Job Title/Desc NOT poop deck...

["WILLIAM R. HANSON, WILLIAM ABERHART HIGH SCHOOL" <BHANSON@CBE.AB.CA>]

The title/job description discussion has moved me to post my loonie's worth.
(loonie = $1CdnCoin) I reserve comment on poop deck discussion.

On Job Titling:

Certainly the label that we have, carries some aura, but the image that
persists is consistent and has a long shelf life.  That image does not
include modern technology skills required of those teacher librarians
who venture into the new information technologies.

I am not inclined to opt for a techno-centric title, nor a re-labelling
of any kind.  For my money, the title teacher librarian used in Canada
and Australia and a few US Districts, reflects the roots of our profession
in teaching and learning.  Just because I have learned how to Network
6 CDROMS on an Infoserver on an Digital Alpha distributed network, learned
how to use Netscape and other WWW utilities, maintain a MultiLis
Distributed Network Catalogue node, and so on, is not cause to inject
techno-babble into my title.  I am in the learning and teaching business.
I learn sometimes and I teach sometimes.

SIDEBAR--> Just for fun, my business card identifies me as, "Navigator."

On Job Description:

This is where the action is, and I think things are a mess.  In a rapidly
evolving enterprise like school libraries, job descriptions are a furtive
stab at institutional jello.  Many of us have generic (one size fits all)
position descriptions which amount to pious prose.  Others have specific
pd's that require updating hourly.  For my loonie's worth a job
description is not worth dithering over.  Write it and get on with life.

BUT!:

What has been the gold in this discussion is the woof and warp about what
we are REALLY doing out there.  Certainly the angst comes through, but
behind it is the substance of what is evolving in our profession.  I hope
Peter and Mike are archiving this discussion in ERICIR because I have
deleted all postings!  (after reading most, of course)

What is impressive about LMNET and this thread in particular, is the diversity
and depth of expertise that is evident.  2000 or so lurkers benefit from
our discussions I am sure.  School Libraries in the ninetys have hit warp
speed when in comes to innovation and that makes this an interesting place
to practice learning and teaching.

I have a fear for some collegues though.  LMNET is a self selecting techo
aware population, which is not representative of the school library
community.  There is the other 90% or more of our colleagues who are not
engaged in the new information technologies locally or globally.  The
inclination of the technology learning curve varies, but it always is up.
There is an incessant pressure to learn new skills and make opportunities
happen, that methinks blows by some of our brethren.


CANADIAN SPIN -->  Buying into the new info technologies may be survival
skill north of the 49th parallel.  Massive budget reformation (slash and
burn) initiatives have hit several Canadian school districts.  Building
level credibility is becoming an exchangeable commodity and techno-skills
carry a lot of sway in staffing decisions.  The general image of teacher
librarians does not carry a technology competence or leadership aura,
so that has to be developed locally.  Neither a title nor position
description dithering will do much to change that.

enuf
Bill
BHanson@cbe.ab.ca
Teacher Librarian
Navigator
I post, therefore I am.