People are a critical resource in a school library media program. An effective teacher librarian nurtures these human resources.
My media clerk does a great job shelving and circulating the resources in our library media center.
A team of students manage the daily operation of the library media center. It's a great experience for them and a wonderful resource for me.
I can't imagine having anyone else run my library. I don't think students or volunteers would get books in the correct location on the shelf.
These are three very different perspectives on how human resources are used in a school library media program. Your job as the program administrator is to make decisions on how to manage your personnel including support staff, volunteers, and others who might be under your direction. You must also collaborate with others throughout the learning community that will contribute to the success of your program.
In addition to managing others, you must also be certain that your professional time is being well-spent. A fifth grader or a parent volunteer may not be able to shelve books, create bulletin boards, and run the circulation system as well as a professional. However, a professional's time is too valuable to be spent on tasks that can be accomplished by others.
Read Chapter 6 - Staff by Morris in Administering the School Library Media Center.
This section of the course contains the following related topics you'll want to investigate: Professional, Support Staff, Volunteers.
What role do people play in the library media center program?
From school library professionals collaborating with classroom teachers to volunteers reading to children, a center comes alive with the energy of people. Your program isn't about "things," it's about relationships, information, and ideas. People are the key to a successful library media program.
A wide variety of people come together in school library media center. These people include:
- School Administrators
- Teachers
- Students
- Library Professionals
- Professional Staff
- Support Staff
- Volunteers
- Community Members
What human resources need to be managed?
The school library media program administrator is responsible for the professional staff, support staff, and volunteers involved with the school library media program.
Professional Staff. At least one professional staff member should be supervising the program in each building. Particularly at the elementary level, a professional may be responsible for multiple buildings. In some large schools, multiple professionals may be in charge of the program.
Explore our page on Professional Staff for more information on the role of professional staff in the school library media program.
Support Staff. Many programs have full-time or part-time staff positions including secretaries, media clerks, and occasionally paid student workers.
Explore our page on Support Staff for more information on the role of professional staff in the school library media program.
Volunteers. Parents, community members, and students are often willing to volunteer their time to the library media program. These people have a wide range of interests and skills to share.
Explore our page on Volunteers for more information on the role of volunteers in the school library media program.
How do you choose effective people?
Whether recruiting volunteers or hiring staff, it's not easy to select people to match the needs of the library media center. An opportunity to talk with a person one-on-one is as important as applications, resumes, and other documentation. Regardless of library knowledge and skills, the interpersonal skills of a person are most often the most critical aspect of an applicant.
Read The Interview Process -- How to Select the "Right" Person? from the U.S. Small Business Administration for more information on making good choices. How do you select the right person? There is no perfect answer, but the interview process can be a tremendous help if you use it effectively. Although not specific to school libraries, the information will be helpful.
Check Your Understanding
Information Power: Program Administration - Principle 3. An effective library media program requires a level of professional and support staffing that is based upon a school's instructional programs, services, facilities, size, and number of students and teachers. (p. 100, 104)
Create a list of tasks that must be accomplished in a successful library media program. Which should be handled by professionals, support staff, and volunteers? Compare your list with another person.
Make It Real
Interview a library media specialist. Find out about all the people that are involved with the program including professionals, support staff, and volunteers.
Read More About It
Abilock, Debbie (Ed.). Put Yourself in Your Administrator's Shoes. Knowledge Quest, 32(2), Mar/Apr 2002.
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/...
District Level Leadership for School Library Media Programs from Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dltcl/imt/district.html
Ford, Mike. How Your Media Center Can Make a Difference. Learning Quarterly, School Library Journal, Mar 2004.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/...
A principal reminds that student achievement is not about one magic concept.
Human Resources Management from from Canadian Library Association
http://www.cla.ca/slip/english/Management/Human_Resources_Management/
Hartzell, Gary. Principals of Success. School
Library Journal, April 2002; 48(4), 41. (Access requires
login)
http://search.epnet.com.proxy.ulib.iupui.edu/login.aspx?
. . .
Hartzell, Gary N. The Invisible School Librarian.
School Library Journal, Nov 1997; 43(11), 24. (Access requires login)
http://search.epnet.com.proxy.ulib.iupui.edu/login.aspx?
. . .
A former principal examines the reasons administrators and teachers overlook you.
Hartzell, Gary. Why Should Principals Support School Libraries?
http://www.libraryreference.com/school-libraries.html
Principals should support school libraries because it is in both their students' and their own best interests to do so.
Johnson, Doug. Teacher Web Pages That Build Parent Partnerships. Multimedia Schools, Sept 2000. http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/sep00/johnson.htm
Lau, Debra. What Does Your Boss Think of
You? School
Library Journal, Sept 2002; 48(9), 52. (Access requires login)
http://search.epnet.com.proxy.ulib.iupui.edu/login.aspx?direct
. . .
Survey reveals principals’ lack of knowledge about the role of school librarians.
Library Support Staff
http://librarysupportstaff.com/
Finding and Accessing ~ those "links" that will benefit, educate and illuminate you, for the betterment of YOU, Your Job, and Your workplace.
Minkel, Walter. Making Every Librarian a
Leader. School Library Journal, Oct 2002; 48(10), 46. (Access
requires login)
http://search.epnet.com.proxy.ulib.iupui.edu/login.aspx?direct=true
. . .
An innovative program is challenging Seattle’s librarians to expand their role and extend their influence in the school.
Personnel from Library Procedures Manual, Georgetown TX Independent School District
http://www.georgetownisd.org/programs/support/libmanual/manual2.htm
This section includes sections for librarian/library media specialist, library assistant/aide/clerk, student aide/assistant, and volunteers.
Position Statement on Appropriate Staffing for School Library Media Centers from American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
http://www.ala.org/aasl...
Position Statement on Appropriate Staffing for School Library Media Centers from American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
http://www.ala.org/aasl...
Position Statement on Preparation of School Library Media Specialists from American Association of School Librarians
http://www.ala.org/aasl...
Position Statement on the School Library Media Supervisor from American Association of School Librarians
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/...
School Library Media Personnel from Handbook for Library Media Specialists and Administrators, Howard County Public School System, MD
http://www.howard.k12.md.us:16080/met/...
School Library Media Specialists' Cadre from Office of Learning Resources, Indiana Department of Education
http://www.doe.state.in.us/olr/slms/welcome.html
Building level school library media specialists who provide assistance to other (SLMS) through professional development and related activities in their respective Indiana Education Service Center regions.
Whelan, Debra Lau. Ultimate
Advocate. School Library Journal, Nov 2003; 49(11), 44. (Access
requires login)
http://search.epnet.com.proxy.ulib.iupui.edu/login.aspx?direct=tru
. . .
Principal transforms a failing school by investing in its media specialist.
Staffing
District Level Leadership for School Library Media Programs from Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dltcl/imt/district.html
Libarians from the Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos068.htm
Related Listings from Occupational Outlook Handbook:
Library Assistants, Clerical
http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos147.htm
Library Technicians
http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos113.htm
Position Description: Library Media Specialist, Elementary (K-5)
Eau Claire Area Schools, WI
http://www.ecasd.k12.wi.us/...
Position Description: Library Media Specialist, Secondary (6-12)
http://www.ecasd.k12.wi.us/...
Position Statement on Appropriate Staffing for School Library Media Centers from American Association of School Librarians
http://www.ala.org/aasl...
Position Statement on Preparation of School Library Media Specialists from American Association of School Librarians
http://www.ala.org/aasl...
Position Statement on the School Library Media Supervisor from American Association of School Librarians
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/...
Staffing Issues in School Libraries - links from LION
http://www.libraries.phila.k12.pa.us/lion/staffing.html