Leading for School Librarians: There Is No Other Option

by Hilda K. Weisburg, Susan D. Ballard (Foreword by)

Overview

With the recent passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), school libraries are poised for a potential turnaround. But there's only one way forward: school librarians must become leaders, fully interwoven into the fabric of the educational community. And to become a truly effective leader you've got to have a plan. In her new book, Weisburg builds on her decades of experience and mentorship in school libraries to offer a carefully crafted roadmap that guides readers step by step through the process of transforming into a leader, from becoming aware of what's at stake to learning and mastering the necessary skills for leadership. Using a pragmatic approach that acknowledges the challenges to come while also offering unabashed inspiration, this book

incorporates first-hand understanding of the dynamics of the educational environment, from the building to the district level;

begins by addressing common fears about taking on a leadership role, and shows how to move past them and gain confidence;

demonstrates how to build credibility among stakeholders and peers through strategic risk-taking;

discusses ways to rely on one's strengths to grow skills and expertise;

explains how to know when to lead and when to manage, plus the fine art of delegation;

gives pointers on communicating effectively, becoming visible, behaving ethically, maintaining a healthy life-work balance, and other important career issues; and

shows readers what it takes to move onto a larger stage and become a local educational leader who also has a presence on the state and national level.

By starting with the basics and then offering concrete ideas for moving forward, the book shows readers how they can slowly build their confidence and skills to become the leaders their students and the profession needs them to be.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780838915103
Publisher:	American Library Association
Publication date:	02/09/2017
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	185,209
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.38(d)

About the Author

Hilda Weisburg retired as library media specialist at Morristown High School in Morristown, N.J. in 2004. She has taught graduate courses at William Paterson University and Rutgers University. A past president of the New Jersey Association of School Librarians (NJASL), she is the association’s delegate to AASL’s Affiliate Assembly, on which she has served as chair and Region II director. Currently, she is a member of the ALA Literacy Committee and the ALA/CBC (Children’s Book Council) Joint Committee. She is the chair of the 2010 National Institute (Fall Forum). She has given presentations at AASL and state library media conferences and given staff development workshops for many school districts. In addition, she has been a library consultant for several New Jersey districts. With Ruth Toor, she has written thirteen books for librarians, the most recent being New on the Job: A School Library Media Specialist’s Guide to Success. The duo has been writing and editing the School Librarian’s Workshop since 1980.

Table of Contents

Foreword Susan D. Ballard xi

Introduction xv

Part I Safe First Steps to Leadership 1

1 Why Be a Leader? 3

Accepting the Challenge 3

Roadblocks to Leadership 5

Qualities of a Leader 7

Measuring Up 10

Fear Factor 11

Key Ideas 12

2 Getting Grounded 13

Who are You? 14

Mission Statements 14

Vision Statements 18

Procrastination-the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly 22

Key Ideas 26

3 Managing Classes in the Library 29

The Challenge-Part 1 29

Control vs. Management 30

Your Attitude Leads 32

Rules and Routines 33

Key Ideas 37

4 Becoming an Expert Teacher 39

The Challenge-Part 2 39

Anticipate 41

Essential Questions/ Enduring Understandings 43

Creating a Climate for Questions 44

Assessing 46

Collaborate or Cooperate 47

Inquiry-Based Learning and Other Variations 49

Standards 51

Key Ideas 52

Part II Building Your Leadership Skills 55

5 Becoming a Leader 57

Developing Confidence 57

Identifying and Using Role Models and Mentors 59

Testing Your Leadership Skills 61

Being a Team Player 65

Imposter Syndrome and Self-Assessment 67

Key Ideas 69

6 Uncovering Your Strengths 71

Five Bases of Power 71

Your Skill Set 73

Relationship Building 76

Being Likeable 79

Key Ideas 80

7 Improving Your Leadership Expertise 83

To Do and to Don't 84

Emotional Intelligence 85

Leading and Managing 89

Making Meetings Matter 91

Key Ideas 93

8 Knowing How to Handle Important Communications 95

Communicating in Person 95

Written Communication 97

Digital Communication 99

Making a Presentation 102

Recognizing the Messages You Send 104

The It Department and You 105

Key Ideas 107

Part III Playing Larger 111

9 Always Have a Plan 113

Your Brand and Taglines 113

Know Your Goals 117

Identifying Your Targets 118

Soar Rather Than Swot 118

The Strategic Plan 120

Showcase Your Advocacy Plan 121

Key Ideas 122

10 Staying Visible and Vital 125

Empowering Stakeholders 125

Standards and Ethics 128

Staying Current 130

Seek to Innovate 132

Toolkits 133

Key Ideas 134

11 Maintaining Joy 137

Writing and Presenting 137

Delegating 139

Giving Back 142

The Gift of Time 144

Key Ideas 145

Index 147

Editorial Reviews

06/01/2017
According to speaker, author, and former school librarian Weisburg, who teaches at William Paterson University, librarians no longer have a choice: If they want to remain relevant, they must become leaders and advocates. The author offers valuable first steps, challenges librarians to develop student-friendly spaces, and inspires readers to exercise their leadership abilities by becoming involved with state and national library organizations. Like any good instructor, Weisburg reviews the concepts established in previous chapters before building on them; each chapter concludes with a bulleted list of key ideas and sources. The book also realistically addresses obstacles, though the refrain that school librarians are constantly being judged may seem like overkill to some readers. Resources for cultivating a dynamic library that's indispensable to the school are abundant. One caveat: Readers may be confused at Weisburg's advice to become familiar with the standards associated with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), as ESSA removes the mandate for states to adopt the Common Core State Standards but does not create alternate standards. Regardless, the message that librarians should be knowledgeable about the various education standards is important. VERDICT Useful for librarians entering the field and those who may not be as well versed in the research on leadership; a great read for teachers who have transitioned into librarianship but lack certification or a library school background.—Jodeana Kruse, R. A. Long High School, Longview, WA

School Library Journal