"The Involved School Librarian offers readers at any experience level a new methods to improve their performance as school librarians. The 5 Cs (Confident, Committed, Connected, Communicator, Change agent) combined with the 5 Ps (Passionate, Purposeful, Planner, Professional, Powerful) and the 3 Ls (Listener, Learner, Leader) are tools that school librarians can use to work with students, administrators, parents and the broader library community to develop a strong school library program with high levels of support from all constituencies. Part One focuses on the School Librarian, Part Two on the campus community, and Part Three on the outside community – all using the Cs, Ps and Ls. The writing is clear and straightforward with minimal jargon. Each Part concludes with a Reflection opportunity that supports readers to better implement what they learn through the lenses of Think, Create, Share, Grow, the four domains of AASL’s National School Library Standards for Learners. School Librarians and School Libraries. This repeated reference to the AASL National Library Standards ensures that readers will be well grounded in these national guidelines as they develop their library practice. This title will be useful to school librarians just beginning their careers, as well as to those further along but looking for new insights to build their skills."Dorcas Hand, Co-Chair of Students Need Libraries in Houston ISD grassroots advocacy; Chair, AL Ecosystem Initiative Task Group (2016-2018); Chair, ALA COLA Ecosystem Subcommittee (2023-2026); lead author, Strengthening Library Ecosystems: Collaborating for Advocacy & Impact (ALA, 2024), retired school librarian of 40 years"Hilda Weisburg is an anomaly. She lives up to the first syllable of her last name—Hilda is wise, knowledgeable, and observes all. But she is also practical and shares the insights she has developed through her expertise and experience with all who will listen. I have recommended her books, some written with Ruth Toor, to both library graduate students and to experienced school librarian practitioners. This book is of particular interest to me because of the two recent books I have co-authored on branding and perception and on library ecosystems. What a companion book to both books this one will be! The book Elevating the School Library, Positive Perceptions through Brand Behavior (ALA, 2024) with Susan D. Ballard describes living up to the perceptions of your brand that the school community—faculty, staff, administrators, parents, the business community—have of the school library. And that includes perceptions of you as a leader. After many years working on the ALA Committee on Library Advocacy’s Ecosystem Subcommittee and co-authoring Strengthening Library Ecosystems: Collaborate for Advocacy and Impact (ALA, 2024) with Dorcas Hand, Michelle Robertson, and Eryn Duffee, I am quite aware that it takes confidence and communication skills to be a leader who will put themselves into a partnership with librarians from other types of libraries to work together, develop a targeted agenda, and take action for legislation and advocacy. Since many school librarians truly are introverts and others lack self-confidence with the attacks hurled in their directions, this book takes a good librarian to the level of a great librarian (thank you, Jim Collins) when someone takes the steps to reflect and then develop a personal plan to increase leadership. This generation of students need those library leaders to teach them critical skills and to support them as they learn. Positive perceptions and increased impact are ahead for those who read this book and make their personal plan!"Sara Kelly Johns, Adjunct instructor, Syracuse University iSchool, School Library Program
