This document discusses strategies for school librarians to transform their practice. It suggests creating a participatory culture that invites learning conversations using multiple literacies and modes. It also recommends facilitating unorthodox conversations, being transparent online, collaborating on instructional design, and leaving silos to expand one's network. The document advocates embracing risk, failure and play to innovate and evolve practice in a way that embeds, empowers and enchants communities.

1. transformational strategies for school librariansbuffy j. hamilton | carol kearney leadership retreat, ithaca, ny | august 2011 CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/vocabulicious/3961120206/sizes/l/in/photostream/

2. CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/shifted/3360687477/sizes/o/

3. challenges that threaten to detour our mission

4. shifting roles in the educational landscape

5. money and funding

6. social media Image used with written permission of http://www.flickr.com/photos/msstatelibraries/2604483260/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

7. demands on time CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/beth19/4721798240/sizes/l/

8. a climate that values standardized test scores over inquiry

9. filtering fears are debilitating to our growth Image used under a CC license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/sziszo/2592916753/sizes/o/

10. believing books are our brand and will determine our future CC image used with written permission from http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmcordell/4974868503/sizes/l/

11. pulling and weaving together the many threads of librarianship CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/taylorhood/49464844/sizes/o/

12. CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/tz1_1zt/2504528025/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

13. we can decide which approach we will take to these challenges

14. we can choose to accept the lemons we’ve been handed

15. or we can make lemonade Image used under a CC license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/lara604/4563393579/sizes/l/

16. “innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity - not a threat” william pollard Image used under a CC license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/star-dust/709945164/sizes/o/

17. how do we transform ourselves and libraries? CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/mindfulness/33922613/sizes/l/in/photostream/

18. create enchantment and engagement in our communities CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/beth19/4627578764/sizes/l/

19. trustworthiness CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisk4u/3523009191/sizes/z/in/faves-10557450@N04/

20. likability CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandoncwarren/4164759025/sizes/l/

21. fantastic product or service CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrickgage/3282273765/in/faves-10557450@N04/

22. enchantment: sustained, voluntary delight that is mutually beneficial CC image via http://goo.gl/JeEi2

23. “enchantment transforms situations and relationships.”Guy Kawasaki, Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions CC image via http://goo.gl/V9vO6

24. library is the story of the human experience CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/beth19/4642532960/sizes/l/in/photostream/

25. libraries as communal experiences and “commonplace” texts constructed by participants CC image via http://goo.gl/6M6GR

26. libraries as sites of the experience of self-excavation and discovery through learning CC image via http://goo.gl/MjZ6d

27. CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/ari/502329223/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

28. enchantment is the nectar CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/da100fotos/490875588/sizes/o/in/photostream/

29. vanishing boundaries

30. 1 create and nurture a participatory culture that invites conversations for learning, multiple forms of literacy, and multiple modes of learning

31. participatory librarianship is a lens to help us see the possibilities and context for a shared vision of library in learning communities

33. “It’s all about learning… how is this going to fundamentally enrich a conversation? There isn’t a part of the library that isn’t about learning. Learning is a collaborative conversation.” Dr. David Lankes CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcwathieu/2980385784/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/ Participatory Librarianship and Change Agents: http://blip.tv/file/1566813

34. shared ownership of learning and conversations for learning CC image viahttp://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/1690071759/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

35. knowledge construction and creation cc licensed flickr photo by Ian Muttoo: http://flickr.com/photos/imuttoo/2631466945/

36. focus on inquiry and learning

38. relatively low barriers to artistic expression and civic engagement

39. strong support for creating and sharing one’s creations with others

40. what is known by the most experienced ispassed along to novices

41. members believe that their contributions matter

42. members feel some degree of social connection with one another CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/buildingunity/303497031/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

43. a participatory climate amplifies the possibilities for creating conversations for learning via multiple mediums

49. create conversations for the unorthodox and student passions

51. facilitating conversations with physical space

54. make our practice transparent to the world 2 Image used under a CC license from http:/www.flickr.com/photos/allaboutgeorge/2361633049/sizes/o/

55. web-based mindmap

56. flickr

57. youtube

58. twitter

59. facebook

60. blog

61. transparency and data

62. transparency and data

64. embed yourself in the instructional design process 3 CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/clappstar/3588547020/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

65. embrace instructional leadership

66. team player and collaborator CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/1384952210/sizes/o/in/faves-10557450@N04/

67. partnerships for learning

68. backwards design

69. information evaluation/social scholarship through subject guides

72. conversations for reflection, metacognition, and connectingthrough blogging

74. supporting network and attention literacy with information dashboards

75. netvibes

77. symbaloo

78. cloud computing and global connections for social learning

79. conversations via networked learning with experts around the world

81. collaborative learning and knowledge building

82. digital storytelling and composition CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/beth19/4642532960/sizes/l/in/photostream

83. digital learning portfolios

87. assessment

88. “The school library media program is guided by regular assessment of student learning to ensure the program is meeting its goals.” Source: American Association of School Librarians, 2009, p. 27Original photograph by Buffy J. Hamilton Original photograph by Buffy J. Hamilton

89. formative and summative assessments provide us “snapshots” of student work provide us concrete evidence to adjust our instruction and better meet learner needs Source: Harada & Yoshina, 2006 CC image via http://goo.gl/hdoH7

90. digital citizenship CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/andy_5322/104324029/sizes/z/

91. CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/fredcavazza/2564571564/sizes/m/in/photostream/

92. digital citizenship and ethical use of information

95. 4 leave your silos CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/eirikref/727551264/

97. 5 energize and expand your mind and spirit by plugging into the wisdom of the crowd and growing your personal learning network Image used under a CC license http://www.flickr.com/photos/sookie/101363593/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

98. Source: http://www.heatherbraum.info/edtechlearning/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Heather-Braums-PLN.png

101. youtube

102. slideshare rss

103. delicious rss

104. citation 2.0 rss

105. skype

106. face to face conferences

107. face to face informal gatherings

108. virtual and f2f friendships strengthen us Photos via Buffy Hamilton and Diane Cordell http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmcordell/5881876395/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

109. embrace your role as a fearless advocate for intellectual freedom and equitable access to all forms of information 6

110. make the argument for access to a specific resource or tool by collecting examples of effective instructional practice Image used under a CC license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/mymollypop/2646559132/sizes/l/

111. develop and present a concrete plan for use of the resource and how you will implement its use

112. remind decision makers that students need guided instruction and opportunities to learn how to use social media thoughtfully and wisely Image used under a CC license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/imbat/3869056371/sizes/l/

113. tie your requests to performance standards

114. if our goal is for students to be information fluent learners, we must have access to the tools so that students can ultimately act as their own filter cc licensed photo http://www.flickr.com/photos/verbeeldingskr8/3638834128/sizes/o/ /

115. 7 help our students learn multiple ways of reading and writing today’s world by acting as sponsors of transliteracy

116. the library is an umbrella to support how people are using multiple literacies---traditional and emerging ---to access and share information as well as create new meaning CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/roome/515419918/sizes/l/

117. the idea that literacy is only about print materials is slowly disappearing

118. knight foundation recommendation 6: integrate digital and media literacy as critical elements for education at all levels through collaboration among federal, state, and local education officials

119. “we have to make sure schools and libraries invite critical and active uses of media that strengthen our democratic potential.” Deborah Brandt

120. we can’t cultivate transliterate learners without putting pedagogy before tools CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/wheatfields/116732195/sizes/l/in/photostream/

121. http://teachweb2.blogspot.com/2010/01/personal-learning-environments-student.html

122. “embrace the potentials and challenges of this [participatory] emerging culture not as a replacement for existing print practices but as an expansion of them” ~henry jenkins~

123. 8 be willing to go out on the limb CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/talkingplant/142087807/sizes/z/in/faves-10557450@N04/

124. view failure as an essential part of the learning process and keep trying Image used under a cc license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeels/141145758/sizes/l/

125. dare to be different CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/4549438383/sizes/l/in/photostream/

126. embrace the wobbles CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/one_and_only_me/577331758/sizes/l/

127. “to live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.” Joseph Chilton Pearce Image used under a Creative Commons license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/these_are_mine/3709607592/sizes/l/

128. learn from failure and be resilient Image used under a cc license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/dancingpoodle/247148086/sizes/z/in/faves-10557450@N04/

129. “No risk, no art. No art, no reward.” Seth Godin CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/pure9/2606460947/sizes/o/ Seth Godin, September 2010 http://bit.ly/9Vkh1K

130. 9 engage in action and reflection to grow and evolve CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/toomanytribbles/5568090367/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/

132. 10 embrace a sense of play cc licensed photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/larimdame/3630728238/sizes/l/in/set-72157619795765502/

133. what’s the connection between learning and play? Image used under a Creative Commons license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/larimdame/3630728238/sizes/l/in/set-72157619795765502/

134. “playis the onlyway thehighest intelligence of humankind can unfold.” Joseph Chilton Pearce Image used under a Creative Commons license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlaunceford/2658082800/sizes/l/in/photostream/

136. integrating our philosophy into action

137. innovate at every touch point of interaction with our communityhttp://www.conversationagent.com/2009/06/3-steps-to-mapping-the-customer-journey.html#

138. createpivot points ofchange and play Special thank you to Helene Blowers for allowing me to borrow her concept of bubbles and play.

139. cc licensed photo by The Shifted Librarian: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shifted/3360687295/

140. “learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.” william pollard

141. inquiry begins with ourselves: why am I doing this?

142. transforming our practice will transform our profession and lives of those we serve CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackbutterfly/3257936873/sizes/o/in/photostream/

143. embed

144. empower

145. engage

146. enchant

147. CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/xjrlokix/5097846224/sizes/l/in/photostream/

148. contact information @buffyjhamilton buffy.hamilton@gmail.com http://theunquietlibrarian.wordpress.com http://theunquietlibrarian.wikispaces.com