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Robert (to whom I tried sending this to personally with no luck) and = other interested people, I just wanted to touch base with you and thank you for listing = "Commiseration" to the net so all could read. I hope you got a chance = to read the one I sent on "Lib Philosophy," and I copied most of "Prep = period--Jo Trauger" for you. Your message may not solve any problems directly but it sure gave me = ammunition for an article I am going to write to legislators, school = board members, the ALA, and others about school libraries and = librarians, their goal and purpose. Thanks again. Prep period message: I am basically a cheerful pleasant sort of person. Lately, however, I = have been asked to do so many non-related library "jobs" that I am = seriously considering retiring from the library work I love. ALA seems to condone the addition of more and more jobs (just check out = Library Power, but they don't support harried librarians very well (see = Commiserations that was on the net May 3rd). When do we get to say = ENOUGH! I can't solve all the problems of this school or school = district. Handling over 500 kids and accompanying staff without help is getting = impossible with all the jobs we are asked to do. And some librarians = have school populations over 1000 WITHOUT HELP! I don't see anyone = taking over the equipment circulation so we can add Internetting to our = repertoire. I don't see a teacher in charge of laminating for the = school, photocopying for others. (not to blame teachers, they've got = their own batch of problems!).=20 I believe in communicating and keeping the library at the forefront of = people's thoughts in a positive manner. After showing a school district = (through a grant) what a library could do, I got "rewarded" by becoming = the sole librarian for a high school AND middle school. Needless to say = after 11 years with the district, I quit. The kids, parents, teachers = and I had shown the administration the importance of libraries and what = librarians do through teaching kids to be media literate, produce = multi-media lessons, demonstrate their skills to adults and parents, = increase the reading level, double the number of books checked out, = triple the use of the library. All to no avail. They obviously, did = not heed the message. So, what does administration want? I can't tell you. Now, I set my goals and objectives, do what I can do, refuse to do the = non-library stuff and am getting happier because I'm helping kids and = teachers while the administrators become more unhappy because I won't do = what they ask me to do. . . . =20 End of Prep period message. By the way, I asked my principal what she wanted in a library and school = librarian. Their answer was: 1. To get kids reading and stay reading by = providing an inviting atmosphere, good materials, such things as = contests, book talks, etc., 2. To teach information skills by working = closely with teachers and students, and 3. To do this in an organized = and manageable setting for the librarian without having to add more = staff. I'm going to use #3 as my ammunition for no longer laminating or = photocopying for the entire staff. I'm also going to ask how = maintaining equipment meets her three criteria. I'll try to remember to send you a message on my success in this = endeavor. Keep the faith, Robert and all of you!=20 Linda Hays Welch Rio Vista Middle School welch@cyberport.com M.S.L.S., M.A. Ed. Bloomfield, NM Librarian=20 Linda Hays Welch Rio Vista Middle School welch@cyberport.com M.S.L.S., M.A. Ed. Bloomfield, NM Librarian=20