Billie McCarron is presenting to the school district principals to defend the library program as it is often one of the first programs cut due to budget cuts. However, research shows that schools with strong library programs see increased student motivation, higher test scores, and graduation rates. As an effective librarian, Billie plays an essential role in collaborating with teachers and ensuring students know how to access and use information. The librarian must love helping others, be detail-oriented, work well with students, and be inquisitive to effectively meet the needs of diverse learners and help students develop critical thinking and information literacy skills for academic success.

1. Defending our
libraries
Presentation by:
Billie McCarron

2. This presentation is in response to the principals of our local school
district who are considering cutting the library program.

3. School library programs, according to the informational brief written in 2011
by the New York Comprehensive Center, are often the first to be sacrificed
when schools are faced with budget cuts. However, according to the NYCC
extensive research shows that schools that have relied on
their libraries to support student growth, specifically in the
areas of literacy, information literacy, technological skills,
and access to resources and equipment, have seen increased
motivation, higher assessment scores, and ultimately higher
graduation rates.
I would like to explain how library media specialists play an essential role in
the academic community. Not only do they collaborate with teachers , but
they ensure that the library is a welcoming place and that students become
effective users of the information available to them.

4. The Role and Traits of an Effective Librarian
One of the most important traits for a librarian is that they love helping others.
In addition, librarians are detail orientated, they work well with peers and
students alike, they are also inquisitive and social.
The role of the school librarian is to ensure that the students become effective
readers and critical thinkers. His/ her role also includes increasing student
achievement which involves the integration of resources whether they are in
print or online and committed to teaching information literacy.

5. Meeting the needs of all the students
The librarian meets
the needs of diverse
learners (blind and
hearing impaired) by
implementing a
comprehensive
design for learning
that encompasses all
of the students. This
means that all of the
students have access
to, and are encouraged to participate in the curriculum. This is
accomplished by making sure there are no barriers for any student. They
are leaders that promote the professional growth whether it be one-on-one
or in a group.

6. How the librarian helps the students make
use of technology
As an information specialist, it is the librarians job to make sure that each
student can navigate safely on the World Wide Web. By providing students with
the expertise that we possess, they can learn to become effective researchers.
They need to know how to select accurate, current, unbiased information, and to
use that information without plagiarizing. By focusing on the students needs, a
librarian can help make each student a competent reader. This is done by
coupling printed material with digital information. All of this adds up to
providing instruction with higher expectations in order to increase student
achievement. The librarian is able to arm students with information literacy
skills that will enable them to be critical thinkers and successful in a
technological society.

7. Making a library into a learning center that welcomes all students

8. School library media centers in the 21st century should be the hub for
increased student achievement, not just during school hours, but 24/7.
Allowing students to access instructional technology from anywhere and at
anytime will accomplish this. A good librarian will turn the library into an
active learning center within each school in the district as well as a place
where the student feel safe. He/she will do this by connecting our students
through wikis, library webpages, blogs and all while managing the
complexity of the library media center. With the addition of computers,
cafes, and movable shelving the librarians who sat quietly behind the
circulation desk are gone Today they are knowledgeable, interactive and
willing to teach all what that they have learned. All of this adds up to
producing students who are well informed and lifelong learners.

9. Resources:
Bidd, D. (2003). [Responding to "why do we need a teacher librarian or school library when
have the internet?”]. The Medium, 43 (2), 5-5. Retrieved from
http://search. Proquest.
Wools, B. (2008). The school library media manager (4th ed.). Westport, CT: Libraries
Unlimited.
Smith, K. (n.d). Building student learning through school
Retrieved from http://www.laurabushfoundation.org/Smith.pdf
Informational Brief: Impact of School Libraries on Student Achievement. (2011, October).
New York Comprehensive Center. Retrieved January 26, 2013, from
http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/nyla/nycc_school_library_brief.pdf