Description

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Deemed “essential” by Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA), “a great read” by School Library Journal, and “comprehensive” by Reference & User Services Quarterly, the first edition of Weisburg’s guide won plaudits for its inspirational yet pragmatic approach. At a time when school librarians are facing challenges as never before, from straitened budgets and censorship battles to uncertainty about the future and burnout, the updated second edition is timelier than ever. 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. From this book, which offers “Key Ideas” at the end of each chapter, you will learn

• why you can’t be an effective advocate for your school library unless you're a leader;
• how to tackle common fears about taking on a leadership role, and ways to move past them and gain confidence;
• guidance on managing classes in the library and the importance of leading with your attitude;
• approaches that will help you become an expert teacher, from "Creating a Climate for Questions" to inquiry-based learning and other variations;
• techniques for uncovering your strengths, identifying your skill set, and improving your leadership expertise;
• methods for building credibility among stakeholders and peers through strategic risk-taking;
• pointers on communicating effectively, becoming visible, behaving ethically, dealing with Imposter Syndrome, maintaining a healthy life-work balance, and navigating other important career issues; and
• how to create a three-year strategic plan to further your mission and your vision, enabling you to become a local educational leader who also has a presence on the state and national level.

About the Author

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Hilda K. Weisburg was a school librarian for more than 30 years and is now an author, speaker, and adjunct instructor at William Paterson University and Montana State University. She coauthored (with Ruth Toor) more than a dozen books for school librarians, including Being Indispensable: A School Librarian’s Guide to Becoming an Invaluable Leader (2011) and New on the Job: A School Library Media Specialist’s Guide to Success (2014). Weisburg is also the author of School Librarian’s Career Planner (2013), Leading for School Librarians: There Is No Other Option (2017), and Classroom Management for School Librarians (2020). For 35 years, she cowrote and edited School Librarian’s Workshop, a bimonthly newsletter for K–12 librarians. Weisburg has given presentations at ALA, AASL, and state library conferences. She has also presented staff development workshops in many locations. A past president of the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, she is a past chair of the AASL Advocacy committee, chairs the Ruth Toor Grant for Strong Public Libraries, and serves on various ALA committees. Weisburg was the recipient of AASL’s 2016 Distinguished Service Award.