Survey: Elementary School Principals’ Perceptions of the Instructional Role of the Library Media Specialist

Section One: The Teacher Role of the Library Media Specialist

Directions: Please read each of the following statements and select the answer that best represents your response. Answer choices are Strongly disagree, Disagree, Neither disagree nor agree, Agree, Strongly agree.

  1. My library media specialist should teach students to use print materials to write reports and complete classroom projects.
    1. Strongly disagree
    2. Disagree
    3. Neither disagree nor agree
    4. Agree
    5. Strongly agree
  2. My library media specialist should teach students to use electronic subscription databases which contain journal articles and other reference material ( eLibrary, SIRS Discoverer, and Kids InfoBits) to write reports and complete classroom projects.
    1. Strongly disagree
    2. Disagree
    3. Neither disagree nor agree
    4. Agree
    5. Strongly agree
  3. My library media specialist should teach students to use information found at free Web sites to write reports and complete classroom projects.
    1. Strongly disagree
    2. Disagree
    3. Neither disagree nor agree
    4. Agree
    5. Strongly agree
  4. My library media specialist should teach students how to locate information contained in print and electronic sources.
    1. Strongly disagree
    2. Disagree
    3. Neither disagree nor agree
    4. Agree
    5. Strongly agree
  5. My library media specialist should teach students how to evaluate information for accuracy and reliability before using it in a report or project.
    1. Strongly disagree
    2. Disagree
    3. Neither disagree nor agree
    4. Agree
    5. Strongly agree
  6. My library media specialist should teach students how to take notes and how to organize information to be used in a report or project.
    1. Strongly disagree
    2. Disagree
    3. Neither disagree nor agree
    4. Agree
    5. Strongly agree
  7. My library media specialist should teach students to respect intellectual property (avoid plagiarism, cite sources, respect copyright laws).
    1. Strongly disagree
    2. Disagree
    3. Neither disagree nor agree
    4. Agree
    5. Strongly agree
  8. My library media specialist should teach students to practice ethical behavior by following acceptable use policy guidelines in their use of information.
    1. Strongly disagree
    2. Disagree
    3. Neither disagree nor agree
    4. Agree
    5. Strongly agree
  9. My library media specialist should have access to standardized student test data.
    1. Strongly disagree
    2. Disagree
    3. Neither disagree nor agree
    4. Agree
    5. Strongly agree
  10. My library media specialist should use standardized student test data as he/she develops information literacy instruction.
    1. Strongly disagree
    2. Disagree
    3. Neither disagree nor agree
    4. Agree
    5. Strongly agree
  11. My library media specialist should provide staff development for teachers in areas such as effective searching on the World Wide Web and effective use of electronic subscription databases.
    1. Strongly disagree
    2. Disagree
    3. Neither disagree nor agree
    4. Agree
    5. Strongly agree
  12. My library media specialist should provide staff development for teachers in areas such as intellectual property and copyright.
    1. Strongly disagree
    2. Disagree
    3. Neither disagree nor agree
    4. Agree
    5. Strongly agree

Section Two: The Instructional Partner Role of the Library Media Specialist

Directions: Please read each of the following statements and select the answer that best represents your response. Answer choices are Strongly disagree, Disagree, Neither disagree nor agree, Agree, Strongly agree.

  1. My library media specialist should collaborate with teachers to teach students information literacy skills (accessing, evaluating, and using information) in the context of content curriculum.
    1. Strongly disagree
    2. Disagree
    3. Neither disagree nor agree
    4. Agree
    5. Strongly agree
  2. My library media specialist should collaborate with individual teachers to plan lessons which integrate information literacy into the curriculum.
    1. Strongly disagree
    2. Disagree
    3. Neither disagree nor agree
    4. Agree
    5. Strongly agree
  3. My library media specialist should collaborate with teachers at grade level to plan lessons which integrate information literacy into the curriculum.
    1. Strongly disagree
    2. Disagree
    3. Neither disagree nor agree
    4. Agree
    5. Strongly agree
  4. My library media specialist should collaborate with teachers to teach lessons which integrate information literacy into the curriculum.
    1. Strongly disagree
    2. Disagree
    3. Neither disagree nor agree
    4. Agree
    5. Strongly agree
  5. My library media specialist should collaborate with teachers to evaluate student work from lessons which integrate information literacy into the curriculum.
    1. Strongly disagree
    2. Disagree
    3. Neither disagree nor agree
    4. Agree
    5. Strongly agree
  6. My library media specialist should play an active role in the school improvement plan/process.
    1. Strongly disagree
    2. Disagree
    3. Neither disagree nor agree
    4. Agree
    5. Strongly agree

Section Three: Overall Contributions of Library Media Specialist to Instruction

Directions: Please read each of the following statements and select the answer that best represents your response.

  1. My library media specialist should be a(n) (Check all that apply)
    1. Advocate for the Library Program
    2. Instructional Leader
    3. Instructional Partner
    4. Master Teacher
    5. Member of the Leadership Team/Principal’s Advisory Council
    6. Other (please specify)
  2. Who should be the primary initiator of teacher-library media specialist collaboration at the individual teacher level? (Check one)
    1. Administrator
    2. Library media specialist
    3. Teacher
  3. Who should be the primary initiator of teacher-library media specialist collaboration at the school level? (Check one)
    1. Administrator
    2. Library media specialist
    3. Teacher
  4. What would you specify as the primary source of your knowledge of the instructional role of the library media specialist? (Check one)
    1. Coursework in my principal preparation program
    2. Interactions with library media specialists during my teaching career
    3. Interactions with library media specialists during my administrative career
    4. Presentations at conferences which I have attended
    5. Readings in professional journals
    6. Other (please specify)

Section Four: Demographics

Directions: Please respond to each of the following questions.

  1. Superintendents’ Regional Study Group in which your school is located (Check one)
    1. Region 1: Charles City County, Chesterfield County, Colonial Heights City, Dinwiddie County, Goochland County, Hanover County, Henrico County, Hopewell City, New Kent County, Petersburg City, Powhatan County, Prince George County, Richmond City, Surry County, Sussex County
    2. Region 2: Accomack County, Chesapeake City, Franklin City, Hampton City, Isle of Wight County, Newport News City, Norfolk City, Northampton County, Poquoson City, Portsmouth City, Southampton County, Suffolk City, Virginia Beach City, Williamsburg-James City County, York County
    3. Region 3: Caroline County, Colonial Beach, Essex County, Fredericksburg City, Gloucester County, King and Queen County, King George County, King William County, Lancaster County, Mathews County, Middlesex County, Northumberland County, Richmond County, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County, West Point, Westmoreland County
    4. Region 4: Alexandria City, Arlington County, Clarke County, Culpeper County, Fairfax City, Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Fauquier County, Frederick County, Loudoun County, Madison County, Manassas City, Manassas Park City, Orange County, Page County, Prince William County, Rappahannock County, Shenandoah County, Warren County, Winchester City
    5. Region 5: Albemarle County, Amherst County, Augusta County, Bath County, Bedford City, Bedford County, Buena Vista City, Campbell County, Charlottesville City, Fluvanna County, Greene County, Harrisonburg City, Highland County, Lexington City, Louisa County, Lynchburg City, Nelson County, Rockbridge County, Rockingham County, Staunton City, Waynesboro City
    6. Region 6: Alleghany County, Botetourt County, Covington City, Craig County, Danville City, Floyd County, Franklin County, Henry County, Martinsville City, Montgomery County, Patrick County, Pittsylvania County, Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Salem City
    7. Region 7: Bland County, Bristol City, Buchanan County, Carroll County, Dickenson County, Galax City, Giles County, Grayson County, Lee County, Norton City, Pulaski County, Radford City, Russell County, Scott County, Smyth County, Tazewell County, Washington County, Wise County, Wythe County
    8. Region 8: Amelia County, Appomattox County, Brunswick County, Buckingham County, Charlotte County, Cumberland County, Greensville County, Halifax County, Lunenburg County, Mecklenburg County, Nottoway County, Prince Edward County
  2. School setting (Check one)
    1. Urban
    2. Non-urban
  3. Grade level configuration which best describes the school in which you are principal (Check one)
    1. PreK-2
    2. K-2
    3. 3-5
    4. PreK-5
    5. K-5
    6. Other (please specify)
  4. School enrollment (Check one)
    1. 1 to 99
    2. 100 to 299
    3. 300 to 749
    4. 750 to 1499
    5. 1500 and above
  5. Type of schedule on which library operates (Check one)
    1. Fixed, defined as the method of scheduling class time in the library media center for instruction or use of resources on a regular basis (usually weekly)
    2. Flexible, defined as the method of scheduling class time in the library media center based on the library media specialist and teacher(s) planning together for instruction or use of resources based on student learning needs within a curriculum unit
    3. Mixed/Combination, defined as the method of scheduling class time in library which includes classes in some grades visiting the library on a fixed schedule (ex. K-2) while classes in other grades visit the library on a flexible schedule (ex. 3-5)
  6. Total years of classroom teaching experience which you have (Check one)
    1. Dropdown menu here, 0 to 25 years, Over 25
  7. Content area(s) you taught as classroom teacher (Check all that apply)
    1. Dropdown menu here, use SOL content area as choices plus other
  8. Grade level(s) you taught as classroom teacher (Check all that apply)
    1. PreK-2
    2. 3-5
    3. 6-8
    4. 9-12
  9. Total years of administrative experience which you have (including the current academic year) (Check one)
    1. Dropdown menu here, 0 to 25 years, Over 25
  10. In your principal preparation program, did you receive any sort of formal training related to library/media specialists?
    1. No
    2. Yes If yes, in what context? (Check one)
          a. Entire course in school library media
          b. Topic of discussion in several courses
          c. Topic of discussion in one course
          d. Presentation from guest lecturer
          e. Other? (please specify)

Open-ended Question:

Directions: Please respond to the following open-ended question in the space provided.

“Think back to a situation or incident which you have had with a library media specialist which helped to form your view of the role of the library media specialist in the school. This incident could be a positive one, or it could be a negative one. Please describe the incident.”

Thank you very much for completing this survey. If you have any questions or are interested in the results of this research study, please feel free to contact the researcher at churchaa@vcu.edu.