HIT>Value of LM_NET

[Ric Wiltse - East Grand Rapids Public Schools]

Thanks to all who reponded to my plea for LM_NET value statements.  They
were all great, but here are some of them:

The Value of LM_NET
 replys from LM_NET subscribers
compiled by Ric Wiltse, Director of Technology
East Grand Rapids Public Schools
East Grand Rapids, MI


LM_NET is cheaper than a psychologist; safer than an affair; and
healthier than 2 boxes of chocolate donuts.   In other words, it's therapy.
(Gail K. Dickinson, Endicott, NY)

I knew I could count on LM_Net to answer the question.  My AP was
impressed I could find the answer in a day. (Peter Butts, Holland, MI)

I can't live without my lm_net (Diane Culbertson, Lexington, KY)

 As the only professional Library Media Specialist in my building of
685 children grades K-5, I feel _much_ less isolated being in touch with
others who share my job.  The joys and the frustrations are many, and are
sometimes not understood by others. (Beth Bugnaski,Baltimore County, MD)

I have been on LM_NET since April of this year.  I have found it to be a
constant source of valuable information about the library/media field. At
this point it has become an indispensable tool for me professionally.
(George Bishop, Elsie, MI)

LM_NET addresses the sense of isolation in our profession where so often
one professional works alone in one school. This way we're always in
touch with colleagues.  (Debbie Locke, Westbrook, Maine)

From my point of view which is that of a fairly new net user, the LM_NET
is the most useful area I'm involved with in terms of professional help.
The members seem to be very helpful.  (Ralph Hinzman, Dover, DE)

The main value I have found so far on LM-NET is information I can share
with the teachers in my school and that they may find valuable in their
classes.  The most fun I have is the serendipity of the entire Net.
(Carl Seal, Fort Worth, TX)

LM_NET is an invaluable resource for connecting to colleagues and
receiving immediate help and support in our daily work.
( Gigi Lincoln, Battle Creek, MI)

The main value I have found so far on LM-NET is information I can share
with the teachers in my school and that they may find valuable in their
classes.  The most fun I have is the serendipity of the entire Net.
(Carl Seale, Fort Worth, TX)

I am a solo librarian/information student/learner!  LM_NET helps me to
feel that I'm not working in isolation. (Mary Jameson, Troy, MO)

I work at a tiny school in very rural northern New York State.  LM_NET
helps me enormously by providing info I would never be able to locate
within the walls of my library.  The librarians are great at responding
to requests!  Having been a member of this listserv for a year now, I
can't imagine what I would do without it!
(Melinda Miller-Widrick, Colton, NY)

LM_NET is a treasure of information and support for media specialists--a
community of info-niks whose expertise and humor are appreciated.
(Kathy Fredrick,Twinsburg, OH)

 USE LM_NET!! :)
This Listserv is a valuable way to discuss problems and find solutions
for those problems with people who share the same concerns as you.
Enjoy and subscribe!!  (Abbey-jo Rehling, Farmington, MI)

When attempting to make some decisions about procedural matters
(such as barcoding) input from other professionals grappling with
the same issues is invaluable!
Book suggestions and printed bibs that follow are also most helpful.
What a resource! (Linda Greengrass,New York, NY)

Greetings from sunny (well, usually, it's dripping water today)  Los
Angeles.  Without LM_NET, many of us would spends countless hours looking
for information in our limited resources.  Here, we share and help each
other.  Think of it as a long running dept. meeting --  only one that
actually accomplishes something! (Esther Sinofsky, Granada Hills, CA)

Hooray for LM_NET (a WONDERFUL support and information sharing
community!) and hooray for the internet!
I feel that there are curriculum applications for all grade levels and
content areas...from sending a Teddybear on a trip and having it use the
internet to tell of it's activities, to researching Supreme Court cases or
following the President's speeches.
There....those are my big words and "educationeese" statements....NOW!!!! I
want you to know that the internet is FUN!  INTERESTING!!!  EXCITING!
EVEER EXPANDING!!!  AND......it is worth  whatever it takes to learn the
system that lets you access it.   Give it a try....(get your students to
help!)   We have learned a LOT from our students!
Happy November to you all!   And HOORAY for Ric for presenting this to you!
( Katie Bailey,Daytona Beach, FL)

 Ric, as an elementary librarian, I find that I get many useful
ideas from the LM_NET.  I don't have very much opportunity to share
verbally with other librarians.  LM_NET gives me the opportunity to
"listen" to interesting discussions and the chance to offer input, if I
desire.  It's my link to the "other" world. (Sandy Williams,Plano, TX)

LM_NET is a great way to multiply the resources I have available to me in
the library -- the answers are out there, and librarians know them! (Mark
Williams, CA)

Hello from a "green" LM_NET user--less than an week actually.  I really
enjoy reading all of the messages and have gotten loads of new ideas and
have discovered some unfamiliar topics which I plan to research in order
to learn just what they are about.  I have sent very few messages as I still
am unsure about sending messages the correct way.  I suppose practice
makes perfect, right? (Edna Major,Murfreesboro, TN)

My favorite thing about LM_NET is that it provides me with very
quick, very up-to-date information from my colleagues; it's my
favorite professional reading. (Jane Hohn, Nottoway, VA)

I'm a librarian in Chesterfield Co., VA; I love the way
LM-NET gives me simultaneous access to the expertise of over
2,500 librarians! (Cathie Birdsong, Midlothian, VA)

LM_NET is a great professional development resource; it gives
me advice, support, and help. (Karen Whetzel, Mount Jackson, VA)

L_M Net keeps us rural library people in touch with the big world, even
though we don't choose to live there. (Katharine D. Graves, CA)

  LM_NET has been "lifeline" of
help for the past two years!  I am a single librarian in a Catholic
school with no tech coordinator for the district or school - LM_NETTer's
have helped me deal with many, many technology problems, and brought many
items of interest up for discussion - it is a fabulous listserv for all
librarians! (Lynne J. Webb, Beaumont, TX)

LM_NET has been an invaluable resource for everything from
nitty gritty technology questions to ideas for book related
units for my school.  Don't know how I survived without it!  We
can brainstorm with 2000 other library media specialists.
Teachers have other teachers at their grade level to bounce
ideas off, but quite often the librarians are isolated.
(Kathy Lafferty,Alexandria, VA)

LM_Net is a wonderful resource for all kinds of questions.
Communicating with other colleagues on a daily basis reduces my feelings
of isolation with my profession. (Linda Ramsey,Centralia, MO)

 The ideas that pass across my screen are incredibly potent in addressing
various library needs and causes with our "powers that be." Enjoy!
Katharine Bruner (Harrison, TN)

LM_NET lets me get fast, honest advice from the experts--library media
specialists who have already used a product I am considering or done what
I am trying to do.  It's much better than the published articles where
all the problems and things that went wrong are smoothed over.
(Paula Neale,Kansas City, MO)

LM_NET.  It always comes through for me!! :-)(Stan Sharkey, Baltimore, MD)

LM_net is an invaluable forum for sharing professional concerns,
questions, ideas, trials, tragedies, successes, and quests.
Be sure to learn how to SET NOMAIL and SET MAIL early on so you don't go
crazy with the mail volume at first!!!
Enjoy your presentation! (Pat Gill, Columbus, OH)

Dear Colleagues:
The value is priceless!  There are opportunties to learn something new
every day. (Cecile L. Saretsky,New York)

Living in rural eastern Oregon can have its limitations when
conversing with other librarians. LM-NET allows me to join
a global group with like concerns and questions (Pat Atkinson, OR)

I just started LM_Net in October.  It takes some time to get through all
the mail, but it's too important to give up.  I've found booklists, lesson
ideas, computer help, and calls for help.  In our building there is only
one media specialist, but on the net there are 2,600+ media specialists.
It's good to know what's going on across the continent.
(Glenda Garrett, Vancouver, WA)

Greetings and salutations from British Columbia, Canada. One of the most
useful features of LM_NET is the ability to get different opinions about
ideas and concepts from like careered people.
(Lloyd Wishart, British Columbia, Canada)


A great amount of librarians out there are now my support and sounding
board. It is refreshing to know I am not alone in the world.
(Sandy Haggstrom, Fbks, AK)

 LM_NET is grand!  I've been pulling off info to share with school
librarians I work with relating to such things as bibliographies by
subject, level or curriculum area.  I've also been interested in the
questions relating to library technology.  Perhaps best of all is how
easy it is to use, and how rewarding when your queries are answered
quickly and cheerfully. (Allison Wheeler, Norwood, NY)

I have found information on networking computers, automating libraries,
books on certain topics, model technology schools...and too many other
things to mention! I love this place! (Eileen Thompson,Lake Orion, MI)

I want my, I want my, I want my LM_NET!
(Sylvia Adair,Lomira, Wisconsin)