Unleashing the instructional leadership of librarians to foster schools that are future ready
As schools seek to become future ready, it is necessary to identify and cultivate leadership beyond district and building leaders. School librarians lead, teach, and support the Future Ready goals of their school and district in a variety of ways through their professional practices, programs, and spaces. If properly prepared and supported, school librarians are well-positioned to be at the leading edge of the digital transformation of learning.
Future Ready Librarians® is an expansion of the Future Ready Schools® initiative aimed at raising awareness among district and school leaders about the valuable role librarians can play in supporting the Future Ready goals of their school and district. Two guiding questions are central to Future Ready Librarians®:
- How can librarians and libraries support Future Ready schools?
- How can librarians and libraries become more future ready?
Future Ready Librarians® will provide resources, strategies, and connections for district leaders and librarians to work together to promote and implement innovative learning opportunities for students.
Let’s Talk: A Conversation Starter for Future Ready Librarians® Building Collaborative Relationships
A step-by-step guide is designed to help librarians start and sustain strategic conversations with school and district leaders.
Future Ready Librarians® lead beyond the library, collaborating not only with teacher colleagues but also with building and district leaders to prepare future ready learners. Creating exciting and dynamic opportunities for future ready learners requires shared leadership among school leaders, including librarians, instructional coaches, principals, IT leaders, and district administration.
Whether you are just getting started or trying to take the next step in your strategic collaborations, this step-by-step guide provides simple processes and curated resources that can help you examine your current situation, inspire creative thinking, build new partnerships, and then collectively develop a collaborative plan for your students and teachers.
Future Ready Librarians® lead, teach, and support the Future Ready goals of their school and district in a variety of ways through their professional practices, programs, and spaces.
Future Ready Librarians® are building-level innovators who believe in
- Empowering learners with diverse skills and literacies
- Collaborating with peers and leaders to promote innovative practices
- Ensuring equitable learning opportunities for all students
Professional Learning Opportunities
More Resources
Changing the Conversation by Mark Ray
The Library Voice by Shannon Miller
FRL Newsletter
Future Ready Librarians In Action
Metro Nashvill Schools (TN)
Indian Prairie Public Schools (IN)
Vancouver Public Schools (WA)
Baltimore County Public Schools (MD)
Future Ready Librarians® Case Studies
LIBRARY EQUIPS STUDENTS TO BE GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE, Baltimore County Schools (MD)
FOSTERING RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION OF ONLINE INFORMATION, Somerville Middle School (NJ)
LIBRARIANSHIP IN THE 21ST CENTURY: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS THE KEY, Parkway School District (MO)
BECOMING FUTURE READY: ONE DISTRICT’S COMMITMENT TO LIBRARIANS, THE USE OF OER AND DIGITAL LITERACY,Lawrence Public Schools (KS)
EQUITY FOR STUDENTS AND EMPOWERMENT FOR LIBRARIANS, Nashville Metro Public Schools (TN)
COLLABORATION: PARTNERSHIPS AND BEYOND, Lafayette Elementary School (CA)
IT ALL BEGAN WITH AN EMPOWERED LIBRARIAN, Carroll Independent School District (TX)
TURNING AN ELEMENTARY LIBRARY INTO THE HEART OF A SCHOOL, Longwood Elementary School (IN)
Advisors
Thought Leaders
Jennifer Boudrye
DC Public Schools
Cathy Cormier
San Francisco Public Library
Laura Fleming
New Milford High School
Carolyn Foote
Westlake High School
Sylvia Shaffer
Maret School
Suzy Ferrell
Clear Creek ISD
Fran Glick
Baltimore County Public Schools
Luis Herrera
San Francisco Public Library
Leslie Preddy
Perry Meridian Middle School
Kecia Ray
Center for Digital Education
K.C. Boyd
Jefferson Academy
Scott Smith
Mooresville Graded School District
Sara Trettin
U.S. Department of Education
Joyce Valenza
Rutgers University
Glen Warren
Encinitas Union School District
Sara Kelly Johns
Syracuse University
Project Collaborators
