Leading from the Library: Help Your School Community Thrive in the Digital Age

This slim but engaging volume offers a concise discussion of how school librarians and administrators alike can “advance leadership through library programs.” Miller, a school librarian, and Bass, a district administrator, incorporate two different points of view, as well as tips and strategies to build partnerships and support the school community through the library. As the title suggests, the focus is largely on digital resources, policies, and practices and their impact on learners. The authors note that “the digital age has brought revolutionary new tools that have impacted our schools and libraries in dramatic ways.” To that end, Miller and Bass consider the unique role librarians can play as “digital age mentors”; the importance of getting to know and influence one’s school culture; strategies to promote student voice and share library successes; the librarian’s position as a leader with respect to digital literacy and digital equity; and concrete steps to develop an action plan for working toward change. Each chapter closes with discussion questions and challenge tasks that readers can discuss via social media using a provided hashtag. These tasks are intended to help readers find ways to take action in their communities, as well as to share their learning with others. Back matter includes reference and resource lists, an index, and an appendix containing both the International Society for Technology in Education Standards for Educators and Standards for Education Leaders. The book also references the Future Ready Librarians Framework and the 2018 American Association of School Librarians standards but does not include them directly in the text.