I think we have to accept that some teachers will never use the library -
ever. However, I have been successful in getting some of the reluctant ones
in by:
finding out when they are in the staff lounge- and making sure I am having
coffee there
finding out when they are eating lunch - and making sure I am there --
Now, I don't push libraries - I push me - by being friendly. I listen to
their chats - add comments - so they get to know me as a person. Sometimes
it took year with some teachers to get them to suggest (they suggested) they
could use my services. It is a matter of trust. I have been at BK for 5
years and there are some teachers - English, for example, that don't use the
library. Maybe they will some day. So, I go overboard with those that
do ---and that has worked.
In my previous public school - it was a big no-no to ever let a teacher send
a kid to the library to take a test. It was common practice here before I
arrived and I continued with that practice. I have gained some teachers
because of that.
I also sat down with some teachers (after I befriended them) and asked them
for collection suggestions. That worked also. Each of my 5 years here I have
picked up 2 or 3 teachers who are using me. I also bull's-eye the new
teachers and establish a mentor relationship - that has also worked. I found
out that some teachers don't have a clue how to use a library or its
resources - and therefore would never use it for their classroom.
Hope you have success!
Allan
Dr. Allan O'Grady Cuseo (Brother Donogh Allan, MGC)
Bishop Kearney High School Library
125 Kings Highway South
Rochester, New York 14617
585-342 - 4000 x231
585-342 - 4694 (FAX)
acuseo@bkhs.org
Education in the tradition of the Christian Brothers and the School Sisters
of Notre Dame
FAC OMNIA BENE (Do all things well)
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Cyndi Bowman" <library_cyndi@YAHOO.COM>
To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
Sent: Friday, September 17, 2004 9:46 AM
Subject: Sec. Rant regarding teacher use
> I know I've read many of these kinds of posts on our listserv -- and have
even
> responded to a few. However, I'm at the end of myself in figuring out what
to
> do next, so I welcome any ideas -- or even telling me to get over it and
keep
> doing what I know to do!!
>
> Here the situation: I'm in my 6th year at this high school. There are
1400+
> kids, about 120 teachers/staff. My predecessor was here about 30 years --
quit
> long before he actually left -- and left a lot of teachers with bad
feelings
> about library accessibility, services and resources. I've done all the
things
> that I've read about, been taught, or layed awake thinking of. I do
> newsletters, email about new resources, signs, website (this is new),
> networking with teachers to find out what they're doing, offer to do
backflips
> for their kids, etc., etc., etc. I should also say that we have laptop
carts on
> every floor, one for each 6 classrooms or so.
>
> So -- My problem is getting my English teachers to use the library!! I
know
> that they should be my primary users, but there are several who STILL
think
> that they know everything about research that their kids need to be taught
and
> that the research can be done either on the internet or individually by
the
> students on their own time. If class time is given, I see students from
these
> classes in small groups. I work with those kids, giving them the info
about the
> databases and helping them find the info that seems to illude them
otherwise.
> Almost every kid walks out of here having had his question answered/info
found.
> My facility is small -- only able to hold one class at a time. I know that
has
> frustrated some teachers when I've had scheduling conflicts.
>
> One of the reasons I find this so frustrating is that teachers in other
subject
> areas think that students are learning to research in the English
curriculum.
> They get frustrated when kids don't know how to approach a topic for
another
> subject area and don't want to spend the time teaching them -- or allowing
me
> to do so.
>
> Teachers who do use my "services" are pleased and say that the kids use
the
> information I give them productively. But there are lots and lots of
students
> who don't get the benefit of my expertise because the teachers don't/won't
use
> me. When there have been scheduling conflicts, I've even taken "my show on
the
> road" and worked with classes in their own rooms. At least we work through
how
> they are going to approach the topic, even if we don't get to do it right
then.
>
>
> This month, my usage is down by 10% from last year. I don't know what else
to
> do or say. The department head is one of the "offenders," so going to her
won't
> help. The principal won't mandate something like this ...
>
> Thanks for "listening." Any suggestions will be welcome.
>
> Cyndi
>
> =====
> Cyndi Bowman, Librarian Owner of Cozie, WCCC
> Hutchinson High School (World's Cutest Chubby
> Hutchinson, KS Chihuahua)
> bowmanc@usd308.com
> library_cyndi@yahoo.com
>
> "Havin' more fun than the average bear ..."
>
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