from the latest edition of synergy – slav’s online journal. It only comesout twice a year and an issue went live a couple of weeks back. Thejournal is only available in full to members but we always make onearticle available to everyone on the slav website. The contents of thisfirst issue for 2011 can be seen herehttp://www.slav.schools.net.au/synergy/vol9num1/vol9num1.htm
Some great reading today, made available for us from the latest edition of synergy – slav’s online journal.
first issue for 2011 can be seen hereThe contents of this
http://www.slav.schools.net.au/synergy/vol9num1/vol9num1.htm
By Dr Ross J Todd
Overview
This paper presents some selected key findings of the first phase of a multiphase research study commissioned by the New Jersey Association of School Librarians (NJASL) in 2009 and undertaken by the Centre for International Scholarship in School Libraries (CISSL) at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. The overall research agenda seeks:
(a) to construct a picture of the status of New Jersey’s school libraries and the work of school librarians in the educational landscape of New Jersey;
(b) to understand the contribution of quality school libraries to education in New Jersey;
(c) to understand the contextual and professional dynamics that inhibit and enable school libraries to contribute significantly to educational agendas, and
(d) to make recommendations to key stakeholders to develop a sustained and long term program of capacity building and evidence-based continuous improvement of school libraries in New Jersey.
While this is a state-specific study, findings have salience for the broader landscape of education and school librarianship. Phase 1 of this research program sought to provide a comprehensive picture of the status of public school libraries in New Jersey: their infrastructure, personnel, resource and information technology provision, and the instructional and administrative work of the school librarians. This research phase was titled ‘One Common Goal: Student Learning’. A key finding, documented in this paper, centres around the role of school librarians in the development of the intellectual capacity of students. Such findings provide an opportunity to reflect on strategies for continuous improvement of school libraries and their pedagogical role in information age schools.
Some great reading for us today, from the latest edition of Synergy – SLAV’s online journal.
The journal is available in full to members, but one key article is available to everyone. This month it’s by Dr Ross J Todd and recent research on school libraries and the work of school librarians in the educational landscape of New Jersey.
While this is a state-specific study, findings have salience for the broader landscape of education and school librarianship. The research sought to provide a comprehensive picture of the status of public school libraries in New Jersey: their infrastructure, personnel, resource and information technology provision, and the instructional and administrative work of the school librarians. Its results hold lessons for us all.
A key finding, highlighted by Dr Todd, centres around the role of school librarians in the development of the intellectual capacity of students.
You can access the article through the latest Synergy edition’s contents page.
