Most Important Issues

[Madeline Buchanan <DEMS105%UABDPO.BITNET@suvm.acs.syr.edu>]

   I think one of the most important issues is to make others understand
what we do and how we are a vital part of the school.  Teachers need to
know that the library is more than just a break for them and should work
fully with the librarian/media specialist to correlate library activities
with what is going on in their classroom.  Skills such as card catalog,
indices, the atlas, almanac, and use of other reference sources should not
be taught in isolation, but should be made more meaningful as a correlation
to the activities going on in the classroom.  This will  give the students
reason for mastering the skills instead of letting the instruction go into
one ear and out of the other.  Teachers should also make suggestions as to
the purchase of new books and materials for the media center instead of
griping when they do not respond to a request for new purchases.  Above all,
the media specialist, principal, and faculty should work together to make
the media center a necessary part of the educational process.

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   MADELINE L. BUCHANAN           DEMS105@UABDPO.DPO.UAB.EDU
   LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST       PHONE (205) 838-7644
   BARRETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
   7601 DIVISION AVENUE
   BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA  35206
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