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Call for Content & Toolkit Resources: The International School Librarians' Guidebook and Toolkit

  • 1.  Call for Content & Toolkit Resources: The International School Librarians' Guidebook and Toolkit

    Posted 19 days ago

    Call for Content & Toolkit Resources: The International School Librarians' Guidebook and Toolkit

    Amanda Harrison, aeharrison@ucmo.edu; University of Central Missouri

    Betty Turpin, elemlibraryworks@gmail.com; International School Librarian 

     

    Overview:                 

    Centering on the lived realities of international school librarianship, [Working Title: The International School Librarians' Guidebook and Toolkit] connects research, practitioner knowledge, and community experience to the day-to-day work of school libraries in international contexts. The scope of this project encompasses school libraries in international schools, which we define as schools offering English language curricula, maintaining a global outlook, and targeting internationally mobile students and their families. 

    This guidebook is structured around key areas of international school librarianship that reflect both shared challenges and locally situated solutions. Drawing on practitioner voices and community-engaged research, each section addresses practical questions librarians face as they transition between schools, support diverse learners, collaborate across cultures, and articulate the value of the library within complex educational systems. Contributors from different regions and school contexts are invited to share strategies, tools, reflections, and examples that support responsive, reflective, and sustainable international school library practice.

    Contributions are sought, but are not limited, to the following themes:

    1. Foundations and Context

    2. Staffing, Roles, and Professional Identity

    3. Leadership, Advocacy, and Policy 

    4. Collections and Access 

    5. Teaching, Learning, and Inquiry 

    6. Community, Well-Being, and Inclusion 

    7. Assessment, Accountability, and Impact 

    8. Global Futures and Sustainability

    9. Toolkits

      1. Sample Policies and Strategic Plan Templates

      2. Inquiry Unit Examples (Elementary–Secondary)

      3. Vendor/Consortium Directory (by region)

      4. Collection Development-Print

      5. Collection-Development-Digital

      6. School Library Standards

      7. Professional Organizations and Networks

      8. Evaluation & Survey Templates

      9. Reflective Practice Worksheets

      10. Diversity Audit Tools

    The full guidebook with content and toolkit will be published using a Creative Commons license, therefore, sharing and remixing of resources is expected. Please refer to the following slides for additional information regarding Creative Commons licensing. 

    We will be using a CC BY SA NC license 

    • CC By (Attribution)

    • Share-Alike

    • Non-Commercial

    At this time, we are seeking interested contributors for both content and toolkit resources, along with a short bio describing your experiences working in international school libraries. Please see the following link for submission.  https://forms.gle/2SdMYV2XKieBobss5

    Final submissions of content should include research-based best practices as well as local case studies.  Additional case studies from other geographical locations may be solicited by editors and included in the final edition of the Guidebook. 

    Final Toolkit submissions should be presented in an interactive format, with spaces for questions and reflections. An example of a toolkit resource is linked here. 

     

    Submission Guidelines:

    • Content: Interested contributors should submit an abstract, along with a content title.

    • Toolkit: Those interested in submitting a toolkit resource should submit a short description of the proposed resource.

    • Biography: Also include a biography that highlights your experience in international schools.

    • Submission Process: Please use the following link for submission: https://forms.gle/2SdMYV2XKieBobss5

    Expected Timeline: 

    • Abstract Submission Deadline: March 1, 2026

    • Notification of Acceptance: Rolling acceptance March 15th through May 15th, 2026

    • Submission to Editors: June 30th, 2026

    • Revised and final submission to Editors: July 31st, 2026

    • Final resource planned: September 1, 2026

    We would like to thank IASL for the 2025 Takeshi Murofushi Research Award, which helped to fund this project.



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    Amanda Harrison
    Faculty
    University of Central Missouri
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