I have the privilege of collaborating and working with many school librarians. I often find that they’re taking a leadership role in their schools, especially when it comes to technology. Even if technology isn’t the focus, school librarians are often the first to introduce new tools and resources to the school. School librarians are frequently curious, willing to try something new, and then share it with their colleagues.
If you are a new school librarian or wish to take on a new challenge, I encourage you to consider how you can lead. Much has been written about leadership strategies, and I may discuss some of that in future posts. However, in this post, I want to share some very practical ways you can lead from your library.
1. Learn About Your School and Identify Potential Technology Gaps
Start by listening to find out what students and teachers are struggling with or curious about.
For example, is more support needed for AI literacy? Does someone need to supervise the robotics club? Do teachers want to learn about integrating digital storytelling into their curriculum? Perhaps students need guidance on evaluating online sources and combating misinformation. Maybe there’s a need for makerspace activities, coding workshops, or support for students creating podcasts and videos.
Consider whether teachers are looking for help with accessible technology for diverse learners, or if there’s interest in exploring virtual reality for immersive learning experiences.
You may also identify opportunities to support digital citizenship education, use your ILS/LMS to organize author visits via video conferencing, or assist teachers in discovering new educational apps and platforms that align with their instructional goals.
2. Identify the Best Format for Leading
You may work individually with teachers and students. You may lead workshops during professional development days or volunteer to be on a planning committee for these events to help support others.
Additionally, consider creating quick tutorial videos or tip sheets that teachers can access on demand. You might consider establishing a regular newsletter that highlights new resources and tech tips.
Another idea is to organize peer learning circles where teachers share effective strategies with one another. You could also lead by example through co-teaching opportunities, demonstrating new approaches in real classroom settings, or by curating and sharing success stories from teachers who’ve tried new things.
3. Stay Curious and Keep Learning
The topics that need your leadership will change—and likely faster than we think. I encourage you to stay curious throughout your career.
Attend conferences, read, listen to podcasts, talk to the teachers in your building, and your school librarian colleagues in other schools. Visit other school libraries.
Join professional learning networks on social media (LinkedIn is the one I find myself on the most these days) where educators share ideas and resources in real time. Participate in webinars and online courses.
Try new things, and then share what worked and what didn’t. Stay current on new ways to learn.
Holistic Leadership
Ultimately, the goal of leading from the school library is to strengthen the learning that is occurring in your organization. School librarians, due to the position’s support for the entire school, are uniquely positioned to serve as leaders.
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