Leading from the Middle: A Narrative Analysis of Award-Winning School Library Media Specialists in Georgia
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Authors
Frilot, Holly
Issue Date
2023-05-09
Type
Dissertation
Language
en_US
Keywords
Educational leadership , Library science , Education , Information commons , Instructional materials personnel , School libraries , Dissertations, Academic , Georgia
Alternative Title
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study was to analyze and share the leadership stories of successful library media specialists, uncovering how they perceive themselves as leaders, how they enact leadership in their role, and bridge the gap between leadership standards and the lived professional experiences of library media specialists as school leaders. The six participants in this study were school library media specialists in Georgia that won Library Media Specialist of the Year and/or Exemplary Library Media Program during the years 2017-2021.
Research data was collected through three interviews with each participant using a narrative inquiry approach. Descriptive coding, focused coding, and connection strategies were used to analyze the data. Five themes emerged from the data, including relationships, communication, dispositions, leadership, and continued learning.
Implications for practice include leadership study as a focus for graduate degree programs in library media education, as well as in professional learning and library media advocacy work. Future research suggestions include gaining the perspectives of students, teachers, and administrators on library media specialist leadership, as well as a broader geographic study of library media specialists.
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This dissertation is protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States (Public Law 94-553, revised in 1976). Consistent with fair use as defined in the Copyright Laws, brief quotations from this material are allowed with proper acknowledgement. Use of the materials for financial gain with the author's expressed written permissions is not allowed.