Session 1 – Great Room A: “Managing in the 21st Century”
Moderator: Kim Hoffman, Catholic University of America Libraries
A Reversal of Hierarchy: When Gen X Librarians Manage Baby Boomers
Nobue Matsuoka-Motley & Anne Elguindi, American University; Meg Manahan, George Mason University; Stephen Henry, University of Maryland; Daniel Boomhower,Music Division, Library of Congress
A number of trends have converged within libraries that have set the stage for an increase in the promotions of young librarians to management positions. While this may signify a fresh start for the institution, it can also result in a struggle for the young manager, especially if they are unable to recognize and respond to some of the essential differences between the generations. A panel of young librarian managers from a number of local institutions who have managed personnel in generations above them will discuss the challenges and opportunities that can come with managing people significantly older than themselves. Included in the discussion will be the characteristics traditionally assigned to the generations and how those characteristics can play out in libraries and library politics, lessons learned by the young library managers in trying to create an effective conversation and relationship with the people they supervised, and potential solutions for difficult but likely scenarios.
Self Awareness of Management Capabilities and Potential as Reported by Graduate Students in LSC 672 (Panel Presentation)
Blane Dessy, Library of Congress
Throughout the semester, students in LSC 672 complete a series of self assessment tools that are meant to indicate their values, styles, and competencies in management. One of the final assignments is that each student must review their self assessments and develop a document that describes their strengths and weaknesses in management areas. Students must also then assess themselves against a competencies model of their choosing as a plan for future professional development in management. Students will describe the exercises, what they learned, and how it will guide their professional development in the future.
Session 2 – Great Room C: “Advances in School Library Media Services”
Moderator: Beverly Lammay, Henrico County Public Schools
School Library Services for Promoting ELL Students’ Academic Success
Sung Un Kim, Catholic University of America, School of Library and Information Science
This presentation draws on findings of a study on English Language Learner (ELL) students’ information search process to discuss how school library media specialists can take innovative approaches to assist ELLs to achieve academic success. The study addresses the following research questions: 1) What tasks do ELL students find easy or challenging throughout the research project?, 2) What type of assistance do ELL students need during the research process?, and 3) What instructional interventions do teachers provide to support ELL students? Participants of this study were 48 ELL students from three classes at a public high school in New Jersey. Findings suggest that school librarians should actively collaborate with ESL teachers and mainstream teachers to systematically respond to the needs of ELLs. By doing so, school librarians and school libraries can be reinvented as facilitators of the development of 21st century skills.
School Library Media Specialists as Change Agents (Panel Presentation)
Panelists: Pat Brown, Sue Bloom, Martha Bradshaw, Denea Bruce, Sarah Elwell, Renee Goods, Carolyn McAllister, Marla McGuire, Christine Stoessel, Michelle Williams, District of Columbia Public Schools
The 21st century library is no longer contained by four walls and school librarians must move beyond the physical boundaries of the traditional library. We need to define the future platform of the school library. Perspective, community, leadership, and commitment are fundamental elements for exploring changes in the urban school library paradigm. However, change is often met with resistance. School librarians must push through the barriers and embed themselves in the learning community to become an asset to the entire school program. DC school library media specialists serving urban populations will present the challenges they face and strategies they use to address the resistance and implement change. Join this important conversation with a panel of school library media specialists committed to advancing solutions for contemporary urban school libraries.