Power Up Your Library

Book excerpt: Based on the methods of the New York City Library Power Program, this is a practical handbook for revitalizing or rebuilding the school library. Putting the many facets of the media specialist's professional life into the context of a flexibly scheduled, collaboratively planned teaching program, the book offers simple strategies for effecting positive change. It covers such topics as the librarian's role as teacher, programming, assessment, collection development, facilities, technology, the library budget, support staff, and public relations. Written for the school library media specialist who has or plans to have a library that conforms to today's vision of an effective school library media program, this book places the library media center at the heart of the school's educational program and shows how to position the library as the catalyst for school reform.