Leverage Your Library Program: Collaborate! Audrey Church, Coordinator, School Library Media Program Longwood University, Farmville, VA NCSLMA, October 2003

“The school library media specialist must be perceived as a strong, creative, collaborative professional who is a visible leader in the design of curriculum and instruction appropriate for an information-rich culture.” Marilyn Miller, AASL Past President and Professor Emeritus, UNCG Leverage Your Library Program!

“The school library media specialist must be perceived as a strong, creative, collaborative professional who is a visible leader in the design of curriculum and instruction appropriate for an information-rich culture.” Marilyn Miller

TEN Recent Statewide Studies 1.The Impact of School Library Media Centers on Academic Achievement, Colorado, Information Empowered: The School Librarian as an Agent of Academic Achievement, Alaska, Measuring Up to Standards: The Impact of School Library Programs & Information Literacy in Pennsylvania Schools, How School Librarians Help Kids Achieve Standards: The Second Colorado Study, 2000

5.School Libraries and MCAS Scores, Massachusetts, Baughman, Good Schools Have School Librarians: Oregon School Librarians Collaborate to Improve Academic Achievement, Texas School Libraries: Standards, Resources, Services, and Students’ Performance, Smith, 2001

8.Make the Connection: Quality School Library Media Programs Impact Academic Achievement in Iowa, How School Librarians Improve Outcomes for Children: The New Mexico Study, An Essential Connection: How Quality School Library Media Programs Improve Student Achievement in North Carolina, Robert Burgin and Pauletta Brown Bracy, 2003

Test scores are higher when the school has … All Studies Show…

A professionally trained, full-time library media specialist Adequate support staff in the library A strong collection (books, periodicals, online databases) that meets the needs of the school instructional program Student access to the library resources and information within and beyond the library

Test scores are higher when the school has a library media specialist who …

Is knowledgeable about school curriculum Assists teachers in using information technology Communicates and collaborates with teachers Teaches students information literacy skills

Student achievement is higher! When library media specialists take an active role in curriculum and instruction When library media specialists teach information literacy skills When teachers and library media specialists collaborate…

Levels of Collaboration Cooperation Coordination Collaboration As defined in The Information-Powered School, ALA, 2001

Cooperation Loose working relationship Teacher and LMS work independently Teacher and LMS share information informally Teacher sees library media specialist solely as a provider of resources.

Coordination More formal working relationship Shared understanding of goals for teaching and learning More planning and communication Teacher sees LMS as colleague who can process requests for time in LMC and play minor teaching role (in area of research and use of library resources).

Collaboration Ongoing communication about shared goals for student learning Planning, teaching, and jointly assessing student work Teacher views LMS as teaching partner and respects expertise that she brings to the process.

Teacher/Library Media Specialist Collaboration, as defined by D. Loertscher Two partners, the teacher and the library media specialist, team to exploit materials, information, and information technology to enhance a learning activity. The library media specialist holds a unique position as a valuable asset in the collaborative process. Principals and superintendents encourage effective collaboration and monitor its progress.

Collaboration Observation Checklist, as suggested by D. Loertscher Teachers and library media specialists are Brainstorming a curricular unit Developing plans, activities, and assessments Choosing materials and technologies Working side by side as unit activities happen Jointly evaluating the success of the unit Engaging in staff development to refine the collaborative process

Checklist, continued Students are Working in library and classroom on projects, portfolios, presentations, inquiry and other authentic learning tasks Comfortable in using information and information technology Sharing finding in group-related activities Interested and excited about learning Facilities are Planned and arranged to support the various activities that collaborative learning experiences produce

Leverage Your Library Program to Help Raise Test Scores— HOW?

Collaboration Know the curriculum—district and state (North Carolina Standard Course of Study). Serve on standards and curriculum committees. Participate in curriculum development. Attend grade level/department meetings.

Collaboration Collaborate with teachers. Team teach and co-evaluate student products with teachers. Develop the library media collection targeted at the instructional program of the school.

Information Literacy Be vocal for information literacy (Make use of Information Skills Curriculum) and work to integrate information literacy skills instruction into the curriculum (Make use of Information Skills Integration Strategies.) Teach information literacy skills, as appropriate, as an integral part of content area instruction.

Information Technology Train teachers and students to effectively use the licensed databases available. Train teachers and students to effectively use the Internet: to use search tools efficiently and effectively and to evaluate information found. Work to provide access to resources at the point of need, even outside of library walls—NCWise Owl and beyond…

Roles of the Library Media Specialist Program administrator Information specialist Teacher Instructional partner - as defined in Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning, 1998

Library media specialists are instructional partners, teachers, and information specialists ….critical to the teaching and learning that occurs in our schools!

Communicate, Coordinate, and Collaborate to Connect ILS with Content Area Standards!

Nine Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning Information Literacy—Students are able to 1.Access information efficiently and effectively 2.Evaluate information critically and competently 3.Use information accurately and creatively From Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning, ALA, 1998.

Nine Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning Independent Learning—Students are information literate and are able to 4.Pursue information for their own personal interests 5.Appreciate literature and other creative expressions of information 6.Strive for excellence in information seeking and knowledge generation From Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning, ALA, 1998.

Nine Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning Social Responsibility—Students who contribute positively to the learning community and society are information literate and 7.Recognize the importance of information in a democratic society 8.Practice ethical behavior in regard to information technology 9.Participate effectively in groups to pursue and generate information From Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning, ALA, 1998.

North Carolina Course of Study— Goals and Objectives

Collaboration work with all to provide access to information work with teachers and administrators to build and manage collections that support authentic, information-based learning work with teachers to plan, conduct, and evaluate learning activities that incorporate information literacy, helping students become independent, information literate lifelong learners

“Stepping boldly into the learning process with students and teachers brings understanding and support for the library media program from principals, teachers, parents, and school board members.” Marilyn Miller

“The Library as a Focal Point to Achieve Student Success” from David V. Loertscher’s Reinvent Your School’s Library in the Age of Technology

Base of Pyramid: Network Central/Information Infrastructure The Library Program: Teaching Information Literacy Enhancing Learning through Technology Building Reading Literacy Collaborating with Teachers in the Design of Learning Increased Academic Achievement!

Does active participation in the instructional process by the library media specialist impact teaching and learning that occurs?

“On an individual basis: After the first year of flexible scheduling, with all library projects based on teacher/librarian collaboration, we found there was a direct correlation between library usage and improved test scores. After running the end-of-the-year circulation report, it became obvious that the teachers who had the highest library usage also had the highest test scores. A detailed analysis revealed there was a direct link between library usage and test scores in reference study and reading comprehension. For example, the classroom with the highest library usage has a mastery percentage of 86% in reference study and 81% in comprehension. The teacher who offered the most resistance to collaborative planning and library usage also had the lowest in mastery scores—19% in reference study and 52% in comprehension.” --Faye Pharr, Principal, Lakeside Academy of Math, Science, and Technology, Chattanooga, TN, at the White House Conference on School Libraries

Every Student your library®

New campaign for school libraries to be launched at AASL in Kansas City “ to raise public awareness about the significant contributions made by SLMSs through their design of library media programs that further academic achievement and lifelong learning for students” Frances Roscello, AASL President, Knowledge Quest, Sept./Oct. 2003

A strong library media program is one where the collection is well-developed AND the library media specialist… Teaches students (and teachers) how to effectively find, evaluate, and use information, Collaboratively partners with classroom teachers, and Is actively involved in teaching and learning!

Leverage Your Library Program! Collaborate!

Audrey Church Instructor/Coordinator, School Library Media Program Longwood University Hull 234, Farmville, VA