Common Core and have been active in building a Common Core Crosswalk to bridge library standards with those in each discipline. According to an article in the July 2012 issue of American Libraries, “ The new crosswalk links the AASL Standards for the 21st-century Learner with the math standards developed by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers. It joins crosswalks for English Language Arts; Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies; Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects; and Writing Standards for Literacy in History/ Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects.”

They play well with others. #7: They play well with others.

Librarians are all about collaboration Librarians are all about collaboration. One of the common beliefs articulated in the AASL’s Standards For The 21st Century Learner in Action is that school libraries are essential to the development of learning skills. We recognize that education does not happen in isolation. Therefore, school librarians “collaborate with others to provide instruction, learning strategies, and practice in using the essential learning skills needed in the 21st century.”

They are technology leaders. #6: They are technology leaders.

In many schools, the librarian is seen as the go-to person for technological innovation. The library is often the creative epicenter of a school, where students and staff congregate and collaborate using the library’s technology resources to develop ideas and share information, thus shaping the learning culture of a school.  As David Loertscher points out in in his article , ”The transformative power that a teacher-librarian has when collaborating with content teachers to build exciting learning experiences is a major key to success in affecting achievement.” 

Librarians Are the Ultimate Search Engines #8 Librarians Are the Ultimate Search Engines

Need a resource. Need it fast. Ask a librarian Need a resource? Need it fast? Ask a librarian. They are well-trained search artists, speak fluent Boolean, and can quickly and efficiently mine the deep web where the best information is often hidden from view. Better yet, invite them into your classroom and allow them to teach your students how to effectively search the web!

#9: Librarians help schools ‘raise the bar’ when it comes to improving test scores and academic achievement.

Schools with well-staffed library programs that are equipped with certified librarians perform better on standardized testing than schools without.

Works Cited "Crosswalk Connects Common Core." American Libraries 43.7/8 (2012): 11. Education Research Complete. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. Hayes, Karen. “School Librarians As Staff Developers.” Book Report 19.4 2001): 6-9. Library Literature & Information Science Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 17 Apr. 2014. "Higher Test Scores Linked To Certified Library Media Specialists In Schools." Reading Today 25.5 (2008): 44. Education Research Complete. Web. 17 Apr. 2013. Loertscher, David. "Teacher-Librarian As Technology Leader." Teacher Librarian 34.1 (2006): 45-51. Education Research Complete. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.