School Librarian's Guide to (Almost) Everything

Maura Madigan

Book cover for School Librarian's Guide to (Almost) Everything
Image for variant 9798892553308
Book cover for School Librarian's Guide to (Almost) Everything
Image for variant 9798892553308

School Librarian's Guide to (Almost) Everything

School Librarian's Guide to (Almost) Everything

Maura Madigan

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Description

Because school librarians assume so many roles--leader, advocate, instructional partner, teacher, information specialist, and program administrator--their responsibilities vary widely. It's impossible to be an expert in everything related to the job, especially when some issues or tasks might only pop up a few times a year. A handy reference tool serving up wisdom on nearly one hundred topics related to school libraries, bestselling author Madigan's book provides to-the-point answers on many of the most common questions and conundrums faced by today's school librarians. Packed with current advice based on AASL Standards, Common Beliefs, and ALA/AASL Position Statements, inside its pages you'll discover
  • overviews, answers, tips, and how-to steps on such topics as AI, job interviews, yearly plans, soft censorship, dynamic shelving, closing the library, social emotional learning, reluctant readers, strategic planning, and many more;
  • easy-to-find information organized alphabetically and notated with cross-references, encouraging you to dip in and out as needed;
  • succinct entries with supporting images and tables for quick guidance; and
  • suggested sources for further exploration, all carefully vetted for quality and usefulness.
This book will become your go-to reference for answering quick questions about daily practice and your first stop when diving deeper into key issues.

About the Author

Maura Madigan, NBCT is a school librarian in Fairfax County, Virginia. She's the author of Learning Centers for School Libraries and Project-Based Learning for Elementary Grades, both AASL Standards-Based Learning Series books. Maura's writing has also appeared in School Library Journal, American Libraries Magazine, and School Library Connection.

Critical Reviews

"The individual entries range in length from less than one full page to almost four pages. Each entry introduces the topic and its importance; some entries include lists of tips or things to consider. Tables are scattered throughout the book. Cross-references are provided at the end. A short works-cited list and concluding 'Read More' appendix list resources for deeper investigation. The writing is clear and practical, and the book is easy to use. As the author herself states, she hopes that this book will be one that 'you'll dip into again and again.'"
-- Booklist

"Organized alphabetically, Madigan's highly usable guide functions as an encyclopedia for modern school librarians. Each entry offers a concise, expert overview of a topic, ranging from foundational practices such as STR and UDL to timely issues, such as AI, making it a great reference for both new and veteran librarians ... Every school librarian, especially those seeking dependable, quick answers, should add this to their professional shelf. Highly recommended."
-- School Library Journal (starred review)

Publishing Information

Publisher: ALA Editions
Pub date: 2025-08-15
Length: 184 pages

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