2. What is the Difference?
Fixed Schedule Flexible Schedule
O LMS meets with classes at O Classes able to come to
a set time each week media center when they
O Media center only used have a need
during set class time. Is O Classes can come as often
not available for other as necessary, if available
class use O More teacher/LMS
O LMS see all students in the collaboration occurs
school
(Creighton, 2007, Pg., 10 )
3. Fixed Schedule
Positives Negatives
O Every student guaranteed time O There is no communication
in LMC each week between the LMS and
classroom teacher
O There is no reliance on the
O Learning in the LMC often
teacher and LMS
does not connect to what is
communicating happening in the classroom
O Teachers have release time O Skills are taught in isolation
for prep. without meaning to students
O Projects take extended times
because students may only
Harvey, 2009, Pg. 105 get the library once a week
4. Flexible Schedule
Positives Negatives
O Requires LMS and classroom O Some teachers may opt to not
teacher to communicate come for instruction or
O Students may come multiple circulation leaving some
times to LMC for circulation students with gaps in their
and instruction skills
O Learning in the library is
connected to learning in the
classroom
O LMS can attend planning
sessions held during teacher Harvey, 2009, Pg. 107
prep time
5. How Many School Use Fixed/Flexible Schedules?
National Center for Education Statistics Data
60
50 % of LMC having
Flexible
40
Schedules
30 % of LMC having
Fixed Schedules
20
10 % of LMC having
Combined
0 Schedules
50 States & New Jersey
DC
6. What Type of Schedules does each School
Level have?
National Center for Education Statistics Data
Combined % of LMC having
Combined
Schedules
Secondary % of LMC having
Fixed Schedules
% of LMC having
Elementary
Flexible
Schedules
0 50 100
7. NCES
The National Center for Education Statistics
Data conducted a survey of public and
private schools in the United States. The
survey asked various questions regarding
library media center characteristics, library
media center staff characteristics, library
media center expenditures and collection
holdings, and library media center policies.
The results were put into a report.
Full Report by the NCES
8. What is the Ideal Schedule?
In a perfect world all media centers would be
staffed with a full time certified LMS and a
support staff to help with the daily operations of
the library. The media center would be open for
all to use when ever they need. A flexible
schedule is considered the best way for a media
center to operate. It is believed that with a
flexible schedule, teachers and LMS collaborate
more on projects. This collaboration brings the
knowledge of the classroom teacher and the
LMS together to make sure all students needs
are being meet. (AASL, 2011)
9. What is the Ideal Schedule?
Some people think that a flexible schedule in an elementary
school does not allow students to check out books. One
school sets aside time each week for students to come to the
library to return and check out books. This is done in small
groups of 5-10 students at a time. They set aside 10 minutes
for primary grades and 15 for the older grades. K-2 grades
have a daily time they can come and check out books while
grades 3-6 have a weekly time. Students get the permission
from their teacher to go to the library during selection time.
This allows the library to be open for more flexible class time.
(Fox, 2001)
In one study, it was found that students with a flexible
schedule actually check out more books in a school year than
students who were in schools that had a fixed library schedule
(Gavigan, Pribesh & Dickinson, 2010)
10. If research shows that flexible schedules are best
for students, why don’t all schools have them?
Many times, especially in elementary schools, a
fixed schedule is necessary because the media
center acts as a prep period for the classroom
teachers. Sometimes there are budget cuts that
don’t allow a full time LMS to be available to the
students and staff throughout the day. Recent
trends show that less schools are moving to a
flexible schedule (Creighton, 2007) If a school
has a fixed schedule the LMS must work to
have a successful program.
11. Can a Fixed Schedule be
Successful?
1. Classroom teachers must see the LMS as a fellow
teacher and include them in their planning.
-LMS can be invited to attend grade level meetings.
-Some schools are required to plan a couple months in
advance. If this is required by the principal the plans
could/should be shared with the LMS. This will give the LMS
time to plan based on what the teacher has planned.
(Formanack & Pietsch, 2011)
-LMS should communicate with classroom teachers over
lunch, email or other communication tools to make teachers
aware of what the media center has to offer. (Ludmer, 2008)
-The LMS should show the teachers that they are familiar with
the standards and have ideas to help integrate information
literacy into the curriculum. (Ludmer, 2008, p.28)
12. Can a Fixed Schedule be
Successful?
2. The LMS needs to create a positive relationship with
the classroom teachers.
-The LMS need to create a trusting relationship with the
teachers they will be working with. This will help
teachers see that the library offers an opportunity for
their students’ learning to grow and meet the classroom
goals.
-One school builds in a window of time around the fixed
class schedule. If a teacher wants to work on a project
they can ask for an extended time in the library. The
teacher must be in the library during the extended time.
Both teacher would be giving up some “prep time”, but it
is believed that the extra time given to the students
benefits them tremendously. Without a good
relationship between the teachers this would not be
possible. (Ludmer, 2008)
13. Can a Fixed Schedule be
Successful?
3. LMS have 21st Century Standards too
- One district created a Professional Learning
Communities (PLC) where the LMS from the district
would meet on a monthly basis to create lessons that
would “focus on integrating standards based on AALS’s
standards for the 21st Century Learners with content
area standards.” (Formanack & Pietsch,2011, p.9) The PLC’s
must have communication with the classroom teachers
therefore sharing thoughts on how the media center can
extend classroom learning.
- Having a fixed schedule allows the LMS to see the
students on a regular basis and create a relationship
that will help students feel comfortable using the library.
(Formanack &Pietsch, 2011)
14. One Librarian Says it Right!
This is true whether you have a fixed or flexible schedule
“You have to be a constant presence-
approachable and open. Have a tea, invite
your faculty to a new book exhibit, get time
on the faculty meeting agenda, hand-deliver
new resources to teachers when you know
they are working on specific projects. These
two C’s of Communication and Cooperation
can lead to Collaboration.” (Rowe,2007, P. 45)
15. Bibliography
O AASL, Retrieved from
http://www.ala.org/aasl/aaslissues/postionstatements/flexsched
O Creighton, P. (2007). Just How Flexible Are We?: The Current State
of Scheduling in School Libraries. Library Media Connection, 26(3-
), 10.
O Formanack, G., & Pietsch, L. (2011). Fixed Schedules Can Support
21st-Century Skills. School Library Monthly, 27(6), 8-10.
O Fox, C. J. (2001). Designing a Flexible Schedule for an Elementary
School Library Media Center. Library Talk, 14(1), 10-13.
O Gavigan, K., Pribesh, S., & Dickinson, G. (2010). Fixed or flexible
schedule? schedule impacts and school library circulation. Library &
Information Science Research, 32(2), 131-137.
O Glenda, S. R. (2007). Collaboration: IT'S A GAMBLE ON A FIXED
SCHEDULE. Knowledge Quest, 35(4), 44-46.
O Harvey, C.A. (2009) The 21st Century Elementary Library Media
Program
O Ludmer, R. (2008). A Fixed Schedule and Successful Collaboration-
-An Oxymoron?. School Library Media Activities Monthly, 24(6), 27-
29.
NCES Retrieved from http://www.nces.ed.gov/pubs2004/2004313.pdf
