This article analyzes the aging of academic librarians and the potential shortage of librarians to replace those who are retiring. Recent statistics indicate that the exodus of retiring librarians may not be as severe as predicted several years ago. Recent articles show potential benefits as new librarians enter the workforce in large numbers to…

Current school librarian standards highlight the need for school librarians to be technology leaders in their schools, and current research supports the ability of the school librarian to be a strong technology leader. However, there is a lack of research on how preservice schools are preparing their students to become these leaders. The following…

When the author transitioned from being a public high school librarian to a librarian in a small, experiential learning-based independent high school, she learned that accepting the position meant accepting changing types of leadership, changing types of accountability, and changing expectations from a broader group of stakeholders. This paper…

After 13 years as a middle school language arts teacher, the author earned a second Master's degree to become a licensed preK-12 school librarian. She made the transition to the position of K-8 school librarian, then eventually transitioned to the position of head librarian at the local high school. She found herself challenged to create,…

One of the main responsibilities of school librarians is to teach students to evaluate the credibility of information. There is little evidence to suggest that students are being explicitly taught how to evaluate news obtained through social media. As avenues for giving and getting information evolve, so must ways of teaching students so that they…

Using an evidence-based approach, including the authors' own cutting-edge research, this Special Report shares antiracist recommendations for practice that will help librarians in all settings identify and address explicit and implicit racial bias. Librarianship is still a predominantly white profession. It is essential that current practitioners…

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed methods study was to define the roles of school librarians as perceived by librarians and principals in regard to the ALA/AASL Standards for the Initial Preparation of School Librarians (2010). This study was designed to explore the perceptions of librarians and principals on the role of the librarian in the…

Some people see the school library as merely a place for books and materials, but for many students, it is a refuge and a place where they can relax and feel safe. School libraries are more than receptacles of books, technology, and audiovisual needs; they are sanctuaries for many students dealing with issues outside of school. Whether it is…

Many of the descriptions of public libraries as sanctuaries provide myriad examples of ways in which they serve the underserved: language circles, English language learning and citizenship classes, and access to technology for the homeless, to name a few. In the school library, if librarians are providing sanctuary only to those who feel…

Using STEAM activities, this book places school librarians at the intersection with inquiry in an elementary school. Learners will think like a scientist and design like an engineer using an iterative process to make authentic learning connections and develop a growth mindset. Designed to be completed in 30-minute class periods, 14 scaffolded…

Libraries Without Borders (LWB) is striving to expand access to information and bridge the digital divide across the United States by transforming everyday, informal spaces into places of learning and engagement. Such transformations could be anything from creating pop-up libraries inside laundromats to setting up interactive learning spaces in…

The Internet and the advent of e-books have launched school libraries beyond brick and mortar, allowing patrons 24/7 access to the resources they seek. With these technological advancements, an often-iterated question arises as to the relevance of libraries and librarians now that access to information previously available through print,…

Nothing is more fulfilling than a school library full of students hungry to learn--especially when they have all the tools and resources they need and, more importantly, a school librarian ready to help them gain the knowledge and understanding they need to apply technology to become fully digitally literate citizens. Therefore, it was very…

In developing a Virtual Reality (VR) project, the library creates a democratic home for a teaching and lab space for a visiting Fulbright scholar to build energy and community around this new immersive technology. Following three academic quarters of VR teaching, workshops, community outreach, and awareness building, interviews of volunteer…

Guiding school librarians to new levels of leadership, this book breaks down the National School Library Standards into authentic, easily accessible components school librarians can apply to develop their leadership style and skills. By defining and explaining how the AASL Standards advance leadership, readers will begin to recognize the…