Using concrete examples, The School Librarian's Technology Playbook offers strategies for school librarians to initiate and support innovative practices throughout their school community.
The role of school librarians has evolved: no longer do they primarily support teachers with reading and literacy resources. Many librarians now support teachers in integrating technology tools and innovative teaching practices in their classrooms.
At her school, author and learning coordinator Stacy Brown has pioneered the transition to innovation and technology use in the classroom. In The School Librarian’s Technology Playbook, she showcases different technology tools and innovative strategies that can be incorporated into the classroom, such as 3D printing, augmented reality, green screen applications, gamification, coding, makerEd, and more. She details the many ways in which school librarians can support teachers as they implement these new practices into their curriculum.
School librarians will learn how to collaborate with teachers and how to empower them to step outside of their comfort zones to try new tools and teaching methods. Readers of this book will also learn how to support teachers as the technology continues to change in this dynamic educational landscape.
Features
- Readers will be inspired to reimagine the role of the school librarian as a primary influencer of innovation within the school community
- Readers will discover specific strategies to achieve buy-in from administrators and managers to allow school librarians to lead the school in innovation and professional learning
- Readers will learn about relevant resources in technology and innovation and practical approaches to using them in an elementary and middle school curriculum
- Readers will acquire specific strategies for librarians to form partnerships with teachers to introduce resources and alternative teaching strategies into the classroom
- Readers will learn practical approaches for shaping the school library as an innovation hub to pilot ideas and resources and launch them into the larger community
Stacy Brown is the 21st-century learning coordinator at The Davis Academy in Atlanta, GA, where she previously worked as the library media specialist. She is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and holds an MLIS from Florida State University. Brown is a national presenter and contributor to professional books and journals on topics relating to libraries, technology, innovation, and education. She is the recipient of the 3M/NMRT Professional Development Grant Award and the 2016 Marilyn Shubin Professional Service Award. She currently serves on the boards for Atlanta Area Technology Educators and Savvy Cyber Kids, Inc.
Reviews
"With a wide variety of examples, this book serves as a guidebook for K-12 librarians to promote innovative teaching throughout their school communities."—School Library Journal, May 1, 2020
"From being the change you wish to see to becoming a library leader, The School Librarian’s Technology Playbook offers in-the-field/boots-on-the-ground advice for school librarians to take to their school communities. Inspiration is easy to find in Brown’s book, so get ready to get excited with the school librarian’s technology playbook!"—Heather Moorefield-Lang, Assistant Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
"Stacy Brown shares the how-tos for both beginners trying to implement technology in their programs as well as early adopters trying to improve their game. The curriculum connections are just what’s needed to validate the 'fun' and to demonstrate the value of taking on this work in meaningful ways."—Jennifer LaBoon, Coordinator, Library Technology, Fort Worth Independent School District
"In her debut book, The School Librarian’s Technology Playbook, Stacy Brown sets up up a useful guide for school librarians looking to engage children with inspiring lesson plans. Brown tackles numerous learning tools, including 3D printing, QR Codes, virtual and augmented reality, coding, podcasting, and gamification, to name a few. Whether you are a seasoned school librarian or just looking for innovative ideas, Brown’s playbook will keep you busy throughout the year. What makes this book unique is how it encourages you to collaborate (potentially outside your comfort zone) with an easy nurturing guidance. Brown’s ability to succinctly weave practical and innovative activities and lesson plans throughout this book make it a must-have for all librarians working with children."—Gina Seymour, Library Media Specialist, Islip High School, and author of Makers with a Cause: Creative Service Projects for Library Youth
“I have been struggling to locate a book that fits what school librarians should be doing in the library. This is the perfect book. The topics are current and forward-thinking, and the examples and strategies are just what pre-service school librarians need. I am planning on ditching other texts I have used and using this book as the main text for my Computer Applications in the School Library course.”—Susan M. Allen, Information Science Instructor, University at Buffalo
"A very useful resource for our students who are interested in educational technologies."—Sung Un Kim, Associate Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, The Catholic University of America
