Experts help professionals manage time and impact achievement

(New York, NY) April 3, 2009 – School library media specialists frequently confront new and challenging demands for their skills and services. Fundamentals of School Library Media Management, to be published on May 20, 2009, launches a new, two-color interior design that makes learning even easier for busy readers who depend on Neal-Schuman’s popular and practical How-to-Do-It series. Authors Barbara Stein Martin, a leading professor of school librarianship, and Marco Zannier, an accomplished practicing school librarian, offer clarity, guidance and practical advice to help both novice and experienced professionals adapt to their ever-evolving roles and expertly manage their school library media center.

The authors provide a comprehensive, wide-ranging guide to every facet of school library media management, and the book is equally effective when used as a classroom text or as a professional improvement tool. Organized into seven, clearly labeled parts, Stein Martin and Zannier begin with a section called The Basics, in which they provide a thorough introduction to daily management tasks and duties like getting to know your work environment, organization and time management, communicating with stakeholders, setting goals, and learning about and locating essential documents. The next part, called Library Media Specialist as Library Administrator includes topics like staffing the library, working with and maintaining a budget, circulating books and other materials, and weeding and performing inventory. It is followed by a section called Library Media Specialist as Information Specialist that covers processes for selecting, ordering, processing, and arranging books and other materials, and includes guidance for using and selecting databases and web sites, creating a library web site, and connecting users to the proper resources. Next, Stein Martin and Zannier cover the Library Media Specialist as Teacher and Instructional Specialist, where they identify ideas and methods for learning about and becoming involved in the school curriculum, finding and providing research assistance, offering special programming, and important guidance and tips for effectively collaborating with teachers and other school departments. The following part is called Evaluation and covers closing the library for the summer and important methods for assessing the past years’ successes and failures.

The first of the Stein Martin and Zannier’s two concluding sections, called Selected Policy Documents, includes the Library Bill of Rights, Interpretations, and Freedom Statements as well as real life examples of disciplinary action and acceptable use forms plus network security and privacy, safety and copyright policies. The concluding section, called Directory of Essential Sources and Suppliers for School Library Media Centers, includes lists and URLs for book and journal vendors, review sources, audiovisual producers and equipment suppliers.

Fundamentals of School Library Media Management offers comprehensive, clearly organized coverage of the essential roles and responsibilities involved in school library media management, and is an effective resource for both practitioners and students.

Fundamentals of School Library Media Management: A How-To-Do-It Manual
ISBN: 978-1-55570-656-2. 2009. 8.5 x 11. 195pp. $59.95.

About the Author
Barbara Stein Martin is the Hazel Harvey Peace Professor in the College of Information, Library Science, and Technologies at the University of North Texas. She is also the director of the online school library certification program. She has experience as a school librarian at both the elementary and secondary levels and is the author of several books and journal articles, including the widely adopted textbook Running a School Library Media Center
Marco Zannier is the lead librarian at Elsik High School in Houston, Texas. He has worked in middle and high school libraries and is a former English teacher at both levels. He is also currently an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas’ College of Information, Library Science, and Technologies.

About Neal-Schuman Publishers
Neal-Schuman Publishers is the leading provider of library management, Internet and information technology resources, including the highly acclaimed “How-To-Do-It” series. Founded in 1976, Neal-Schuman Publishers is based in New York City with offices in London, UK.

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