**Apologies for cross-posting

Dear School Librarian,
We are conducting a research study entitled "The Reality of Staff Development in the Work Responsibilities of School Librarians." The purpose of this study is to investigate the time allocated and/or spent by school library media specialists on staff development related activities and to identify the factors within the school community which hinder or contribute to the active pursuit of these activities. Participation in the study is voluntary. The study is based on the national standards for school librarians as outlined in Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Programs.

To participate in the study, you will complete an electronic survey that is linked to this email. Completing the survey connotes your consent to be a participant in this study. The survey consists of a combination of closed ended and open ended questions. Demographic data will also be collected to describe the respondents to this study. Completion of the survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes. You are free to answer or not answer any particular question and have no obligation to complete answering the questions once you begin.

Your participation is confidential. You will not be asked for any identifying information in the survey questions. All data obtained in this study will be reported as group data. No individual can be or will be identified. The only persons who will have access to the data are us, as the Principal Investigators. There are neither anticipated risks should you participate, nor anticipated personal benefits from being involved in the study. However, there will be educational or professional benefit from this study. The information obtained will be communicated through publication in the literature and presentations at professional meetings. There is no cost to you for your participation.

If you are interested in being entered into a drawing for one of ten $20 Amazon gift cards, please include your email address at the conclusion of the survey. We will not share your email address or use your email for any reason other than to notify you if you are selected to receive a gift card. Your e-mail address will not be kept or stored with any survey information.

All research on human volunteers is reviewed by a committee that works to protect your rights and welfare. If you have questions or concerns about your rights as a research subject you may contact, anonymously if you wish, the Institutional Review Board at 919-966-3113 or by email to IRB_subjects@unc.edu.

Thank you for considering participation in this study. If you would like to participate in the study, please follow the link to the survey. If the link does not work, please copy the URL into your browser.
https://unc.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6WJ3dx5lU0bORZH

Jeanne Stroud
Masters Student
School of Information & Library Science
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 297599
stroudj2@live.unc.edu

Sandra Hughes-Hassell
Professor
School of Information & Library Science
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
smhughes@email.unc.edu

Sandra Hughes-Hassell, Ph.D.
Professor
Frances Carroll McColl Term Professor
Coordinator of the School Library Media Program
School of Information and Library Science
100 Manning Hall, CB #3360
The University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
919-843-5276
smhughes@email.unc.edu
Twitter: @bridge2lit