Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

From Theory to Practice: An Examination of How School Librarians Implement Technology in Schools

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Educational Media and Technology Yearbook

Part of the book series: Educational Media and Technology Yearbook ((EMTY,volume 38))

  • 692 Accesses

Abstract

A presidential administration that seeks to improve education and frequent budget cuts in education has awakened a renewed urgency to understand best practices for school reform. A substantial amount of government funding has been allocated for educational initiatives for innovation through technology integration. This emphasis has encouraged efforts to implement systems of accountability in education where the practices of educators are seen as the foremost key to change.

While the effective implementation of technology in classrooms is still in its infancy, school librarians often serve as catalysts for technology integration. However, there is limited research to support this leadership role. Moreover, there is a need for research documenting the enablers and barriers that affect this leadership role.

In response to this void, this mixed methods study funded by the American Library Association Office of Diversity utilized a survey to examine the technology integration skills of school librarians. A total of 401 school librarians who indicated that they were technology leaders in their schools participated in the study. The results presented in this chapter will describe the technology leadership behaviors these school librarians engage in and the factors that impact these behaviors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • American Association of School Librarians. (2009). Empowering learners: Guidelines for school library media programs. Chicago, IL: American Association of School Librarians.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauer, J., & Kenton, J. (2005). Toward technology integration in the schools: Why it isn’t happening. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 13(4), 519–546.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baylor, A., & Ritchie, D. (2002). What factors facilitate teacher skill, teacher morale, and perceived student learning in technology-using classrooms? Computers & Education, 39(1), 395–414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Branch-Mueller, J., & de Groot, J. (2011). The power of web 2.0: Teacher-librarians become school technology leaders. School Libraries Worldwide, 17(2), 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brewer, S., & Milam, P. (2006). SLJ’s technology survey. School Library Journal, 52(6), 47–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chmara, T. (2010). Minors’ first amendment rights: CIPA & school libraries. Knowledge Quest, 39(1), 16–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2007). Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daresh, J. C. (2003). Teachers mentoring teachers. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Demetriadis, S., Barbas, A., Molohides, A., Palaigeorgiou, G., Psillos, D., Vlahavas, I., et al. (2003). Cultures in negotiation: Teachers’ acceptance/resistance attitudes considering the infusion of technology into schools. Computers & Education, 41(1), 19–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dutt-Doner, K., Allen, S. M., & Corcoran, D. (2005). Transforming student learning by preparing the next generation of teachers for type II technology integration. Computers in the Schools, 22(3/4), 63–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ertmer, P. A., Addison, P., Lane, M., Ross, E., & Woods, D. (1999). Examining teachers’ beliefs about the role of technology in the elementary classroom. Journal of Research on Computing in Education, 32(1), 54–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Everhart, N. (2002). Filling the void. School Library Journal, 48(6), 44–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farmer, L. (2012). Brace yourself: SLJ’s school library spending survey shows the hard times aren’t over, and better advocacy is needed. Retrieved, from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/articles/surveys/893538-351/brace_yourself_sljs_school_library.html.csp

  • Federal Communications Commission. (2012). Children’s Internet Protection Act. Washington, DC: Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved from http://www.fcc.gov/guides/childrens-internet-protection-act

  • Flanagan, L., & Jacobsen, J. (2003). Technology leadership for the twenty-first century principal. Journal of Educational Administration, 41(2), 124–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, A. C., Gordon, M. T., Moore, E., & Heuertz, L. (2003). The Gates legacy: What’s changed and what’s next as librarians work to sustain public access computers. Library Journal, 128(4). Retrieved, from www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA276674.html

  • Gray, L., & Lewis, L. (2009). Educational technology in public school districts: Fall 2008. Retrieved 2010, from http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2010/2010003.pdf

  • Gray, L., Thomas, N., & Lewis, L. (2010). Teachers’ use of educational technology in U.S. public schools: 2009. Retrieved 2010, from http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2010/2010040.pdf

  • Hartzell, G. (2002). The principal’s perceptions of school libraries and teacher-librarian. School Libraries Worldwide, 8(1), 92–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland, P. (2001). Professional development in technology: Catalyst for school reform. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 9(2), 245–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howell, J. M. (2005). The right stuff: Identifying and developing effective champions of innovation. Academy of Management Executive, 19(2), 108–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ISTE Special Interest Group for Media Specialists. (2010). The role of the school librarians in promoting the use of educational technologies. Retrieved, from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/SIGMS_Position_Statement.sflb.ashx

  • Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2007). The leadership challenge. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levin, D., & Arafeh, S. (2002). The digital disconnect: The widening gap between digital savvy students and their schools. Retrieved, from www.pewinternet.org/,/media//Files/Reports/2002/PIP_Schools_Internet_Report.pdf

  • Liu, Y., & Szabo, Z. (2009). Teachers’ attitudes toward technology integration in schools: A four-year study. Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice, 15(1), 5–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mardis, M. A., & Dickinson, G. K. (2009). Far away, so close: Preservices school library media specialists’ perceptions of AASL’s standards for the 21st-century learner. School Library Media Research, 12. Retrieved, from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/slmrb/slmrcontents/volume12/mardis_dickinson.cfm

  • Martinsons, M. (1993). Cultivating the champions of strategic information systems. Journal of Systems Management, 44(8), 31–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matzen, N. J., & Edmunds, J. A. (2007). Technology as a catalyst for change: The role of professional development. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 39(4), 417–430.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michael, S. O. (1998). Best practices in information technology (IT) management: Insights from K-12 schools’ technology audits. International Journal of Educational Management, 12(6), 277–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Center for Education Statistics. (2000). Teachers’ tools for the twenty-first century: A report on teachers’ use of technology. Retrieved, from http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/frss/publications/2000102/index.asp?sectionid=1

  • Palfrey, J., & Gasser, U. (2008). Born digital: Understanding the first generation of digital natives. New York, NY: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Project Tomorrow. (2011). The new 3 E’s of education: Enabled, engaged, empowered. How today’s educators are advancing a new vision for teaching and learning. Retrieved, from http://www.tomorrow.org/speakup/speakup_surveys.html

  • Ramirez, A. (2011). Technology planning, purchasing and training: How school leaders can help support the successful implementation and integration of technology in the learning environment. Journal of Technology Integration in the Classroom, 3(1), 67–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritzhaupt, A. D., Hohlfeld, T. N., Barron, A. E., & Kemker, K. (2008). Trends in technology planning and funding in Florida K-12 public schools. International Journal of Education Policy & Leadership, 3(8), 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schein, E. H. (2004). Organizational culture and leadership. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scholastic. (2008). School libraries work. Retrieved, from http://www.scholastic.com/content/collateral_resources/pdf/s/slw3_2008.pdf

  • Schultz-Jones, B., Faber, T. & Reed, J. (2010). Through the lens of new school librarians: The application of standards to delivering excellence to the profession. Retrieved, from http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED518550.pdf

  • Smith, D. (2010). Making the case for the leadership role of school librarians in technology integration. Library Hi Tech, 28(4), 617–631.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Staples, A., Pugach, M. C., & Himes, D. (2005). Rethinking the technology integration challenge: Cases from three urban elementary schools. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 37(3), 285–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United States Department of Education. (2010). National education technology plan. Retrieved, from http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/netp2010-execsumm.pdf

  • Vannatta, R. A., & Fordham, N. (2004). Teacher dispositions as predictors of classroom technology use. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 36(3), 253–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, Y., & Frank, K. A. (2003). Factors affecting technology uses in schools: An ecological perspective. American Educational Research Journal, 40(4), 807–840.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

I sincerely appreciate the American Library Association Office of Diversity for funding this research. Thank you to Erin Keefe for assisting with the development of this chapter.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Library and Information & Library Sciences, College of Information, The University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #311068, Denton, TX, 76203-5017, USA

    Daniella Smith Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Daniella Smith Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniella Smith Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Learning, Design, and Technology pr, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA

    Michael Orey

  2. Dept. Leadership, Tech. & Dvpmt, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia, USA

    Stephanie A. Jones

  3. Learning, Design, and Technology pr, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA

    Robert Maribe Branch

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Smith, D. (2014). From Theory to Practice: An Examination of How School Librarians Implement Technology in Schools. In: Orey, M., Jones, S., Branch, R. (eds) Educational Media and Technology Yearbook. Educational Media and Technology Yearbook, vol 38. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06314-0_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation