Educating for the School Librarian’s Instructional Partner Role

• In Event: Research, Education, Information, and School Libraries SIG Paper Session

Abstract

In Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Programs (2009), the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) identified the instructional partnership role of school librarians as the most critical role for the future of the profession. Studies have shown that there is a positive correlation between student achievement and instructional collaboration between librarians and classroom teachers (Achterman, 2008; Library Research Service, 2013). In order to determine the extent to which school librarian preparation programs prepare pre-service school librarians for the instructional partner role, this study examined curriculum documents and surveys from universities and colleges that prepare these candidates. The results obtained from ten universities and colleges will be discussed and data will be presented.

Authors

• Karen W. Gavigan, University of South Carolina

• Judi Moreillon, Texas Woman's University

• Sue C. Kimmel, Old Dominion University