Open AccessAgainst the Flow: A Continuum for Evaluating and Revitalizing School Libraries
Author(s) -
Elizabeth Lee,
Don A. Klinger
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
school libraries worldwide
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2816-3788
pISSN - 1023-9391
DOI - 10.29173/slw6811
Subject(s) - school library , context (archaeology) , relevance (law) , school teachers , mathematics education , sociology , pedagogy , psychology , computer science , library science , political science , paleontology , law , biology
School libraries face challenges as they strive to meet their changing roles in today's schools. To remain relevant in the school, the teacher librarian must enhance the presence of the library within the school's educational mission. Our research explored exemplary elementary school library programs, and we found that context was an essential component in determining the roles and relevance of the library in the school. Context was multifaceted and the interaction among factors facilitated or hindered the implementation of exemplary practices and explained variations. A continuum of school library structures and practices was developed to evaluate current school library programs in a more flexible manner than existing standards of practice.