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Great Libraries in Great Cities: The Role of the School Library Media Program Supervisor

Great Libraries in Great Cities: The Role of the School Library Media Program Supervisor. Sheri Anita Massey Doctoral Candidate, University of Maryland. Overview. School Library Media Program (SLMP) in Urban Areas Standards SLMP Supervisor Literature Research Agenda

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Great Libraries in Great Cities: The Role of the School Library Media Program Supervisor

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  1. Great Libraries in Great Cities: The Role of the School Library Media Program Supervisor Sheri Anita Massey Doctoral Candidate, University of Maryland

  2. Overview • School Library Media Program (SLMP) in Urban Areas • Standards • SLMP Supervisor • Literature • Research Agenda • Great School Libraries What do we know about school library media program supervisors? How do supervisors affect library services to students in large urban school districts?

  3. Urban Schools • Challenges facing urban schools: • Size • Inadequate funding • Lack of resources • Greater cultural and ethnic diversity • Higher proportion of new immigrants than is typically found in suburban and rural schools Weiner, 1999

  4. SLMP Then Now • Collection-centered • LMS as “Keeper of the Books” • Focus on finding information • Exists in isolation • Learner-centered • LMS as information specialist • Focus on information literacy • Encourages collaboration

  5. SLMP in Urban Areas “ Books…in beautiful school libraries developed with the artfulness of skilled librarians, remain the clearest window to a world of noncommercial satisfactions and enticements that most children in poor neighborhoods will ever know. ” Kozol, 2000, p. 48

  6. Standards

  7. Contributions of the Standards • National Standards for SLMPs • 1920, 1925, 1960, 1969, 1975, 1988, 1998 • Shape the role of the SLMP • District-level SLMP supervisor as leader • Stimulate discussion & publication

  8. SLMP Supervisor “ [The supervisor] interpret[s] the role of the library to everyone...so that people are made aware of the importance of the library in all places in the school program. ” Saunders, 1968, p. 149

  9. SLMP supervisor… • Administers the SLMP; • Communicates the district’s goals, objectives and policies to library media staff and explains the role of the SLMP and SLMS to stakeholders; • Teaches SLM staff how to develop and coordinate a SLMP • Facilitates the provision of instructional resources; and, • Leads the development and advancement of SLMPs American Library Association, 1994

  10. Literature What do we know about school library media program supervisors? How do supervisors affect library services to students in large urban school districts?

  11. Challenges • Few publications • The SLMP Supervisor appears in the 1920, 1925, 1960, 1969, 1975, 1988 Standards • Missing from the most recent Standards – 1998 • Research studies • Inconsistent terminology Coordinators Services District Regional Directors Library Advisors Supervisors Media Consultants Education Specialists

  12. 17 Studies

  13. Characteristics & Perceptionsof the SLMP Supervisor • 12 studies • Explored how stakeholders viewed the SLMP supervisor • Discrepancies among stakeholders • Discussion of duties Newcomb, 1968; Ahlers & Wieman, 1974; Sullivan, 1977; Macon, 1977; Krentz 1986; Held, 1986; McCulley, 1989; Coulter, 1990 • Perceived power/influenceBundy et al., 1970; Andwood, 1984; Nelson, 1988

  14. The effect of the SLMP Supervisor on library services • 5 studies • Explored how the presence of a SLMP supervisor affected the provision of library services • Effect • Strong positive effect Ebherhard, 1974; Coleman, 1982 • Somewhat positive effectDandridge; 1988; Jackson, 1988 • Negative effectZsiray, 1986

  15. Studies (Summary) • 2 areas • Characteristics & perceptions of the SLMP Supervisor • Little/no disagreement on roles • Misperceptions of power • The effect of the SLMP Supervisor on library services • Suggest positive influence on services • Weak start, more research needed in both areas • Diversify research methods • Urban focus

  16. Great School Libraries

  17. Research Agenda • Replicate Bundy et al., 1970 • Focus on large, urban SLMPs • ESEA Title II Funds • SLMP supervisors as being: “ absorbed in expanding collections [rather than] expand[ing] services to clients. ” Bundy et al., 1970, p. 75

  18. Research Agenda • Online questionnaire • Open-ended, qualitative elements • Shorter (25 pages) • Additional issues • Trends over time • Funding • Internet/Web technology • Next steps: Discussion at ALA in Chicago

  19. Thank you! Sheri Anita Massey smassey@umd.edu Great School Libraries Steering Committee: Ann Carlson Weeks, Pam Berger, Paul Whitsitt, Barbara Stripling, Dave Schroeter, LeshellHatley • http://greatlibs.ning.com/

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