Habit #2 of Highly Effective Media

[Matthew Penn <Matthew_Penn@ideas.sdhc.k12.fl.us>]

Here is habit number two.  I was told that on some email systems that it re=
ads with a bunch of garbled code in it.  If this is the case for - you emai=
l me and I will send it directly to you.  It seems to work ok when I do it =
that way.  Once again, feel free to give me comments.  It is still a rough =
draft.


<bigger><x-fontsize><param>12</param><bold>Habit =232

A highly effective media specialist knows where to get things.

</bold>
        This is something that cannot be taught in library school.  It can be talk=
ed <underline>about</underline>, it can be observed as in an internship or =
training period, but it is difficult to teach how to get something.  A good=
 media specialist knows where to get things like a classroom teacher has wi=
thitness.  A media specialist that is not good at finding things can seek t=
o bring the quality along or develop the sense, but if the basic building b=
lock isn=92t there it is almost a lost cause.  The good news is a media spe=
cialists that can=92t consistently find things is rare.  Media specialists =
just know how to get things.  It is part of the reason why people choose th=
e profession in the first place.  They like FINDING things.  Namely, librar=
ians like finding things for people. =20

        So, how do you find things?  Habit =235 helps a lot.  The more people you =
are friendly with the more resources you have.  And this isn=92t just a cas=
e of using people or networking.  People will generally want to help you if=
 you return the favor often.  People are your most valuable asset in findin=
g things.  Think about that manual that comes with a computer.  Does anyone=
 read it cover to cover?  If you do, you are the first person in history to=
 do so.  Even the writers don=92t read it from cover to cover. That is the =
reason it is so disjointed.  Most people plug the thing in and start fiddli=
ng.  When something doesn=92t work what does the average person do?  Yell, =
=93Hey, the cursor just froze up on me.  What do I do?=94 to the closest pe=
rson.    A popular technology saying goes, =93When everything that you know=
 how to do has been tried;  break down and read the manual.=94  Talking to =
people about finding things is the best and fastest way.  The desire to tal=
k to a real person is the reason why hearing =93Your call is valuable to us=
 - Please stay on the line and someone will assist you momentarily.=94 is s=
o infuriating.=20

        Finding things just doesn=92t mean books.  Knowing where to get things inc=
ludes: how to obtain the latest version of Netscape, how to whip up enthusi=
asm for Accelerated Reader, what Internet site has extensive information fo=
r endangered Florida wildlife, and how to get your binding machine fixed wh=
en it is broken.  All of these questions and more have been discussed in on=
e place by media specialists around the world.  The place is LM_NET and is =
one of the greatest resources for finding things.  Its praises are sung mor=
e in habit =236, but suffice it to say that it is a place where you can get=
 THINGS - FAST=21

        The cornerstone of knowing where to get things is knowing your collection.=
  The best media specialists can tell you the current status of any section=
 of books and might even be able to tell you the status of an individual ti=
tle off the top of their head.  The best media specialists know that when a=
 student comes in with a request of =93Do you have any books about Hallowee=
n paper things.=94 they are looking for <underline>Scary Origami</underline=
>.  The media center has one copy of this book and it is checked out (proba=
bly by someone in this student=92s class).  This hypothetical media special=
ist then makes a note to order more of the title soon and suggests another =
origami book.  This might be taking the point to an extreme, but knowing wh=
ere books are in your own library is vital. Ways to get familiar with a col=
lection are: weeding the collection, reshelving, helping students, and occa=
sionally having to move the whole collection.  That can get you real famili=
ar fast=21=20

        Evidence of habit =232

    * You use LM_NET on a regular basis.


    * When a teacher wants resources for a unit, you

       are able to give them a choice of items in several

       different forms of media.

  =20

    * You use interlibrary loans frequently.


    * People ask you for help often.


    * When a difficult request comes in you start thinking of

       ways to attack the problem.  You have a choice of

       plans instead of placing all hope on one.

      =20



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