HIT: Who's the "Librarian" Part 2

["Linda M. Kurtz" <lkurtz@ATGNET.COM>]

Here's some more...

.A motivational speaker suggested awhile back that we put
our diplomas in a frame on the wall....  I have thought about doing
that, but my perception is that this is a gradual teaching process that
you have to make converts of them one by one....
--
Lois Roberts Bishop O'Dowd HS Library, Oakland, Ca
lrobert@odowd.pvt.k12.ca.us
Explain that it is a similar situation to the principal and assistant
principal, superintendant and asst super.
 *********
Linda,  This is a difficult problem.  I have been a school librarian for 26
years and it's an age old problem I face all the time.  When I have seventh
graders come in for orientation I always tell them about being a college
graduate and having a teaching certificate.  I talk to the eighth grade
career class and tell them about my career, college education, teaching
certificate, etc., and still have students say they didn't know you had to
have a degree to be a school librarian.  The problem was even greater when
I had an aide.

Kathy Geronzin
Northeast MS-HS Librarian
Goose Lake, IA 52060
319-577-2249
FAX 319-577-2248
kgeronzin@po-1.northeast.k12.ia.us
********

If she's assistant,
does that still make her a librarian?
(Devil's advocating here)
as:
Assistant Principal
is still a Principal.

I know you mean LIBRARY assistant,
but perhaps Clerk or Secretary or Tech Aide
might be better.
Is this a Union issue--
with job titles and descriptions and qualifications and all?

GOOD LUCK!
The situation here got so bad
that my "assistant"
(so SHE thought)
hated my Student Teachers
so badly --
because they were above her in chain of command--
that one was pulled from this placement!!!

Tough one.
Richard Librarian
********

I guess I don't know why it is important, in the total scheme of things,
to be worried that the people you serve don't know the difference between
you and your associate.  Frankly, I am thrilled that my associate is so
competent and information literate.  I would not mind at all if the
students and faculty I serve referred to her as a librarian.  (I also have
better things to do and to accomplish than to worry about things like
that.)

However, if you are losing sleep over this issue, why not display your MLS
in a frame in the media center just like other professionals do?  Or is
that isn't up your alley, why not refer to yourself as a media specialist
and your associate as a librarian and be done with it?

And, frankly, my opinion is that a posted "hit" on this petty, catty,
elitist  issue is not warranted.


Denise Strudthoff
Iowa Valley
K-12 Media Specialist
 *********

My aide and I are known as the library ladies.

Everyone knows the diference, but still call my aide a librarian.

Hope this helps.

Good luck

Joyce A. Hintz
********

My library assistant has been with me for 12 years.  She is an absolute
jewel, and I usually introduce her as my "right and left arm" or "my partner
in crime>".   I guess I would wnat the person who wrote the article to be
aware of their mistake, because it represents sloppy reporting, however -
-if this person is as wonderful as you seem to think she is at this time, I
don't think I would make a big deal about it with your staff.  If you treat
your asistant as an equal, she will probably start correcting people when it
really counts.
    Good luck, Donna
********

Hi - At the elementary level here in Fairbanks our job title is library
assistant which is a great misnomer because we are THE librarians in our
school.  We assist no one & run our libraries independently.  As you can
see by my signature I consider myself a librarian.  Altho our jobs
require only a high school diploma many of us have teaching degrees or an
MLS.  As far as your particular situation you might ask that teacher to
do an article in the newsletter to spot light either you or the library
in which you could mention your background & again mention that so and so
is your assistant.  I would have a tendency not to push too hard on this
as it may cause hard feelings with your assistant & you do have to work
with this person.  It's my philosophy that we all work together to serve
the students & what's in a job title?  Just some passing thoughts on your
request.

Maryellen Paull
Librarian
Woodriver Elementary
Fairbanks, Alaska
maryelle@muskox.alaska.edu
********

This is especially bad when the librarian is only there one day a week and
the assistant is there every day.  Last year,  during a crazy morning at
one elementary school, a parent wandered.  I was in a real hurry, and I
was not exactly sure what she asked, but I THINK she asked if I was
Sandy's assistant.  I said "sort of" and went along with my business.
(She is now a very dedicated volunteer, and I know she knows which is
which!)

Kathleen Morrow
Stevenson-Carson School District
PO Box 850
Stevenson, WA
kmorrow@esd112.wednet.edu

 *******

I would have explained the difference to the writing teacher, but I'm
thrilled that our students see my 2 hour aide as a "librarian"--they
understand that she is second in command, but they ask her questions
just as they ask me and she is treated as an equal.  I've been around
MLSs who don't know as much as my aide when it actually comes to
interacting with students and teachers;  I still call them
librarians, but reluctantly.  I've been a librarian for 19 years and
students have always figured out that I am a teacher because I
occasionally "guest teach" a class.  When they ask (those times when
they are voting on "teachers" for something, for instance) I let them
know I had to teach before I could get my library certification--they
seem stunned that library certification requires more than teacher
certifcation.  Missouri library certification no longer requires that
we have classroom experience, but I'm glad I spent 10 years in the
English classroom--at least I can understand problems the classroom
teachers face, to a point.  Times have changed, and it is even harder
now to be a classroom teacher than it was 20 years ago.

   __/\/\/\____/\/\____/\__/\__/\/\____/\/\/\____/\/\____/\/\___/\
Janet Hofstetter, librarian
California High School       email:
1501 W. Buchanan               jhofstetter@admin.california.k12.mo.us
California, MO 65018         voice/fax: (573) 796-8256
                   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The next best thing to knowing something is knowing where to find it.
 **********

And a view from the other side:

I have a somewhat different perspective.  My library clerk sits at her desk
most of the day.  She is afraid of computers, although
we have tried to teach her the basics.  She doesn't seem to like students
(high school), and is almost rude to them when they
can't find me and have to ask her for help.  The teachers and students in
my school definitely know the difference between the
media specialists and the clerk, and oftentimes I wish it weren't so
apparent.  When the other media specialist and I are
up to our ears helping classes of students doing research, we would love a
third helping hand.  So, be careful what you wish for.
Of course, were I in your shoes, I 'm sure I would feel the same way you
do.
Louise

Thanks again for all your help.

Linda M. Kurtz
lkurtz@atgnet.com
Library Media Specialist
Rye Neck Middle School / High School Library
300 Hornidge Rd.
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
(914)698-6171
The love of books is a love which requires neither justification, apology,
nor defense.