The Power of the Media Specialist to Improve Academic Achievement and Strengthen At-Risk Students - Softcover

This slim volume gives library professionals the information they need to convince the unconvinced of the value of the media center in improving student achievement. Section one provides research results and statistics that identify at-risk students. Section two is devoted to identifying the social and educational approaches that have been proven to help these students. For example, several studies have made the correlation between improved academic achievement and flexible scheduling, certified media specialists, and quality collections. In addition, Jones and Zambone make the argument that an at-risk student's resiliency can be increased through caring and support, setting boundaries, communicating high expectations, increasing pro-social bonding, and teaching life skills. Section three argues that a media specialist can do all of these things, and an example of a middle school librarian organizing her school library media program so that it addresses academic failure, reading, and life skills by strengthening the individual proves this point. Although this example will give media specialists a solid starting point, additional concrete examples from different levels would have been helpful. This resource is valuable for media specialists ready to make a change to a student-centered library, thus giving all of their students a chance at higher academic and personal achievement.–Stephanie Farnlacher, Trace Crossings Elementary School, Hoover, AL
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