1. In Defense of Libraries
By
Peggy Siegel
This report is a response to the principals of the district who are considering cutting our program.
In a dissertation titled “Haves, Halves and
Have-Nots: School libraries and student
achievement in California.” Douglas
Achterman states, “At a time when
achievement on standardized tests is so
strongly weighted in assessing the overall
success of schools, investment in a robust
school library program should be a primary
goal.

2. Library media teachers play an essential role
in professional learning communities. They
ensure that students and staff are efficient
and effective users of ideas and information.
Their collaboration with teachers,
administrators and staffprepare students for
future success.

3. The Role and Traits of an Effective Librarian
One of the basic traits a librarian should have
is that they must love helping people. Other
traits that enable them to functionin a library
environment are to be inquisitive, detail
oriented, social and cooperative.
The role of the school librarian is to empower
students to become critical thinkers,
enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and
ethical users of information and to maximize
the efficiency and effectiveness of the school
library program.

4. A Librarian Meets the Needs of All Students
The librarian meets the needs of all students
by implementing a Universal Design for
Learning which all students are able to
access, participate in, and progress in the
general-education curriculum by reducing
barriers to instruction.The school librarian
empowers students to become critical
thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful
researchers, and ethical users of information.

5. A Librarian Helps Students Make Use of
Technology
As information specialist, the school librarian
provides leadership and expertise in the
selection, acquisition, evaluation, and
organization of information resources and
technologies in all formats.The librarian
engages with all the students and teachers,
teaching them how to locate, evaluate, and
exchange the information held within the
various types of resources and technology
available.

6. A Librarian Makes a Library into a Learning
Center that Welcomes all Students
The librarian encourages the use of
instructional technology to engage students
and to improve learning, providing 24/7
access to digital information resources for
the entire learning community. The librarian
turns the library into an active learning center
within our school and by engaging our
students, molding them into independent,
lifelong learners.

7. Resources
Collins, C. (2010). pressdemocrat.com. Guest Opinion: In Defense of School Librarians.
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100211/OPINION/100219850?p=4&tc
=pg.
Shearer, K. (2012).Kentucky Teacher.Why You Need Your School Librarian.
http://www.kentuckyteacher.org/kentucky-teacher-of-the-year/2012/07/why-you-
need-your-school-librarian/
Schreiner, E. eHow.Personality Types to Work in a
Library.http://www.ehow.com/info_8610752_personality-types-work-library.html