Description: A guide for stakeholders on creating a vibrant school library space where the environment is genuinely transformative and promotes active learning, literacy, and connection.
Brief description: Hannah Byrd Little is the director of the library and archives at a top independent international college-preparatory school. A member of ALA and AASL, she wrote a monthly piece for the AASL Knowledge Quest blog for nearly ten years and writes periodically for their peer-reviewed journal. She served on the AASL Board of Directors from 2024 to 2026, served as the 2022-2023 chair of the AASL Independent School Section, and was recognized as an AASL Social Media Superstar in 2019 for Sensational Student Voice.
Review Quotes:
"A thoughtful and engaging work that underscores the essential role of school libraries and the professionals who lead them. This book provides readers with a clear understanding of the multifaceted responsibilities of school librarians and the significant impact they have on student learning and school culture. It also serves as a valuable resource for those seeking practical strategies to advocate for school libraries and their continued relevance in education." --Blake Hopper, Assistant Principal (former school librarian) Tazewell - New Tazewell Primary School, USA
"Packed with inspiring real-world scenarios, solid evidence and practical advice, A Sense of Place is at once a call to action, a roadmap for creativity and innovation, and a powerful tool for planning and advocacy. Hannah Byrd Little's cohesive message describes the critical human connections that elevate school libraries and make them places, not mere spaces in our schools. Little makes the clear case that "it Is not a library without a librarian," and with each chapter illustrates the multiple ways in which school libraries led by qualified librarians are essential and irreplaceable places within a school's learning community. In response to the alarming trends of library closures, shrinking spaces, and the elimination of professional positions, this essential book provides administrators, educators, and librarians with compelling evidence and research-backed strategies needed to ensure school libraries remain as dynamic places evolving at the heart of student engagement, academic exploration, belonging, and community within our schools." --Joyce Kasman Valenza, Associate Teaching Professor, Rutgers University, SC&I, USA "Compact yet powerful, this professional resource serves as both a practical how-to guide and an inspiring text to share with administrators and stakeholders ... A -must-purchase for librarians and administrators seeking to analyze and strengthen the role of the library space within a school community." --School Library Journal