The School Librarian's Guide to (Almost) Everything

CHICAGO — Because school librarians assume so many roles—leader, advocate, instructional partner, teacher, information specialist, and program administrator—their responsibilities vary widely. It’s impossible to be an expert in everything related to the job, especially when some issues or tasks might only pop up a few times a year. Published by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and ALA Editions, “The School Librarian's Guide to (Almost) Everything” offers practical wisdom on nearly one hundred topics related to school libraries in a friendly, conversational tone. Packed with current advice based on AASL Standards, Common Beliefs, and ALA/AASL Position Statements, bestselling author Maura Madigan’s book provides to-the-point answers on many of the most common questions and conundrums faced by today’s school librarians. Inside its pages readers will discover:

• overviews, answers, tips, and how-to steps on such topics as AI, job interviews, yearly plans, soft censorship, dynamic shelving, closing the library, social emotional learning, reluctant readers, strategic planning, and many more;
• easy-to-find information organized alphabetically and notated with cross-references, encouraging both new and experienced school librarians to dip in and out as needed;
• succinct entries with supporting images and tables for quick guidance; and
• suggested sources for further exploration, all carefully vetted for quality and usefulness.

Madigan is a school librarian in Fairfax County, Virginia, and the author of two other books published by AASL & ALA Editions: “Learning Centers for School Libraries” and “Project-Based Learning for Elementary Grades.” She’s worked in education for more than 25 years in the United States, South Korea, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates.

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.

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