In this new edition of the popular book Leading From the Library, you’ll gain insights into becoming a leader in your school community, with strategies for developing partnerships, empowering students and more.

Join a librarian and an education leader as they team up once more to explore the librarian’s role as a leader who works collaboratively to build relationships, mold culture and advocate for the needs of students and the community. Authors Shannon McClintock Miller and William Bass discuss the benefits of bringing the outside world into the library through tools that allow librarians to partner with others. Then, they expand upon these connections by addressing how librarians can lead in the greater education community by sharing resources and strategies, and partnering with school leaders to tell the story of the school community.

The new edition includes two brand-new chapters. The first reflects on the experiences of librarians during the COVID-19 pandemic, sharing stories of how library programs supported students and teachers during shutdowns and virtual learning. The authors propose that these strategies can serve as foundational practices for libraries, and provide an opportunity to reflect on what library programs can offer. Another new chapter is dedicated to expanding the definition of literacy, with topics such as media and information literacy, and the importance of critical thinking and research as essential skills for students.

This revised edition:

• Highlights the potential of librarians to empower their students, their schools and their communities, and be learning leaders in the digital age.


• Includes stories of partnerships – from librarians and administrators – illustrating how they can collaborate to create change by harnessing the influence of the school library program to enhance the educational experience.


• Explores how librarians serve as mentors to their students, delving into many topics that define digital age literacy, including the librarian’s role in reading advocacy and digital citizenship.


• Draws connections to the ISTE Standards, including the Student, Educator and Education Leader sections, in each chapter.

Through this book, librarians will discover the influence they can have on the school community as the library becomes the heart of the school, a place where problems are solved, content is explored, connections are made and discovery happens.

Audience: Elementary and secondary school librarians/media specialists; education leaders