Thought leaders in school libraryland

In response to my post "Age and Change," Alice Yucht suggested:

Have you seen this: Who are the thought leaders in educational leadership? [by Jon Becker] I think you and Gary Hartzell need to compile a similar article re: school library leadership!

Yeah, get me in trouble, Alice. I just know that I would leave some top notch influencers off the list.

But it may be a good idea, especially if a comprehensive and thoughtful list could be moved to the SIGMS wiki or the T-L Ning - where lots o'people who are better read and better informed than I am could add to it. (I am admittedly weak about international school librarians, academics*, and AASL leaders). I often get asked to suggest good writers and presenters about library related topics. This would be a great resource any of us could just point to when asked such a question.

Whether through books, articles, editorialships, blogs or organizational leadership, these folks have made sustained, public contributions directly addressing school libraries - and influenced MY thinking about the field.

1. Alice Yucht
2. Amy Oberts
3. Anita Beaman
4. Annette Lamb
5. Barbara Jansen
6. Barbara Stripling
7. Bob Berkowitz
8. Brenda Anderson
9. Brian Kenney
10. Buffy Hamilton
11. Carl Harvey
12. Carol Gordon
13. Carol Kuhlthou
14. Carol Simpson
15. Carolyn Foote
16. Cathy Jo Nelson
17. Chris Harris
18. Clarence Fisher
19. Daniel Callison
20. David Loertscher
21. David Warlick
22. Deb Levitov
23. Deb Logan
24. Debbie Abilock
25. Diane Chen
26. Diane Cordell
27. Dianne McKenzie
28. Donna Baumbach
29. Doug Achterman
30. Doug Johnson (somebody else suggested this)
31. Ernie Cox
32. Fran Bullington
33. Frances Jacobson Harris
34. Gary Hartzell
35. Gail Dickinson
36. Gwyneth Jones
37. Heather Loy
38. Hilda Weisburg
39. Jacquie Henry
40. Jamie LaRue
41. Jamie McKenzie
42. Jane Prestebak
43. Jean Donham
44. Jeri Hurd
45. Jim Randolph
46. John Royce
47. Joyce Valenza
48. Judi Moreillon
49. Judy O'Connell
50. Karen Kliegman
51. Kathy Lemaire
52. Kathy Schrock
53. Keith Curry Lance
54. Ken Haycock
55. Kristin Fontichiaro
56. Larry Johnson
57. Laura Pearle
58. Laurie Conzemius
59. Leigh Ann Jones
60. Lesley Farmer
61. Lisa Perez
62. Marcia Mardis
63. Mary Alice Anderson
64. Mary Ann Bell
65. Mary Ann Fitzgerald
66. Mary Woodard
67. Mike Eisenberg
68. Nancy Everhart
69. Nancy McGriff
70. Nicola McNee
71. Patricia Carmichael
72. Rob Darrow
73. Rob Rubis
74. Ross Todd
75. Sandra Hughes-Hassell
76. Sara Kelly Johns
77. Shannon Miller
78. Shelee King George
79. Stephen Abram
80. Stephen Krashen
81. Susan Sedro
82. Vi Harada
83. Wendy Stephens

Please add your own "thought leaders" in a comment. Rather than me replying, I'll just update this post.

And I just know I've left people off the list. My apologies in advance.

* Becker's article is worth reading since it speaks of a disconnect between academics and practicioners. Also see An Open Letter to New Professors by J.M. Anderson on the Minding the Campus blog.

Comments on this post are closed. Please see: Thought leaders in school libraryland - the next step

Image source

Comments

[Jim Randolph]

Doug,

I appreciate the mention. Seeing as how I just started my first library job, I hardly think of myself as a leader, but this will spur me on to live up to the expectation!

Thanks,
Jim

[Jim Randolph]

Oh, and I would definite;y add Mary Ann Fitzgerald to the list! http://www.coe.uga.edu/~mfitzger/

[diane]

Thank you, Doug. This affirmation means a lot, coming from one of the first teacher-librarians I ever read online.

[Beth Friese]

Here are some who have been helpful to my own thinking:

Ross Todd
Alice Yucht
Kristin Fontichiaro
Marcia Mardis
Deb Levitov
Sandra Hughes-Hassell
Patricia Carmichael

Beth

[Susan Polos]

Definitely include Wendy Stephens, librarian at Buckhorn High School in New Market, AL. Wendy is a leader in AASL, ALSC, YALSA, and ISTE SIGMS. She presents on advocacy, intellectual freedom, the process of National Board certification, etc. etc. etc. Wendy's sustained public presence in the field is deeply appreciated. She's a terrific resource.

[Lesley Edwards]

Please add Shannon Miller to your list. She has the kind of library and web presence I'd want my kids to experience. http://vanmeterlibraryvoice.blogspot.com/

[Cathy Nelson]

I would suggest Heather Loy of Tech Tips and Timely Tidbits. She is our organization's (SCASL) Information Technology Chair and is doing a fantastic job. Also I highly recommend Martha Alewine, formerly our state department of education's liaison for school libraries (until recent budget cuts that we are only beginning to realize).

Heather: http://hloy.edublogs.org/

Martha: http://scschoollibraries.pbworks.com/

Wow what an awesome list!!

[Cathy Nelson]

Oh and this to me is more honorable than those edublog nominations!! W00T!!

[Lisa Perez]

Thanks, Doug! Also, kudos to the ISTE SIGMS executive committee - Laurie Conzemius (SIGMS Communications Chair), Brenda Anderson (Professional Development Chair), and Shelee King George (Vice-Chair) plus all of our dedicated committee members.

[Fran Bullington]

Doug,

I am honored (and humbled) to be included on the list you have begun. I am also a bit embarrassed as I haven't posted anything since the school year began, but, like Jim Randolph, feel inspired to work even harder now!

Thanks for beginning this awesome list - many of these have inspired me for some time, while others are names new to me that I can't wait to check out!

I would add the following names to the list:

Heather Loy of Tech Tips and Timely Tidbits - Heather's creativity and passion for her job at Wagener-Salley High School inspire me often.

Dianne McKenzie of Library Grits, Teacher Librarian and Head of Library (She works in Hong Kong, but this Southern girl just loves her blog's name!)

Mary Woodard of Top Shelf, Director of Library Services

[Sara Kelly Johns]

NICE to be on that list! Wow. Deb Logan is another to add. Doug Achterman from CA, Rob Darrow...I'll add others in the AM, I am sure. Oh...YOU!

Sara

[Sara Kelly Johns]

Carol Kuhlthou! I was reading Guided Inquiry on the boat in the middle of Lower Saranac Lake this afternoon...Sara

[Alice Yucht]

Deb Logan, Donna Baumbach, Frances Jacobson Harris, Gwyneth Jones.
Why are you alphabetizing by FIRST names???

[Alice Yucht]

oops -- forgot Hilda Weisburg. Is anyone going to do a list of "academics" -- or do they no longer have as much influence as they once did?

[Cory Plough]

Hey Doug- Just ran a peer voter based poll for fave Librarian edBlog last couple weeks, the two most recommended were Joyce Valenza and Shannon Miller. Here are the posts I made with final voting in after two weeks. http://thenextstep.edublogs.org/2010/08/24/edblog8featured/ and http://thenextstep.edublogs.org/2010/08/17/edblog-7-the-featured-blog-of-the-week-is-never-ending-search/

[Cathy Nelson]

Karen Kliegman should be on the list too. She did win a SIGms award, has presented at many conferences and has even been on a TL smackdown panel. Add her as well. She has had Edublog nominations as well for "Wired Librarian." http://wlteam.blogspot.com/

[alice yucht]

Annette Lamb!

[Cindy Turner]

Annette Lamb! She has influenced countless students in her MLA courses and continues to be my top pick for bringing along in-the-trenches librarians.

[Mary Ann Bell]

Seeing my name on the list last night made my day/night/weekend! Thanks so much for the mention. You are a very generous leader!

[Donna Baumbach]

How nice! Thanks Doug and Alice! Been feeling WAY over the hill lately. This makes me feel like maybe I'm just rolling gently into declivity. ;-)