School Librarians and the Technology Department

Abstract

This handbook provides librarians and technology specialists with the tools to understand the issues and challenges related to their counterparts’ jobs, and find ways to work together for the betterment of all concerned. School Librarians and the Technology Department: A Practical Guide to Successful Collaboration was inspired by the authors’ collective realization that far too often librarians and technology specialists fail to collaborate successfully, and sometimes even find their groups at odds with one another. This book is the antidote: it is a powerful call to establish and improve relationships between the two for the benefit of the students as well as the librarians and technology specialists themselves. The book begins by providing background information about the history of librarianship and the use of computer technology in schools. The authors trace the origins of the positions related to educational technology, such as “technology specialist,” “teacher,” and “director.” The following chapters describe and address specific concerns of both librarians and technology specialists. Most importantly, this collaborative work offers practical suggestions for cooperation between these two groups of educators as they work together to offer the best possible materials and instructions to students. School Librarians and the Technology Department concludes by hypothesizing what the future holds in the realms of librarianship and technology in this rapidly changing information age.