Collaboration between school librarians and STEM teachers

This is a recent Masters thesis by Janet Bader at the University of Central Missouri.

Strengthening the connection between the school library and math and science

There is a need to increase student achievement and career entry in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields in the United States. This paper is a review of the literature regarding the lack of existing collaboration between school librarians and math and science teachers and methods to increase this collaboration in order to increase student achievement in these areas. Results of the review indicate that when a collaborative relationship exists between school librarians and math and science teachers, student achievement improves.

Ideas for collaboration between public libraries and K-12 schools

This looks like a good article.

Collaboration Ideas for K-12 School and Public Libraries in the Oregon Library Association Quarterly.

The author notes that “after working for more than 15 years in a public library program that collaborates with schools, I’ve found lots of ways for school and public libraries to work together.”

Students use Kickstarter to fund library

Eighth graders in a design class at REALM Charter School in Berkeley, CA developed a plan for building a school library, and successfully funded the project using Kickstarter.

For more on this project visit ABC News.

Nearly 100,00 Philadelphia Students Get Library Cards

The Philadelphia School District merged their student database with the Free Library of Philadelphia system to identify which students did not have public library cards. The almost 100,000 students who did not have library cards are being issued cards.

This partnership is an attempt to address the budget cuts faced by school libraries. For more, read the full article at NewsWorks.

Pittsburgh public schools and public libraries work together on a literacy initiative

This looks like a nice collaborative effort.

Reading is a BLAST! Inside an Innovative Literacy Collaboration Between Public Schools and the Public Library

Public libraries have long supported the literacy goals of public schools in their communities by providing access to printed and electronic resources that enhance learning and teaching. This article describes an ongoing collaboration between the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s BLAST outreach program and the Pittsburgh Public Schools that has positively impacted thousands of students by increasing access to library resources while also emphasizing vocabulary, text-based discussion, and writing using both fiction and informational texts. This program can serve as a model for similar community partnerships that have the potential to enrich the literacy lives of students.

Recommended Citation

Genest, Maria T. (2014) “Reading is a BLAST! Inside an Innovative Literacy Collaboration Between Public Schools and the Public Library,” Reading Horizons: Vol. 53: Iss. 1, Article 4.
Available at: http://scholarworks.wmich.edu/reading_horizons/vol53/iss1/4

School and public library collaboration in Georgia

This looks like a good collaborative effort.

McClure, Janell (2014) “Georgia Library Spotlight – Cobb County School District and Cobb County Public Library Collaboration,” Georgia Library Quarterly: Vol. 51: Iss. 1, Article 4.

“The two groups chose to adopt the same program ‘theme’ in an effort to maintain a consistent message among school and library patrons.”

Article in the School Library Monthly

This article just came out in the new issue of the School Library Monthly, Volume XXX, Number 6/March 2014.

Leadership: Collaboration for Summer Reading” (PDF)

Many school librarians and administrators have often wondered why the vast and various resources housed in the physical space of the library are not available to students and families during school breaks and the summer months. For many children and youth, the school library is the closest and most familiar (and free!) provider of reading material for independent reading. Whether they are seeking books and magazines for pleasure reading or to answer their questions and gain specific knowledge, the school library is their resource and the school librarian is their go-to person. In most districts across the United States, however, school libraries are closed for the summer and are shuttered over for fall, winter, and spring breaks.

School library programs need collaboration

Cynthia Strong from Seattle Pacific University submitted an article –  “Importance of School Library Programs.”

This is a pre-print version of the article to be published in 2014.

Within the discipline of library science, over 20 research studies have been done in the United States attesting to how quality school library programs contribute to improved academic achievement. On the other hand, in the fields of education, school counseling, administration, and school leadership, and so on, there is a dearth of scholarship and recognition of the positive impact librarians and library media program have on student success. This conceptual paper first presents an overview of the empirical research on school library programs and the positive impact they have on the academic achievement of students in the United States. Second, the argument is made that if education is to remain sustainable, it is essential that collaborative relationships are developed between school librarians and other personnel within school buildings.

Book on School Library-Public Library Collaborations

Libraries Unlimited published “Better Serving Teens through School Library-Public Library Collaborations” by Cherie Pandora and Stacey Hayman in August 2013. The main focus of the book is how school and public libraries can collaborate to better serve patron needs while minimizing costs. Much of the book is available to read on Google Books, and can be purchased from the link above or on Amazon.

WorldCat Record

Leadership attributes that people need to create a culture of collaboration

This is a Masters thesis that was authored by Sarah Craig at the University of Victoria in Canada.

“Teacher and librarian collaboration: using servant-leadership attributes to create a culture of collaboration”

Issued Date: 2013-05-24

Copyright Date: 2013

Abstract:

The purpose of this qualitative study is to identify the leadership attributes librarians need to create a culture of collaboration in their school community. A literature review and a scholarly content analysis were conducted on teacher and librarian collaboration (TLC) and Servant-Leadership to explore the role that Servant-Leadership characteristics play in the development and sustainability of collaborative relationships between teachers and librarians. Ten TLC articles were examined through the theoretical framework of Servant-Leadership. The theme of Servant-Leadership was analyzed through the subthemes of the Seven Pillars of Servant-Leadership as identified by Sipe and Frick (2009): person of character, puts people first, skilled communicator, compassionate collaborator, foresight, systems thinker, and leads with moral authority. Servant-Leadership as a search term was lacking in TLC literature; however, attributes of the subthemes were found in the majority of the articles. The themes of trust and building trusting relationships were the most commonly discussed attributes found in TLC literature. Through this research, librarians will gain a deeper understanding of their leadership role in collaborative partnerships and acquire practical suggestions on how to create a culture of collaboration in their school community.