Managing the Successful School Library: Strategic Planning and Reflective Practice

School librarians who are balancing the demands of curriculum and teaching, collection development, and technology may not see themselves as managers or leaders, but according to Farmer, they are. The author emphasizes how, beyond vision and mission statements, librarians need to take the time to analyze what it means to manage a successful school library in order to strengthen their programs. Delving into what an ideal school library program looks like and how the library should align with school goals, she challenges readers to examine their own schools and their cultures and to consider their personal management styles. Many helpful resources are included in each chapter, along with a list of references. "Managing Resources" offers some useful tools for maintaining print and electronic materials. In "Managing Funding," the author refers readers to websites that provide fund-raising advice, but there is no listing for library grants. That omission notwithstanding, the content is valuable. Throughout, "Food for Thought" boxes raise questions for contemplation. Each chapter ends by encouraging users to apply the tenets of school librarianship to themselves.