Further Reading

Harlan, Mary Ann. Personal Learning Networks: Professional Development for the Isolated School Librarian. Libraries Unlimited, 2009.

In the workshop, we talked about how it was important to build your network of librarian resources, whether by attending conferences or building it online. This book focuses on building a personal learning network (PLN) online with lots of practical ideas and tips for building a network of school librarians to help you learn and grow by interacting with each other.

Harvey, Carl A., II. "Authors + Students = A Powerful Special Event." Library Media Connection 31, no. 5 (March 2013): 48.

Making memories in the library is so important. An author event is one of those things that students will remember long after they leave your elementary school. This article focuses on tips and tricks for putting together an author visit. It isn't something that plans itself. It requires a lot of organization and advanced planning, but the rewards are just amazing.

Harvey, Carl A., II. "The Schedule Spectrum." School Library Monthly 31, no. 3 (December 2014): 17–19.

This workshop didn't focus much on schedules. There are so many different types of library schedules at the elementary level. Many folks are on a fixed schedule, some are on a flexible one, and some have something in between. Rather than focus on which one is better, in the workshop I focused on what school libraries are all about not matter what the schedule. However, schedules are important. This article is a good synopsis of the various options out there.

Hartzell, Gary. Building Influence for the School Librarian: Tenets, Targets, and Tactics, 2nd edition. Linworth, 2003.

This is the major work about building relationships between school librarians and administrators. While it is almost 15 years old, it still is of great value. Hartzell's book is one of those key works in the field about working together. His administrative perspective is critical to understanding how a school librarian needs to work with an administrator.

Levitov, Deborah D., ed. Activism and the School Librarian: Tools for Advocacy and Survival. Libraries Unlimited, 2012.

Many of the things discussed in the workshop focused on advocacy—either directly or indirectly. The building others to be voices for the school librarian and school library program is critical. This book expands on those ideas and more.

Lewis, Kathryn. "KQ Blog: Annual Reports—It's That Time of Year." Knowledge Quest blog. April 18, 2016. http://knowledgequest.aasl.org/annual-reports-time-year/

An annual report is so important. This Knowledge Quest blog post by incoming AASL President Kathryn Lewis further expands on what to include and why it is important. As a district supervisor, she has a unique position to see the power of annual reports.

Martin, Ann M., and American Association of School Librarians. Empowering Leadership: Developing Behaviors for Success. American Association of School Librarians, 2013.

All of the elements in the workshop demonstrate a school librarian who is a leader. They go beyond what is happening in their library by building relationships, making connections, and seeing the bigger picture. This book focuses even more on the idea of a school librarian as a leader.

Young, Terrence E., Jr. "We Celebrate." School Library Connection (January 2016). https://schoollibraryconnection.com/Home/Display/1993331

We talked in the workshop about all the special events you could celebrate in a school library. We didn't specify any in the workshop, but this article goes into great depth about some of the great days you could celebrate in the library. The memories you create will be with students long after they leave your library doors.

Weisburg, Hilda K. "The Dewey Debate." Knowledge Quest 42, no. 2 (November-December 2013): 8-9.

We touched briefly on the debate over genrefication and ditching Dewey. This article is a nice synopsis of the debate and introduces a Knowledge Quest issue that is completely focused on the topic. Should you organize by genres? Should you use categories instead of DDC numbers? Still lots of discussion in the field on this one, but this article will help get you started in figuring out what you think.