The Resilient School Library

The premise of the research provided in this informative text is that school library media specialists have the opportunity to play a major role in promoting resiliency through library programming and services for at-risk students. Beginning by defining resiliency, the first chapter emphasizes the fact that these students can succeed if given enough support and resources from family and community, hence the connection to the role of schools, with numerous opportunities for librarians to do their part. Chapters include information pertaining to the evaluation of effective plans both formal and informal; gathering data for accountability and assessments; and the effectiveness of various academic programs. The authors address motivation, creating appropriate learning goals, assuming personal responsibility, taking control of one's own behavior, following rules, creating caring teacher-student relationships; and involving families through conferences, organizations, and communications. They conclude by encouraging a variety of instructional techniques and strategies, such as cooperative learning and literature circles. The content of this comprehensive and interesting text provides examples; a planning template to follow; and supplementary graphs, charts, and tables. A ClassMaps survey for school libraries is appended.—Susan Shaver, Hemingford Public Schools, NE