Student Success and Library Media Programs: A Systems Approach to Research and Best Practice

by Lesley S. J. Farmer

Overview

Student success comprises a complex system of expectations and measurements. Designed for school library media specialists, this book focuses on library media programs and examines the factors that influence student achievement. Through a presentation of research trends and actual practice, award-winning author Lesley Farmer demonstrates how media specialists can encourage student achievement by creating an environment conducive to learning. Farmer takes a systems approach, illuminating how each stakeholder in a student's education contributes to and impacts student achievement.

Chapters include:
What Defines Student Achievement?
Research in the School Library World
Internal Factors: The School Library Media Program
School Factors Towards Student Achievement
Student Factors Towards Student Achievement
Societal Factors Towards Student Achievement
Focus on Reading: Who's a Good Reader?
Next Steps

In addition to research findings about library programming, Farmer examines collection resources, facilities, staffing, curricula, instruction, reading issues, services, products, and administration. Key research studies are cited throughout the work to optimize referral to relevant information. This is an invaluable guide for school library media specialists, as well as for faculty and students in LIS and education programs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781591580584
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	09/30/2003
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.41(d)

About the Author

LESLEY S. J. FARMER is Professor of Library Media Technology at California State University, Long Beach. A frequent contributor to professional jourbanals, she was selected by CSLA as the 1999 Technology School Librarian of the Year.

Table of Contents

Introduction
What Defines Student Achievement?
Research in the School Library World
Internal Factors: The School Library Media Program
School Factors Towards Student Achievement
Student Factors Towards Student Achievement
Societal Factors Towards Student Achievement
Focus on Reading
Next Steps

Editorial Reviews

In this comprehensive and thoroughly researched book, library media teachers look at the many factors impacting student achievement and are strongly encouraged to examine their program in light of the entire school program. The book opens with a definition of student achievement; subsequent chapters address school, student, and societal factors. Each chapter concludes with a list of questions to help assess the school library environment in relation to these factors. Internal aspects of the library media program focusing upon and influencing student achievement include the standards expected of all library media centers, collection development, technology, facilities, staffing, curriculum, information literacy, the teaching role of the library media specialist, and administration of the program. A chapter on reading includes a chart linking NCTE standards to AASL information literacy standards. An extensive bibliography and index conclude the book, which is an invaluable guide for media specialists.-Susan Shaver, Hemingford Public Schools, NE Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

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