In a first of its kind report, library leaders from eleven urban school districts across the U.S. relate the challenges faced and the strategies implemented to add school librarians. Conducted as part of a federal grant, Debra Kachel, Core Team member of the Philadelphia Alliance to Restore School Librarians (PARSL), interviewed school library…

In the final phase of the federal grant project called The School Librarian Investigation--Decline of Evolution? (SLIDE), a qualitative study of interviews of K-12 school leaders was conducted. The purpose was to learn the factors, experiences, and priorities that caused school administrators to either increase or to decrease librarian positions.…

Presents nine questions to use when interviewing administrative candidates for the school library. Questions focus on: challenges facing the district/school; implications of increased independent study; prioritizing reading achievement; technology role; Internet filters and use policies; dates of materials; evaluation criteria; prioritzing…

Presents potential questions to ask prospective teacher-librarians during employment interviews. The questions encompass the following areas: personal; education; teaching experience; professionalism and leadership; cooperative planning and teaching; promotion of resources and services; design and production of materials; reading, listening, and…

Duties of the staff of media centers in the Salt Lake City School District and an analysis of task performances by position are listed. Positions included are: (1) head of the school media center/school media specialist, (2) school media center technician, (3) school media center aide, and (4) student aides. Twenty general district operational…

Reports on questionnaire survey sent to 170 Arizonan elementary school librarians to determine if students are being used as aides and the extent of their involvement in library media programs. Highlights include organization of aides, selection requirements, scheduling practices, training, assigned tasks, program support, and future implications.…

Discusses the role of paraprofessionals in secondary school libraries and suggests guidelines for the selection process. Highlights include a sample job description for a library media assistant that includes expectations and responsibilities; the need for adequate training; providing a variety of assignments; and establishing consistent policies.…

To determine what educational background is needed by practitioners, a survey was conducted of audiovisual personnel in Indiana schools with enrollments of 1,000 to 2,000. A questionnaire was mailed to 104 schools and respondents asked to describe their responsibility for audiovisual equipment and software, budgetary duties, and production of…

Identifies issues that need to be addressed when planning combined school and public libraries. The importance of defining the role of the libraries and involving all participants in the planning process is stressed, and considerations relating to personnel selection, collection development, funding, and evaluation are discussed. (CLB)

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)

A guide which any library may use to achieve its own statement of personnel policy presents policy models which suggest rules and regulations to be used to supervise the staffs of public and academic libraries. These policies cover: (1) appointments; (2) classification of positions; (3) faculty and staff development; (4) performance evaluations;…

This document is a tool that is intended to assist school-based educator partners in understanding their own roles and the dimensions for growth that enable implementation of the program "Partners in Action: the Library Resource Center in the School Curriculum." The program involves the integration of information skills, literature,…

Most school districts do not have a full time human resources administrator to conduct interviews and this important task most often becomes the responsibility of the building principal or a department head. Here is a guide designed for hiring employees, both professional staff as well as non-professional, in public, parochial, or private schools.…