School Librarians as Technology Leaders: An Evolution in Practice

Abstract

The role of school librarians has a history of radical change. School librarians adapted to take on responsibility for technology and audio-visual materials that were introduced in schools in earlier eras. With the advent of the Information Age in the middle of the 20th century and the subsequent development of personal computers and the Internet, the American Library Association (ALA) recommended schools and colleges begin integrating information literacy into students’ learning (1989). Today school librarians are entering another period of Radical Change as they combine their information specialist roles with technology integration. This leadership role in technology integration is at times in conflict with a new role in K-12 schools, that of an instructional technology specialist. This new role is also charged with integrating technology into classroom instruction by working with faculty and students. School librarians and instructional technology specialists have complementary roles that would benefit students and staff through a collaborative team approach to support. When educating future school library practitioners LIS educators need to be aware of this evolution in practice and adjust curriculum accordingly.