Greetings and happy spring! Arrowhead Library System (ALS) has a long-standing commitment to maintaining a collection of current publication titles of interest to librarians, library staff and library trustees. The collection is housed at the ALS Headquarters in Mountain Iron, but all titles can be requested via the online catalog (if you have a borrower’s card from an ALS library) or via the statewide MnLINK catalog (if you have a borrower’s card from Duluth Public Library). If you have questions about borrowing titles from the ALS Professional Collection, feel free to call ALS staff! Here are the latest additions to the ALS collection:
The Good, the Great, and the Unfriendly: A Librarian’s Guide to Working with Friends Groups
Sally Gardner Reed & United for Libraries
ALA Editions, 2017
021.70973 REE 2017
Executive Director of United for Libraries and former Executive Director of Friends of Libraries U.S.A., Reed has decades of experience liaising between Friends groups and the libraries that they support, serve, and (sometimes) exasperate. Her new book cuts to chase of building and maintaining these important relationships, showing not only how to effectively harness Friends’ goodwill and enthusiasm but also sharing tactful techniques for steering an ineffective or unfriendly group down the right path. Her pragmatic approach will resonate with public and academic library directors, volunteer coordinators, and other library staff who work with Friends. Written with knowing humor and focused on getting positive results, this book
- provides guidance for developing a Friends group for public and academic libraries;
- explains how to merge a Friends group with a foundation;
- gives pointers on encouraging Friends to attract new and active members, working with the Friends board to develop leadership skills, and other crucial partnership strategies;
- addresses the sticky situation of “unfriendly” Friends, with sage advice on handling Friends who seem unmotivated when it comes to fundraising or advocacy, are uncommunicative, overstep their bounds, and other difficult issues; and
- shares fundraising, advocacy, programs, and membership development best practices from Friends groups across the country.
Tailored specifically to librarians’ point of view, this book will inform and empower libraries to work effectively with Friends groups for greater fundraising, engagement, and advocacy outcomes.
Managing the Successful School Library: Strategic Planning and Reflective Practice
Lesley S. J. Farmer
Neal-Schuman, 2017
025.1978 FAR 2017
To ensure their libraries survive and thrive, school library managers need to be both responsive and proactive. Looking past the day-to-day operations of a school library, Farmer’s book serves as a reality check: school libraries must align with school mission statements and policies, while simultaneously negotiating for proper budgets and resources alongside other departments. It’s a daunting prospect, but Farmer demonstrates how it can be done with the proper attention and systematic planning. Taking a deeper, more professional look at management that applies theories and principles to real-world situations, this book
- introduces the concept of school library programs and provides an overview of school library program management;
- examines professional and legislated standards for school libraries, and discusses the part a manager plays in meeting them;
- links management with leadership, differentiating the two, and showing how the school librarian can carry out both roles;
- helps readers assess their own skills, knowledge, and dispositions in order to set short-term and long-term goals;
- explains how to manage resources and learning environments to meet the needs of teachers, administrators, parents, and other stakeholders;
- offers guidance for developing and working with budgets, obtaining additional funding, and using collaboration to support the school library program;
- provides concrete advice on hiring, training, supervising, assessment, and recognizing library workers and other library team members; and
- includes tools for communicating effectively and getting the message across.
More than just a compendium of management theories, this book provides much food for thought that will help readers gain important insights into their own roles as school library managers and leaders.
The Makerspace Librarian’s Sourcebook
Edited by Ellyssa Kroski
ALA Editions, 2017
025.5 KRO 2017
Library makerspaces continue to thrive, drawing new patrons in and engaging them as never before. This hands-on sourcebook edited by technology expert Kroski includes everything libraries need to know about the major topics, tools, and technologies relevant to makerspaces today. Packed with cutting edge instruction and advice from the field’s most tech-savvy innovators, this collection
- leads librarians through how to start their own makerspace from the ground up, covering strategic planning, funding sources, starter equipment lists, space design, and safety guidelines;
- discusses the transformative teaching and learning opportunities that makerspaces offer, with tips on how to empower and encourage a diverse maker culture within the library;
- delves into 11 of the most essential technologies and tools most commonly found in makerspaces, ranging from 3D printers, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and wearable electronics to CNC, Legos, drones, and circuitry kits; and
- includes an assortment of project ideas that are ready to implement.
As useful for those just entering the “what if” stage as it is for those with makerspaces already up and running, this book will help libraries engage the community in their makerspaces.
Stories, Songs, and Stretches! Creating Playful Storytimes with Yoga and Movement
Katie Scherrer
ALA Editions, 2017
027.62 SCH 2017
Young children love to move—and that’s a great thing! Because in addition to supporting early learning, storytime can provide young children with opportunities to explore physical movement. The centuries-old contemplative movement practice known as yoga is more than just a passing trend; it can offer physical, emotional, and mental benefits to practitioners of all ages, including young children. And getting started with yoga storytime doesn’t require any previous yoga experience. This new book from accomplished library trainer Scherrer shows how to use yoga and movement to create playful, active storytimes. A complete guide for library staff and others serving young children, this resource draws on Scherrer’s experience as a children’s librarian and a yoga teacher, as well as research from the health and education fields, to
- introduce yoga, exploring its history while dispelling myths about the practice;
- demonstrate how yoga and movement can support children’s early learning and social-emotional development;
- explain the differences between children’s yoga classes and yoga storytimes;
- lay out step-by-step directions on how to design and launch a yoga storytime program, including guidance on materials selection, the logistical arrangements of physical space, props, and marketing;
- provide descriptions of more than 35 basic, child-friendly yoga poses suitable for anyone to use with children;
- offer 12 ready-to-use yoga storytime plans; and
- include an extensive bibliography of helpful print and online resources for future program planning.
Readers will find the complete guidance they need to immediately begin incorporating yoga and movement into their storytime programs.
Becoming a Reflective Librarian and Teacher: Strategies for Mindful Academic Practice
Michelle Reale
ALA Editions, 2017
027.7 REA 2017
Too much of the time our attempts at achieving a work/life balance instead amount to a rigid compartmentalization of the different parts of our lives. But the very qualities that make us human, including our thoughts, feelings, and experiences, are the keys to making us better librarians and teachers. The path forward is through reflection, which can help us gain insights that are applicable both personally and professionally. In this book Reale employs a conversational tone to lead readers through the steps of reflective practice, offering
- a concise framework for reflective practice, from laying the groundwork and getting started through creating and sustaining a reflexive loop;
- guidance on how to use journaling as a tool for expressing experiences, creating a dialogue with oneself, listmaking, and other constructive reflection;
- tips for becoming a reflective practitioner both inside and outside of the classroom;
- a plan for using reflective practice with colleagues through conversation and collaboration; and
- strategies at the end of each chapter for putting ideas into practice.
This thoughtful book illuminates reflective practice as a pedagogical tool that holds benefits both for ourselves as professionals and for our students.
Leading for School Librarians
Hilda K. Weisburg
Neal-Schuman, 2017
027.8 WEI 2017
With the recent passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), school libraries are poised for a potential turnaround. But there’s only one way forward: school librarians must become leaders, fully interwoven into the fabric of the educational community. And to become a truly effective leader you’ve got to have a plan. In her new book, Weisburg builds on her decades of experience and mentorship in school libraries to offer a carefully crafted roadmap that guides readers step by step through the process of transforming into a leader, from becoming aware of what’s at stake to learning and mastering the necessary skills for leadership. Using a pragmatic approach that acknowledges the challenges to come while also offering unabashed inspiration, this book
- incorporates first-hand understanding of the dynamics of the educational environment, from the building to the district level;
- begins by addressing common fears about taking on a leadership role, and shows how to move past them and gain confidence;
- demonstrates how to build credibility among stakeholders and peers through strategic risk-taking;
- discusses ways to rely on one’s strengths to grow skills and expertise;
- explains how to know when to lead and when to manage, plus the fine art of delegation;
- gives pointers on communicating effectively, becoming visible, behaving ethically, maintaining a healthy life-work balance, and other important career issues; and
- shows readers what it takes to move onto a larger stage and become a local educational leader who also has a presence on the state and national level.
By starting with the basics and then offering concrete ideas for moving forward, the book shows readers how they can slowly build their confidence and skills to become the leaders their students and the profession needs them to be.
Renew Yourself: A Six-Step Plan for More Meaningful Work
Catherine Hakala-Ausperk
ALA Editions, 2017
650.1 HAK 2017
Unplanned careers affect everything and everyone. They can lead to frustration, negativity, and apathy at a time when we need to be focused, energized and motivated. Though your library career might have started “accidentally,” you can overcome organizational restructuring, changing job titles, and shifting responsibilities by cultivating a mindful existence in the library workplace. Building on the simple and fun approach that have made her previous books bestsellers, Hakala-Ausperk offers up a DIY-style program for revisiting personal values, understanding your options, identifying skill gaps, and creating plans for growth. Whether you’re a library veteran who’s feeling burned out, a new LIS grad just starting out, or somewhere in mid-career, this book will
- introduce methods to help you examine your individual interests, desires, and goals;
- show you how to understand your workplace’s priorities and culture, and offer tips for identifying where there’s either a match or a gap;
- demonstrate how you can improve your current position;
- prepare you to move forward through the creation of a personalized strategic professional plan that addresses professional development, gaining additional experience, and other options for growth;
- include tips for effective self-marketing, networking through colleagues and friends, and acing an interview;
- present ways to stay happy and engaged in a new role or position; and
- offer guidance for sharing your skills and experience through mentorship, and retiring with grace.
Ideal for both self-paced study and team-based staff development, this six-step plan will help readers renew themselves, their careers, and their organizations.
