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This paper uses a meta-ethnographic approach to examine a core body of research conducted primarily by one iSchool research center that has bolstered its curriculum in support of school librarian leadership in the past decade. Substantive studies, conducted by faculty and doctoral students, have focused on various phases of leadership from pre-service to mastery with emphases on technology integration. The goal of this paper is to go beyond the traditional summarizing of the research in the area to synthesizing and reinterpreting published findings for the purpose of building a foundation on which to investigate a theoretical framework for leadership by school librarians.

In this article, the author reflects on some cuts that were presented during her term as the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) President. The author developed a plan to showcase what an excellent school library program looks like so that school libraries and school librarians could escape the cuts. She asked each AASL state affiliate organization to provide the name of an outstanding school library in the state that she could visit and they could celebrate. Out of fifty states, thirty-five participated in what was named the "Vision Tour," providing the general public with a vision of outstanding school libraries. Why didn't every state participate? Some state leaders maintained they could not choose only one school in their state. The author shares her experiences from this tour.

Introduction: A legislative mandate to adopt digital textbooks in Florida provides an opportunity to identify concerns school librarians have regarding digital textbook implementation. Method: The stages of concern questionnaire was used to identify stages of concern among Florida school librarians about their potential role in this implementation. Analysis: Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample and the distribution of responses to each question. Questions were separated into seven separate stages, with key differences analysed using the stages of concern profiles and the analysis of variance test. Results: Results indicate that participants conform to the non-user profile, which has higher unconcerned (Stage 0), informational concerns (Stage 1) and personal concerns (Stage 2). It is also found that school librarians' restrictive schedules and heavy workloads prevent them from studying new innovations--in particular digital textbooks. Intensified personal concerns (Stage 2) suggest potential resistance to digital textbooks. Conclusions: These findings could provide librarians as educators an opportunity to establish more interest in digital textbooks and to discuss those textbooks' impact on teaching and learning. More broadly, the findings can provide some implications and recommendations to help educational policy makers and school administrators identify issues related to expanding digital textbooks.

Supporting the "Infrastructure Needs of 21st Century School Library Programs," also known as the Pennsylvania School Library Project, was a one-year project conducted in Pennsylvania to better identify and understand what stakeholders--teachers, administrators, parents, school and community leaders, and education associations--expect from school library programs to educate tomorrow's citizens. The project team gave presentations to four focus groups throughout the Commonwealth; during the focus group sessions stakeholders engaged with research and data about the impact of school library programs in Pennsylvania. The focus group members' feedback was sought to build awareness and support, and, through consensus-building activities, clarify which components of the school library program infrastructure they valued most. A formal external evaluation of the focus groups found that reaching out to stakeholders in an organized, purposeful way, and not in a crisis mode, garnered substantial support for school libraries and school librarians. Inviting stakeholders to learn about the research of the profession in a professional and inclusive environment allowed them to thoughtfully reflect on school libraries' value and become school library champions.

In an effort to address the lack of empirical knowledge about the school librarians' role in technology, the Institute for Museum and Library Services funded Project Leadership-in-Action (LIA) to study leadership practices of school librarians. This current grant project includes a survey of the technology integration practices of school librarians with National Board Certification. Survey results revealed that the 295 respondents work in well-resourced libraries with personnel assistance as well as numerous computers and devices. Respondents reported that they led school technology integration in many areas but also had areas in which to improve, such as providing services to special needs learners, building digital collections, participating in student assessment, and transferring their leadership success to professional and local communities. (Contains 1 table and 6 figures.)

In this study of the Accelerated Reader (AR) program, qualitative and quantitative analyses of the relationship between the implementation of AR and student motivation and extent of reading are drawn from data collected in three schools in Scotland and England. These schools represent low (Scotland, n=53), middle (Scotland, n=40), and high (England, n=55) levels of implementation of AR. Observation, structured interviews with students and teachers, videotaped student focus groups, a student survey on self-reported reading, examination of AR artifacts, and administration of the Motivation for Reading Questionnaire are used to gather data. Major findings reveal that: motivational style interacts with gender in relation to the competitive and social aspects of the AR program; the level of program implementation does not correlate with extent of reading; and management aspects of the program are not effectively utilized. Results suggest that school library media specialists can take a leadership role in implementing the program effectively. (Contains 4 tables.)

Diversity is an essential part of our professional vocabulary. Teacher-librarians make great efforts to choose and maintain diverse resources for a balanced school library collection that supports students and classrooms. [...]

This study identifies human perceptions and concerns regarding readiness for teacher library education in Germany (where it currently does not exist) by measuring the perceptions of 183 library science educators, [...]

This 2002 staffing survey investigated personnel in school libraries in all 50 states. Topics include staffing shortages of certified library media specialists; recruitment efforts; certification processes; ratio between students and librarians; budget cuts; government role; and online graduate library science programs. (LRW)

Discusses the impending shortage of school librarians. Topics include state hiring mandates that don't require certified media specialists; certified library personnel shortages; staffing ratios; support staff; access to library education programs, including distance education via the Internet; and future concerns. (LRW)

Presents information on the different types of data projectors, to help librarians make a smart selection for their library. Describes multimedia projectors; document cameras; large-screen televisions, monitors, and flat panels; electronic whiteboards, and identifies uses, manufacturers, and prices. Notes three important ways that data projectors differ, and lists Web sites that can point to the products. Identifies related costs. (AEF)

We have been dealing with many challenges in the past months. and such is the case at School Libraries Worldwide. This issue is getting out a bit later than usual [...]

Updates a 1994 report on school library staffing, highlighting states with the best and worst student/librarian ratios, states requiring full-time certified library media specialists, states with site-based management, states replacing librarians with technology specialists. Lists states requiring full-time specialists for elementary, middle/junior high, and high schools, regardless of size and with minimum enrollments. (PEN)

In order to address context pertaining to the dissemination of digital textbooks, and to provide timely support and appropriate assistance to facilitate the adoption of digital textbooks, this study analyzes the similarities and differences between cultural and educational backgrounds that influence school librarians in regards to digital textbook implementation in Florida and South Korea. Both the settings' similarities--such as top-down implementation policies and continuous attempts to improve student achievement--and differences--such as the purpose of digital textbook implementation and teacher resistance to new technologies--provide an opportunity to closely examine leadership roles for school librarians., Introduction A transition from print textbooks to digital textbooks is a worldwide phenomenon. In the U.S., many states are embarking on adoption initiatives. Seven states, including Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Nebraska, [...]

This issue of School Libraries Worldwide is a rich blend of research that confirms previous studies, challenges our previous beliefs and findings, and brings together new and established voices from [...]

Discusses criteria for evaluating school library information services. Highlights include types of services; physical facilities; library usage; circulation statistics; changes due to technology; fill rate, or the percentage of successful searches for library materials; OPAC (online public access catalog) reports; observation; and examining student work. (LRW)

This exploratory study investigated supports and services academic libraries currently provide that assist in the fulfillment of information needs. Utilizing wayfinding, think-aloud protocol (TAP), retrospective think-aloud protocol (RTAP), and a GoProTM camera, the actions, thoughts, and feelings of an autistic college freshman and a neurotypical peer were recorded as they navigated their campus library in search of materials. The library website, virtual maps to resource locations, and library workers served equally as enablers and barriers to both students in their information seeking. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that participant viewpoint ethnography is a viable methodology that can be applied in school library research, with specific adaptations and examples provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germany proposed and implemented various educational reforms in reaction to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 'shock' of 2000 when the country's scores were unexpectedly low. Professional library associations [...]

This issue is a wonderful mashup of research reports, literature reviews, research in progress and think pieces. Mary Ann Harlan asks us to contemplate the many questions that structure our [...]

As researchers and practitioners in our field, we most often focus on the results of studies rather than on the methods that produced those results or the theories that support [...]