In this succinct guide, Buzzeo paints a picture of how media specialists can use instructional collaboration to transform a media program and increase student achievement. . . there is something here for media specialists at all stages of the instructional partnership continuum~Marcia Kochel, Olson Middle School, Bloomington, MN School Library Journal, 5-1-09

Toni Buzzeo, the Guru of Collaboration books, has written another clear, comprehensive, and concise book. This handbook is full of information for the administrator, teacher, and librarian to promote, apply, and use data driven analysis to use collaboration successfully in student learning. She moves the school personnel step by step through the continuum of Instructional Partnership. These steps include: cooperation to coordination to collaboration to data driven collaboration. The handbook has extensive examples of templates and assessment tools. One is downloadable on her Web site. The last section of the handbook shows how collaboration increases test scores, usage of new technologies such as Web 2.0, and lesson plans using evidence-based practices. Not only does Buzzeo tell the truth about various roadblocks (time to meet, scheduling, etc.), she has common sense and suggestions to fix those roadblocks. Another chapter shows how the LMS can be the best advocate and how each administrator, teacher, and student can advocate for collaboration. Before you know it, everyone is collaborating. Highly Recommended. Deborah Cavitt, Educational Reviewer and Learning Resource Specialist, Duncanville, Texas, Library Media Connection, April 2009

This resource is “designed to be a single-volume, essential guide to collaboration,” and the author does an excellent job of presenting dense information in an accessible and positive voice that brings life to her topic and keeps the reader engaged.~ Elsworth Rockefeller,  VOYA, February 2009

Most teacher librarians have heard one or more presentations by Toni who has cress crossed the country encouraging collaboration. Tony notes that collaboration really begins with a teacher partner as cooperation in order to gain trust and then inches its way toward collaboration where team planning, team teaching, and team assessment are happeneing . . .it is a handy guide to a topic that needs to be front and center in every teacher librarian’s program. If you like Tony’s message, this is an excellent printed guide to use, study, and implement. ~ David Loertscher, Professional Reviews wiki

Toni Buzzeo has done it! . This slim volume is the definitive book that provides LMS’s with the tools to develop steps to collaboration in our schools. Every LMS to wants to begin to collaborate should read this book. Her book is also geared to administrators to show them how they can work with their LMS and teachers to promote collaboration.

The different levels of collaboration of LMS and teachers are first defined. Each level is described and expanded upon in the beginning chapters of the book. Each chapter outlays the level, and provides many find examples of the level of collaboration from schools across the US. The examples will give you ideas of how you can apply collaboration in your school. This is a work book, and there are places that you can write in your ideas, and places where you can evaluate your own levels of collaboration.

I was wishing the copy I read was my own. There were places I wanted to underline, and I wanted to fill in the action plans, the putting it to work charts, the discussion charts, and the tool charts for librarian s and administrators. This book (and some action on your part) will get you into the role of collaborator with your staff.~ Susan Couture, The Organized Librarian, February 2, 2011

What a wonderful resource for librarians and administrators wanting to make the library an integral part of the instructional program of a school.

As a librarian in a Pre-K school, I have spent the better part of the spring researching and learning about how to make the library a place where research and instructional support are primary.

As it stands now, the library is a place where the kids come for a story time and to check out books. I want to ensure that when students move from the ECS to their elementary school, that they know that the library is more than just a place for books. It is a place to learn and explore.

Fortunately for me, I have a principal and a staff that were eager to allow me to transform the library experience for even the youngest students. This book has helped me to join with my teachers and become part of the curriculum.

With templates and practical suggestions for collaborating with teachers, this books describes the various roles along the instructional partnership continuum.~Nancy Jo Lambert, Early Childhood School, Frisco ISD, TX, April 2011