Summary

This book of best practices documents how school administrators and librarians can work together to optimize their library media services.

* Includes a collection of practical tools, such as a library walkabout description and form, a list of administrative enablers and inhibitors, GEAR process documentation and worksheets, administrator self-assessments in each chapter, planning paperwork for budgeting, scheduling, staffing, and feedback forms for the administrator and the library media specialist

* Each chapter concludes with a comprehensive list of additional resources

* Contains 13 helpful appendices sections

School Library Journal Review

With focused and well-organized topics from understanding the research and standards to supporting and sustaining them through collaborative processes, this revised edition (Linworth, 2005) offers a great deal of concrete information. The first chapter asks, "What is instructional leadership?" Literacy is addressed, and principals empowering their librarians as partners in a leadership role is advocated. This book gives administrators a clear idea of what is required in the media center and the role of the librarian as a specialist and not just a dispenser of information in a routine capacity. The next chapter addresses collaboration at multiple levels and the obstacles that arise in the process. The authors point out that principals foster greater support for media specialists when they understand the professional activities outside the walls of the library, the noninstructional duties required, and the need for 21st-century tools to get the job done. Principals' expectations and evaluation of media specialists are discussed in later chapters. Finally, the issue of continued involvement is addressed. While the book is written with school librarians and principals as the primary readers, it can be adapted for public librarians to create open communication between both entities. Overall, an excellent choice for the professional media specialist's or principal's shelf.-Donna Marie Wagner, George West High School Library, TX (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

In 5 chapters and 13 appendixes, McGhee and Jansen cover what we would all like our principals to know about school libraries. Each of the chapters begins with guiding questions and an introduction and ends with a summary of essential concepts, steps for getting started, works cited, and additional resources. Chapter 1 focuses on instructional leadership, research, and standards for libraries (e.g., supporting the taught and tested curriculum ). Chapter 2 covers effective practices in integrating the library media program across the school and curriculum. Chapter 3 moves to understanding the roles and responsibilities of the library media specialist. Chapter 4 examines the principal's role in supporting and sustaining the library media program, including staffing and budgeting; and chapter 5 advocates for continuous improvement of the library media program. One hopes this edition, like the widely recommended first edition (2005), will reach administrators at all levels of a school district. Great ideas on how to begin a dialogue with your principal. Many of the documents and forms are on a CD that comes with the book.--Sinofsky, Esther Copyright 2010 Booklist