A study of the evolution of school library media programs and the process of educational change with implications for program implementation

Brown, Ida Mary Jean (1985) A study of the evolution of school library media programs and the process of educational change with implications for program implementation. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF (Migrated (PDF/A Conversion) from original format: (application/pdf)) - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (37MB) [English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. (Original Version)

Abstract

School libraries, in theory, are an integral and essential part of the school's instructional program, with school librarians involved as teaching partners with classroom teachers. In practice, many school libraries are viewed as frills, existing on the peripheral of the school's instructional program, with the school librarian's role seen as being mainly clerical or technical. This study began as a search to discover why the gap between theory and practice existed, and what, if anything, could be done to close this gap. -- Since it is necessary to fully understand the modern concept of a school library, a chapter is devoted to the development of the modern school library media program. This chapter traces the evolution of the school library by examining the national standards for school libraries which have been published in the United States and Canada, from the first standards of 1918 to the most current standards and guidelines. -- This thesis postulates that a school library is an integral part of the school. To successfully implement a school library media program, it is necessary to understand the nature of teaching and the characteristics of the school which hinder or facilitate such a program. Therefore, a chapter is devoted to an examination of the world of the school. Since the school is part of the school district, and also part of the larger society, this chapter examines conditions in the school, in the school district, and at provincial or national levels. -- Since most schools do not have school library media programs, to introduce such a program is to introduce a major change. Chapter Four examines the process of educational change. It synthesizes the findings on how change occurs in schools and how it affects the individuals involved. -- The final chapter is a synthesis of the findings, relating how the factors associated with the school library media program itself, factors external to the school district, factors at the district level, and factors at the school level contribute to successful implementation of such a change. It discusses implications for anyone interested in introducing a school library media program where none presently exists.

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