This document discusses myths and realities about school librarians and public librarians working together, provides examples of successful collaboration, and emphasizes why partnership is important. It aims to dispel myths that the two groups do not want to work with each other or have nothing to offer. Examples show how sharing expertise, events, materials and databases can benefit students. The document concludes that collaboration promotes lifelong learning, improves research skills, and models professional cooperation.

1. Partnering With The
Dark Side
School & Public Librarians
Working Together
By Peggy Cummings
Douglas County High School Librarian
and
Melissa Della Penna
Philip S. Miller Youth Services Librarian

5. Myths

6. Myths
What are some Myths about Public
Libraries?
What are some Myths about School
Librarians?

8. School Librarians: Public Librarians:

9. School Librarians: Public Librarians:
1. Don’t want to work with
us.

10. School Librarians: Public Librarians:
1. Don’t want to work with 1. Don’t have anything I
us. need.

11. School Librarians: Public Librarians:
1. Don’t want to work with 1. Don’t have anything I
us. need.
2. Never call back.

12. School Librarians: Public Librarians:
1. Don’t want to work with 1. Don’t have anything I
us. need.
2. Never call back. 2. Hound us and take up
time we don’t have.

13. School Librarians: Public Librarians:
1. Don’t want to work with 1. Don’t have anything I
us. need.
2. Never call back. 2. Hound us and take up
time we don’t have.
3. Are so busy and they
are afraid we want to give
them more work.

14. School Librarians: Public Librarians:
1. Don’t want to work with 1. Don’t have anything I
us. need.
2. Never call back. 2. Hound us and take up
time we don’t have.
3. Are so busy and they 3. Are trying to come
are afraid we want to give between me and my
them more work. teachers.

15. School Librarians: Public Librarians:
1. Don’t want to work with 1. Don’t have anything I
us. need.
2. Never call back. 2. Hound us and take up
time we don’t have.
3. Are so busy and they 3. Are trying to come
are afraid we want to give between me and my
them more work. teachers.
4. Have bad memories and
they always forget plans
that we made.

16. School Librarians: Public Librarians:
1. Don’t want to work with 1. Don’t have anything I
us. need.
2. Never call back. 2. Hound us and take up
time we don’t have.
3. Are so busy and they 3. Are trying to come
are afraid we want to give between me and my
them more work. teachers.
4. Have bad memories and 4. They sometimes have
they always forget plans too many hoops to make it
that we made. worth teachers' time to
use their services.

17. School Librarians: Public Librarians:
1. Don’t want to work with 1. Don’t have anything I
us. need.
2. Never call back. 2. Hound us and take up
time we don’t have.
3. Are so busy and they 3. Are trying to come
are afraid we want to give between me and my
them more work. teachers.
4. Have bad memories and 4. They sometimes have
they always forget plans too many hoops to make it
that we made. worth teachers' time to
use their services.
5. Are mean so I gave up
trying to work with them.

18. School Librarians: Public Librarians:
1. Don’t want to work with 1. Don’t have anything I
us. need.
2. Never call back. 2. Hound us and take up
time we don’t have.
3. Are so busy and they 3. Are trying to come
are afraid we want to give between me and my
them more work. teachers.
4. Have bad memories and 4. They sometimes have
they always forget plans too many hoops to make it
that we made. worth teachers' time to
use their services.
5. Are mean so I gave up 5. Are mean so I gave up
trying to work with them. trying to work with them.

21. Facts
School Librarians: Public Librarians:

22. Facts
School Librarians: Public Librarians:
1. Are Teachers &
Librarians.

23. Facts
School Librarians: Public Librarians:
1. Are Teachers &
Librarians.
2. Have VERY busy
schedules.

24. Facts
School Librarians: Public Librarians:
1. Are Teachers &
Librarians.
2. Have VERY busy
schedules.
3. Teacher Librarians
understand what the
other teachers need.

25. Facts
School Librarians: Public Librarians:
1. Are Teachers &
Librarians.
2. Have VERY busy
schedules.
3. Teacher Librarians
understand what the
other teachers need.
4. Are held accountable
for student learning.

26. Facts
School Librarians: Public Librarians:
1. Are Teachers & 1. Want to work with the
Librarians. schools.
2. Have VERY busy
schedules.
3. Teacher Librarians
understand what the
other teachers need.
4. Are held accountable
for student learning.

27. Facts
School Librarians: Public Librarians:
1. Are Teachers & 1. Want to work with the
Librarians. schools.
2. Have VERY busy 2. Want to help support
schedules. the curriculum by
providing materials.
3. Teacher Librarians
understand what the
other teachers need.
4. Are held accountable
for student learning.

28. Facts
School Librarians: Public Librarians:
1. Are Teachers & 1. Want to work with the
Librarians. schools.
2. Have VERY busy 2. Want to help support
schedules. the curriculum by
providing materials.
3. Teacher Librarians 3. Want to advertise public
understand what the library programs to a
other teachers need. schools captive audience.
4. Are held accountable
for student learning.

31. What We Want?

32. What We Want?
Public Librarians
want more access
to the teachers so
that we can make
classroom visits
and provide boxes
of extra books and
materials to your
teachers.

34. What We Want?

35. What We Want?
School Librarians
want to know that
there are friendly
professional
librarians with
access to a larger
collection. We need
to know that public
librarians are there
to support us.

38. What Has Worked For Us
Sharing Expertise

40. What Has Worked For Us
Joint Book Club Meetings

42. What Has Worked For Us
Promoting Events For Each Other

44. Giving Weeded Reference Books to the
School Library

46. Database Sharing
Guide to DCHS Student Databases Online
DCHS students have on-campus access to the databases below due to a
cooperative agreement between Douglas County School District and Douglas
County Libraries. Home access with DCPL card number to the following
databases for researching: all curriculum areas, including current and
historical information is also available.

48. Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult
Book Award

51. What Public Librarians
Can Do To Make It Work

52. What Public Librarians
Can Do To Make It Work
Contact the school librarian.

53. What Public Librarians
Can Do To Make It Work
Contact the school librarian.
Share materials / forms.

54. What Public Librarians
Can Do To Make It Work
Contact the school librarian.
Share materials / forms.
Don’t get discouraged.

55. What Public Librarians
Can Do To Make It Work
Contact the school librarian.
Share materials / forms.
Don’t get discouraged.
Ask what the School Librarian needs.

57. What School Librarians
Can Do To Make It Work

58. What School Librarians
Can Do To Make It Work
Return calls and emails.

59. What School Librarians
Can Do To Make It Work
Return calls and emails.
Try to make a little time.

60. What School Librarians
Can Do To Make It Work
Return calls and emails.
Try to make a little time.
Invite public librarians to school events.

61. What School Librarians
Can Do To Make It Work
Return calls and emails.
Try to make a little time.
Invite public librarians to school events.
Advertise public library events.

62. What School Librarians
Can Do To Make It Work
Return calls and emails.
Try to make a little time.
Invite public librarians to school events.
Advertise public library events.
Wish list.

64. Why It’s Important

65. Why It’s Important
Benefits the Students.

66. Why It’s Important
Benefits the Students.
Promotes Lifelong Learning.

67. Why It’s Important
Benefits the Students.
Promotes Lifelong Learning.
Improves Student Research Skills.

68. Why It’s Important
Benefits the Students.
Promotes Lifelong Learning.
Improves Student Research Skills.
Models Professional Collaboration.

71. For More Information Please Contact
Peggy Cummings at
peggy.cummings@dcsdk12.0rg
or Melissa Della Penna at
mdellapenna@dclibraries.org