New on the Job

Transitioning from library school to a real world job or even from a different type of library can pose significant challenges for school library media specialists (SLMS). From job search strategies and discovering your work philosophy to the nitty-gritty details of creating acceptable use policies, New on the Job serves as a wise mentor for new SLMS. Expert authors Ruth Toor and Hilda K. Weisburg share the joys and perils of the profession along with a wealth of practical advice from a combined six decades of experience in library media centers and as collaborators on books, presentations, and workshops. Learn the secrets to successfully collaborate with teachers. Navigate new roles and responsibilities with confidence. Create dynamic interactions with students to deepen their learning experiences. Master the art of communicating with the principal, IT experts, and vendors.

Ruth Toor is now a consultant after retiring from her job of twenty-nine years as the school librarian at Southern Boulevard School in Chatham, N.J. Having been president of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and a member of ALA Council, she still works actively on ALA, AASL, and ALSC committees. During her AASL presidency, she was its representative to the National Forum for History Standards and helped critique the National Social Studies and English/Language Arts Standards. She was also a member of the Implementation Committee for Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning, the former AASL National Standards. She is an Internship Adviser for Professional Development Studies at Rutgers University s School of Communication and Information. She was honored with the President s Award as well as the Lifetime Membership Award of the New Jersey Association of School Librarians (NJASL). She earned her BA at the University of Delaware where she was inducted into the Alumni Wall of Fame, and her MLS at Rutgers.

Hilda Weisburg retired as library media specialist at Morristown High School in Morristown, N.J. in 2004. She has taught graduate courses at William Paterson University and Rutgers University. A past president of the New Jersey Association of School Librarians (NJASL), she is the association s delegate to AASL s Affiliate Assembly, on which she has served as chair and Region II director. Currently, she is a member of the ALA Literacy Committee and the ALA/CBC (Children s Book Council) Joint Committee. She is the chair of the 2010 National Institute (Fall Forum). She has given presentations at AASL and state library media conferences and given staff development workshops for many school districts. In addition, she has been a library consultant for several New Jersey districts. With Ruth Toor, she has written thirteen books for librarians, the most recent being New on the Job: A School Library Media Specialist s Guide to Success. The duo has been writing and editing the School Librarian s Workshop since 1980.