- School Library Journal: The Magazine of Children's, Young Adult and School Librarians for articles about issues concerning school librarians and many reviews of new books, reference materials, videos, computer programs;
- The Hornbook Magazine: Recommending Books for Children and Young Adults for articles about reading and reviews of the best new books for young people;
- School Library Media Activities Monthly for activities and creative ideas to help students learn library skills;
- The Book Report: The Journal for Junior and Senior High School Librarians for ideas to encourage reading; and
- Emergency Librarian, a Canadian journal for teachers and librarians who work with young people.
- Other publications such as School Library Media Quarterly and Computers in Libraries include articles about topics you may want to consult in your research about school libraries issues.
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 by Charlene Loge |
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| Teachers who are asked to also be their school's librarian have many ways to find information, get help and learn more in order to become knowledgeable about the new role they perform.
Several professional organizations and associations of librarians specialize in library service to children. The mission of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) (http://www.ala.org/aasl/), a division of the American Library Association, is the improvement of library media programs in elementary and secondary schools. It publishes the journal School Library Media Quarterly and holds national conferences for school librarians. Two other groups within the American Library Association also focus on the needs of young people; the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) (http://www.ala.org/alsc.html) publishes the Journal of Youth Services in Libraries along with the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) (http://www.ala.org/yalsa.html). Both of these associations include public librarians who work with children and young adults, but their concerns are issues that also interest school librarians. To find out more, call the American Library Association (http://www.ala.org) at 800-545-2433. School library media specialists can find professional support from the Association for Education Communications and Technology (AECT) (http://www.aect.org) which provides information about audiovisual materials and copyright questions by calling 202-347-7834.
In the United States, two educational routes and college programs teach librarianship. Programs that award a Masters Degree are available at many state and private universities, though not in Montana. A Masters in Library Science (MLS) prepares post-baccalaureate librarians and professional training typically requires 36 graduate semester credits. Some programs take two years of full time study following a B.A. or B.S. degree; others are delivered so that students can attend graduate school for three summers to complete the Masters degree. In some states people with an MLS can work in school libraries; other states, such as Montana, require that school librarians also possess a teaching certificate. Prospective school librarians often acquire a library endorsement for their teaching certificate during their undergraduate studies by completing a library minor or, after graduation, by returning to college to complete a program which adds a library endorsement to their teaching license. In Montana, the Board of Public Education accredits college programs in Montana, so that completion of these programs allows you to work as a school librarian in Montana's public schools. Library minor/endorsement programs are presently available at University of Montana -- Western of The University of Montana (http://www.umwestern.edu) in Dillon, at Montana State University in Bozeman (http://www.montana.edu), and at The University of Montana in Missoula (http://www.umt.edu). For teachers who are returning to college to acquire certification for library work, some of the programs offer library courses that are also taught in the summer. Workshops on storytelling or children's authors or computers in libraries are presented during times when the public schools are not in session. In addition, you can learn more to help you work as a school librarian by taking some correspondence courses. Classes such as "Children's Literature," "Young Adult Literature," and "Cataloging of Library Materials" are taught through distance learning programs offered from the University of Utah, the University of Idaho, and other Western states' outreach programs. A list of such courses can be obtained from the college library director at University of Montana -- Western. If you intend to become certified as a school librarian, before enrolling in correspondence courses, you should determine whether a Montana endorsement program will substitute specific correspondence courses for classes taught in their program, since the Montana teachers certification process requires completion of a program approved by the state.
Professional journals are full of articles and information of interest to school librarians, from how to select the best CD-ROM reference encyclopedias to how to convince your school administration to increase your acquisitions budget to how to respond when school library reading material is challenged by people who want to remove it from the school library. Among the journals read by most school librarians are:
ERIC (the Educational Resources Information Center) is part of the U.S. Department of Education and maintains a huge database of information about education, including an index to journals about education.
Practical handbooks for librarians are produced from time to time, with information about resources for school librarians. For example, in 1991, the American Library Association published The Whole Library Handbook: Current Data, Professional Advice, and Curiosa about Libraries and Library Services. Bowker is a large publisher of indexes and other reference materials for libraries and each year compiles the Bowker Annual, with data and information about libraries. Other handbooks and manuals can assist you, for example, in cataloging school library materials. Commonsense Cataloging: A Cataloger's Manual, by Rosalind E. Miller and Jane C. Terwillegar could help a school librarian get started Other useful compilations are published by organizations and associations of teachers. The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) (http://www.ncte.org) publishes bibliographies or lists of books recommended for school students. Typical of their helpful compilations is High Interest, Easy Reading: An Annotated Booklist for Middle School and Senior High School, 7th edition, 1996. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, National Science Teachers Association, and the National Council for the Social Studies review materials and help to identify good selections for school libraries. The Council for Exceptional Children (703-620-3660), the publisher of the journal Teaching Exceptional Children, provides information about teaching materials and resources for handicapped and gifted children. You can find other lists and handbooks that assist the professional school librarian by consulting the index Library Literature for recently published materials or by browsing through a college library catalog, especially of colleges that teach courses for school librarians. LaserCat or the WLN database of cataloged items in hundreds of libraries is a source for identifying such material. With a modem, you can dial up the catalogs of the college libraries in Montana and see what each library has in it. [If your web browser is configured for telnet connections, you can click here: telnet://rankin.lib.umt.edu to connect to the University of Montana campuses' online catalog.] Interlibrary loan departments at any of the college libraries would be happy to mail you materials you find in the college catalogs. The Internet is also an easy way to connect to college libraries and find resources to help school librarians.
The Intellectual Freedom Manual, published by the American Library Association, and the staff of the American Library Association are available to help when your school or its library become the focus of challenges to material or ideas that are available in the library or as part of the school curriculum. Call them for information and assistance (800-545-2433, ext, 4223). The National School Boards Association (703-838-6722) also gives practical advice when censorship efforts challenge textbooks. The National Education Association (800-229-4200) can offer guidelines on handling complaints. The Freedom to Read Foundation and the International Reading Association are concerned with this issue. Your best allies are other Montana school librarians. The Montana Library Association and the professional librarians at Montana State Library can help you get in touch with others.
School librarians are an active part of the membership in the Montana Library Association, which meets annually. Members of MLA receive the quarterly publication Montana Library Focus. Get in touch with this association (406-447-4343) to learn how it can make your job as school librarian more interesting and help you find solutions to day to day problems. Charlene Loge has taught courses in the library media teacher education program at University of Montana -- Western of The University of Montana. Ms. Loge has served on the Dillon City Library Board of Trustees and holds a Masters in Library Science from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. It was last updated Friday January 31 2003 |
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