Leading the Way

to Strong School Libraries

Change = Opportunity

Kaizen

…the growth that can only occur when we not only accept change in our lives but rather embrace it.

Change Principles

Keep the message simple. Keep saying it.

Expect turbulence.

Work with the living.

People invest in success.

Be tenacious and gracious and you will

always win the day.

Here’s what worked for us. . .

Step 1: Form a Library Department

Strength in numbers Everyone on message Professional development

Create Department Goals/ Vision

Create a three-year plan: where you are and where you want to be

Make sure your goals are explicitly relevant to district goals—(i.e.. STEM, Common Core, RRR)

Share with administrators and school board

Update regularly

Step 2: Facilitate Upward Communication

Regular superintendent meetings

Regular principal meetings

Get on committees run by administrators, such as curriculum & building leadership teams

Common Core, RRR, STEM

Step 3: Claim your Territory

Research process

Rubrics/Formative Assessment

Scope and Sequence of Information Literacy Skills Instruction

Share with teachers, administrators, school board

Step 4: Form Strategic Partnerships

Teachers Technologists Literacy Specialists Community Organizations Parents

Partner with. . .Teachers

1. Find teachers who will collaborate on projects

2. Build momentum

3. Work with administrators to create an expectation of collaboration

Image credit: http://library.wrdsb.ca

Partner with. . .Technology

Form an InfoTech Team

Collaborate with Technology Integrators

Offer professional development for all staff

Partner with. . .Literacy

Summer reading

Professional Learning Community read together

Lexiles and NWEA reading targets

Literacy Nights

Partner with. . . Community Organizations

Create a community presence

Collaborate with the public library

Partner with other community organizations

Partner with. . .Parents

Cultivate parent advocates

Present at PTO meetings

Adopt a kinder and gentler approach to overdues

Promote family summer reading

Allow parent checkout

Email parentsImage credit: kidport.com

Step 5: Do something FLASHY!

Get local press coverage

Every other year or so

One District/One Book, for example

Step 6: Embrace Change

Department goals and vision

Program review

Shifting to Learning Commons model

Program Review1. Conduct Highly Effective Libraries review

2. Educate staff on evolving vision for libraries

3. Uncover priorities

4. Increase stakeholders

5. Set building and departmental library goals

6. Plan departmental professional development