The teacher librarian must develop collaborative relationships throughout the learning community. These partnerships are critical to the success of the library media program
Running a library media program involves collaboration with students, teachers, parents, and local community members.
An effective center administrator must coordinate programs and people, in addition planning and managing time, resources, and facilities. They must also be leaders and advocates for learning. These roles all require working with others to build a positive atmosphere of cooperation and mutual respect.
What areas of the library media program involve collaboration?
Whether your integrating information literacy into the curriculum or developing a reading promotion, collaboration is essential throughout the library media program. But collaboration is one of the most difficult tasks for teacher librarians to achieve. However just because it is hard does not mean that it is impossible or not worth striving to reach a higher level.
How are collaborative partnerships formed?
Think of collaborative partnerships as the process of developing a trusting relationship between two or more professional colleagues. Collaborative relationships are enabled by recognizing the varied roles served by individuals of the learning community (including the teacher librarian), modeling desired practices, acting proactively, and providing personal experience and expertise.
Connecting with the teachers, school administrators, public librarians, and other members of the community help a library media specialist building strong programs. In addition, library media specialist must form relationships with other professional educators and librarians for advocacy, buying power, professional development, and curriculum development.
Begin
with reading T. Buzzeo's Disciples
of Collaboration. School Library Journal. Sept. 2002; 48(9),
34. (Access requires login)
Also read these related articles:
Johnson, D. (2004). Proactivity and Reflection: Tools to Improve Collaborative Experiences. Minnesota Media.
Milbury, P. (May/June 2005). Collaboration:
Ten Important Reasons to Take It Seriously. Knowledge
Quest; 33. (Access requires login)
Montiel-Overall, P. (2005). Toward
a Theory of Collaboration for Teachers and Librarians. School Library Media Research; 8.
Consider making logical connections such as the reading and language arts. Then focus on ways to build inquiry-based activities into other
Read (1) Position Statement on Resource Based Instruction: Role of the School Library
Media Specialist in Reading Development and (2) Position
Statement on the Value of Independent Reading in the School Library
from the American Association of School Librarians.
Explore Collaboration web
modules at Teacher-Librarians . . . Supporting Student Learning from
Central iSchool, CA (Menu bar on left side of webpage).
How are relationships formed with teachers?
Some library media specialists find it easy to connect with classroom teachers, while others find this networking difficult. The key is identifying an approach that fits your personality. In some cases, a formal approach of scheduling meetings, structured partnerships, and joint planning is effective. In other cases, teacher librarians are more successful through informal friendships formed in teacher lounges, before faculty meetings, and in the hallways. The key is being receptive and proactive in making connections of all kinds.
Read Heard
It Through the Grapevine by G. Hartzell in School
Library Journal, Sept 2003; 49(9), 41. (Access
requires login)
Also read America's
Most Wanted: Teachers Who Collaborate by C. Brown in
Teacher Librarian, Oct 2004; 32(1), 13. (Access requires login)
This article identifies the factors that contribute to a successful
collaboration between teacher-librarians and classroom teachers.
What connections can be made with principals?
A teacher librarian and the school principal must develop a strong relationship. The principal must be aware of your interest in being involved in all aspects of the curriculum. Many administrators aren't aware of the skills of today's school library media specialist and their interest in leadership, collaboration, and technology.
Read Put Yourself in Your Administrator's Shoes by D. Abilock in Knowledge Quest,
Nov/Dec 2003; 32(2), 6-9. (Access requires login, download PDF document).
Also read Ten Powerhouse Strategies for Educating Administrators by S. Brisco in Knowledge Quest,
Nov/Dec 2003; 32(2), 37-8. (Access requires login, download PDF document).
Read Principal’s Manual Brochure fromthe American Association of School Librarians (PDF Document). Consider sharing this brochure with your principal; it's a good place to start a discussion.
How can the school library and public library collaborate?
There are many opportunities to bring the school and public library together.
Read School
and Public Library Relationships: Essential Ingredients in Implementing
Educational Reforms and Improving Student Learning by
S. Fitzgibbons in School
Library Media Research, 3, 2000. (Access requires login) This paper explores the range of successful,
cooperative relationships between public libraries and school library
media centers.
Read Come
Together by J. Jones in School Library Journal,
March 2004; 50(3), 45. (Access requires login) School
and public librarians need to join forces for kids’ sake.
Explore the ideas gathered by the ALSC / AASL / YALSA Joint Task Force on School / Public Library Cooperative Activities (Feb. 2004) for School and Public Library Cooperative Programs.
How do we show that our programs are effective?
We must be able to show evidence of our collaboration, leadership, and use of technology.
Examine the online resource linking teachers and teacher - librarians for developing curriculum that integrates resources, information skills, and shared program objectives: Collaboration: Teacher - Librarians . . . Supporting Student Learning from Central iSchool, Saskatchewan, CA.
. Don't miss the Self-Assessment Rubric of the teacher-librarian's role.
There are many ways to collect data. One way is by documenting your work with teachers. Explore some of the following Collaborative Planning Forms:
- Collaboration Log from Saskatchewan Schools, Canada
- Collaborative Planning Guide Form(.doc file) from Texas School Libraries
- Collaborative Unit Template (pdf) from Toni Buzzeo
- Collaborative Work Form(.doc file) from Texas School Libraries
- Librarian / Teacher Collaboration Evaluation Form (.doc file) from Texas School Libraries
- Teacher / Librarian Collaborative Unit Planning Form(.doc file) from Texas School Libraries
Read Does
Collaboration Boost Student Learning? by B. Lange,
N. Magree & S. Montgomery in School Library Journal,
Access requires login)
Words of Wisdom
Whether co-producing an instructional unit or partnering on a reading initiative, collaboration takes planning. Read about the collaborative efforts of one library media specialist:
In the September issue 2004 of School Library Journal (Vol
50, Issue 9, p50),
you'll find an article (The
Rookie) I've written about
how young School Library Media Specialists can work with veteran teachers.
Carl A. Harvey II
Library Media Specialist, North Elementary School
&President, Association for Indiana Media Educators carl_harvey@mail.nobl.k12.in.us
North Library Media Center Webpage
http://www.nobl.k12.in.us/media/NorthMedia/index.htm
Check Your Understanding
Describe a project you might coordinate as a library media specialist. Brainstorm the different partners that might be involved with the projects. Discuss how you would you get these people involved with your project. How would you approach the potential partners?
Andy Plemmons, librarian at David C. Barrow Elementary in GA, posted a helpful article that focused on a recent collaboration project in his school: What Makes Collaboration Successful? (Feb. 24, 2010). He provides lots of practical ideas.
Colloaboration between librarian and teacher is a challenge. Many people use the label 'collaboration' rather loosely. Full collaboration is difficult. Most important is the need for recognition that effective school librarians must be integrally involved with students, teachers, and classroom learning. Their library media program must extend outside the library center walls and extend to classroom and even students' homes. Learning goes on during evenings, weekends, and holiday breaks.
Make It Real
Explore the collaborative planning sheets found online. Combine elements of different sheets to build your own form. Be sure to cite the resources you used at the bottom of your form. Create a sample completed form using information from your experiences or a project you find online. If you are currently working in a library media center, try out the form and see what you think. Then, discuss why you think this form would be effective.
Read More About It
Collaborative Planning Guide from South Carolina Department of Education (Word document)
http://www.myscschools.com/
. . ./documents/Collaborative_Planning_Guide.doc
Another form for collaboration.
Shayne, R. Teachers and Librarians: Collaborative Relationships. ERIC Digest, ED444605. ERIC Clearinghouse on Information and Technology, Aug. 2000.
http://www.ericdigests.org/2001-2/librarians.html
Defines collaboration, conditions favorable to collaborative partnerships, and references and suggested readings.
McKenzie, J. Reaching the Reluctant Teacher. From Now On, 1999.
http://www.fno.org/sum99/reluctant.html
Administrator Cooperation
Hartzell, Gary. Building Influence-Principals of Success. School Library Journal, April 2002.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA202830.html
Hartzell, G. Why Should Principals Support School Libraries? ERIC Digest, 2002.
http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-3/libraries.htm
Johnson, D. No Principal Left Behind. Mar. 2003
http://www.doug-johnson.com/dougwri/no-principal-left-behind.html
St. Lifer, E. Getting in the Principal's Face. School Library Journal, Oct. 2004.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA456861.html