An International Study on Principal Influence and Information Services in Schools: Synergy in Theme and Methods

Abstract

Support of the principal is a key factor in the implementation of effective programs in schools, An international study of the principal's role in developing and supporting school library programs was conducted in Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Japan, Scotland, and South Korea. The purpose of the study was to provide information, for principals and teacher-librarians in countries throughout the world that might inform their efforts to develop information-literate school communities. Principals and teacher-librarians completed three survey instruments: (a) participant demographics; (b) the participants' perceptions and beliefs about the principals' current and future roles; and (c) the participants' views on such concerns as the strengths and challenges of the school library, the contributions of teacher-librarians to teaching and learning, the nature of information literacy, and barriers to integration of information skills. The overall findings of the research project included the following: (a) principals and teacher-librarians differed in age and gender; (b) beliefs of principals and teacher-librarians about the role of the principal were well aligned except where librarians were not also qualified teachers; (c) principals and teacherlibrarians differed most on their current and future perceptions of the role of the principal in advocating and facilitating the development of an information-literate school community; and (d) principals and teacher-librarians agreed that principals should spend more time informing new teaching staff about the importance of collaboration with the teacher-librarian.

Advocacy, Conducive Environment and Students’ Patronage of Library Information Services in Tertiary Institutions in University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State

“…This might be done through publication of newsletters, pamphlets posters banners among others. The finding of this study is in support of Henri, Hay and Oberg (2002), who indicated that by utilizing all the tools of promotion, marketing and public relations in any advocacy activity a librarian is able to build a working relationship with clienteles to identify and agree to some common elements in respect to the role and function of the library and its personnel and services. Also, the finding of this study is in support of the findings of Ayanda and Taiwo (2008) who conducted a study on the impact of advocacy on library management, a marketing perspective and found out a significant impact of advocacy on library marketing.…”

School Libraries, Teacher-Librarians and Student Outcomes: Presenting and Using the Evidence

“…• manage$the$school$library$ • plan,$implement$and$evaluate$and$their$teaching$and$library$programs$$ • raise$awareness$of$their$potential$impact$on$student$learning$and$literacy$$ No$ matter$ how$ many$ 'busy'$ activities$ teacher4librarians$ undertake,$ the$ value$ of$ their$ role$ is$ most$ clearly$ demonstrated$ by$ learning$ and$ literacy$ outcomes.$ $ By$ using$ evidence$ about$ the$ school's$ learning$ and$ teaching$ needs,$ teacher4librarians$ can$ align$ their$ school$ library$ vision$ and$ objectives$ with$ those$ of$ the$ school$ leadership$ team$ $ Shannon,$ 2012).$ By$ evaluating$ their$ teaching$ and$ library$ programs,$ teacher4librarians$ gain$ further$ evidence$ to$ guide$ their$ practice$ and$ inform$ the$ leadership$ team.$ In$ this$ way,$ they$ can$ demonstrate$ their$ practical$ impact$ on$ educational$ and$ social$ outcomes$ throughout$ the$ school$ (Ash4Argyle$ &$ Shoham,$ 2012;$ Everhart,$2006;$Hay$&$Todd,$2010).$$ Evidence$ often$ becomes$ more$ useful$ as$ a$ shared$ resource.$ By$ developing$ collaborative$ partnerships$ with$ teaching$ colleagues$ and$ principals,$ teacher4librarians$ can$ gather$ and$ disseminate$ evidence$ (Everhart,$ 2006;$ Hartzell,$ 2002;$ Henri,$ Hay,$ &$ Oberg,$ 2002;$ Oberg,$ 2006;$ Shannon,$ 2012;$ Small,$ Shanahan,$ &$ Stasak,$ 2010).$ Through$ collaboration,$ teacher4librarians$ gain$ useful$ information$ about$ school$ issues.$ Meanwhile$ teachers$ and$ principals$ will$ develop$ understanding$ of$ information$ policy$ issues$ affecting$ teachers$ and$ students,$ such$ as$ cybersafety$ In$addition$to$carrying$out$practical$investigations,$evidence$based$practitioners$can$draw$ on$the$literature$to$research$different$theoretical$models$or$exemplary$case$studies.$Recommended$ Australian$resources$include:$…”

Internationalism as leadership in IASL research: Accomplishments and directions

“…Eight of the total 153 articles (5%) were co-authored by researchers from two different countries. Six of these projects took place in each of their respective countries (Everhart, Dresang, & Kotrla, 2005;Hell, Engstrom, & Lundgren, 2003;Henri, Lee, & Chan, 2006;Henri, et al, 2003;Kong, Lee, F., Li, & Lee, S., 2005), and two took place in the researchers' home countries as well as in other countries (Farmer, 2007;Henri, Hay, & Oberg, 2002). These can be regarded as international studies in that the gaze extended beyond individual nations to several-from two to seven.…”