With the recent passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), school libraries are poised for a potential turnaround. But there's only one way forward: school librarians must become leaders, fully interwoven into the fabric of the educational community. And to become a truly effective leader you've got to have a plan. In her new book, Weisburg builds on her decades of experience and mentorship in school libraries to offer a carefully crafted roadmap that guides readers step by step through the process of transforming into a leader, from becoming aware of what's at stake to learning and mastering the necessary skills for leadership. Using a pragmatic approach that acknowledges the challenges to come while also offering unabashed inspiration, this book incorporates first-hand understanding of the dynamics of the educational environment, from the building to the district level; - begins by addressing common fears about taking on a leadership role, and shows how to move past them and gain confidence; - demonstrates how to build credibility among stakeholders and peers through strategic risk-taking; - discusses ways to rely on one's strengths to grow skills and expertise; - explains how to know when to lead and when to manage, plus the fine art of delegation; - gives pointers on communicating effectively, becoming visible, behaving ethically, maintaining a healthy life-work balance, and other important career issues; and - shows readers what it takes to move onto a larger stage and become a local educational leader who also has a presence on the state and national level. By starting with the basics and then offering concrete ideas for moving forward, the book shows readers how they can slowly build their confidence and skills to become the leaders their students and the profession needs them to be. According to speaker, author, and former school librarian Weisburg, who teaches at William Paterson University, librarians no longer have a choice: If they want to remain relevant, they must become leaders and advocates. The author offers valuable first steps, challenges librarians to develop student-friendly spaces, and inspires readers to exercise their leadership abilities by becoming involved with state and national library organizations. Like any good instructor, Weisburg reviews the concepts established in previous chapters before building on them; each chapter concludes with a bulleted list of key ideas and sources. The book also realistically addresses obstacles, though the refrain that school librarians are constantly being judged may seem like overkill to some readers. Resources for cultivating a dynamic library that's indispensable to the school are abundant. One caveat: Readers may be confused at Weisburg's advice to become familiar with the standards associated with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), as ESSA removes the mandate for states to adopt the Common Core State Standards but does not create alternate standards. Regardless, the message that librarians should be knowledgeable about the various education standards is important. VERDICT Useful for librarians entering the field and those who may not be as well versed in the research on leadership; a great read for teachers who have transitioned into librarianship but lack certification or a library school background.—Jodeana Kruse, R. A. Long High School, Longview, WASyndicated from LJ "Useful for librarians entering the field and those who may not be as well versed in the research on leadership; a great read for teachers who have transitioned into librarianship but lack certification or a library school background." --School Library Journal "With her wisdom and knowledge about library work, Weisburg harvests insights from psychology, technology, business, and marketing to help any school librarian strengthen a library's identity and clarify its value to the community ... this is an essential book for reimagining the role of a competent, effective school librarian at a critical time of shrinking resources." --Voice of Youth Advocates "This is a comprehensive book that includes valuable information for school librarians, no matter their level of experience. Any school librarian or school district could use this book to ensure that their librarians and library program are seen as indispensable." --Reference & User Services Quarterly Hilda K. Weisburg was a school librarian for over 30 years and is now an author, speaker, and adjunct instructor at William Paterson University (NJ). She coauthored 14 books for school librarians (with Ruth Toor), including Being Indispensable: A School Librarian's Guide to Becoming an Invaluable Leader , New on the Job: A School Library Media Specialist's Guide to Success , and School Librarian's Career Planner , which was her first work without Toor. For 35 years she cowrote and edited School Librarian's Workshop , a bimonthly newsletter for K 12 librarians. She has given presentations at ALA, AASL, and state