Hit: rationale for district library coordinator

[Deb Logan <jd3logan@BRIGHT.NET>]

Recently I asked for ideas to share with the administration on ways the
district library coordinator's position impacts library services to
students and teachers.  To save space, I have combined and summarized
most of the responses.

Some of the benefits of having a district coordinator :

        formulates the district budget (thinking in terms of  every
building in the district)
        equity of services (access, materials, etc.)
        direction with curriculum- coordinates and keeps the program up
to date
                (plans, goals, scope, curriculum & sequence, etc)
        district-wide policies written and kept up to date
        write job descriptions
        training for the group as whole and individual support
(especially new personnel)
        direction for non-degreed personnel
        helps prevent library personnel from working in isolation
        acts as a "clearing house" for information to keep personnel up
to date
        fosters communication about programs among the schools
        direction for facilities (including planning improvements and
new facilities)
        central support or planning for library automation systems
        technology- yearly upgrades and care  (i.e. make sure y2k
addressed in every
                building)
        centralize repair of equipment and save $
        centralize purchase of equipment to buy in volume and save
substantial $
        coordinate and centralize purchase of some library support
materials (School
                Library Journal, Children's Catalog, etc)
        provide or supervise centralized services (i.e. selection,
ordering, processing, etc.)
        prevent unnecessary duplication of district resources
        "outside" perspective on collection evaluation
        district level libraries-  weeding, professional selection,
promotion of materials, etc.
        district level advocacy for library, media, and/or information
services
                represent, inform, educate, etc.
        district-wide evaluation of programs and services
        if these responsibilities have to be handled by the
professionals in the schools,
                it will mean substantial time taken away from building
responsibilities
       sees the larger picture in general
       serves as point of contact for outside resources and agencies
(public library,  state
                library, etc.)

        a technology person would have little information on maintaining
collections

One program leader shared some of the ways she contributes to her
district:

> As the district head of Library Media Services, I had .5 release time to do
> the job.  With this time I can
>
> 1.  Contact distributers, software companies for information that lms don't
> have time to do.
> 2. coordinate meetings, workshops, miniclasses for the department
>
> 3. Attend district meetings to represent the department, and for the
> department
>
> 4.  Attend meetings of organizations that we belong to to report to the
> department.
>
> 5.  Find answers to questions about technology and other matters.
>
> 6.  Represent the department on matters of concern to them with the
> administration
>
> 7.  Visit buildings, talk with media specialists to see what is happening
> with them
>
> 8.  Report via email on all the meetings I attend, conferences, etc.
>
> These are few things off the top of my head.  The media specialists are very
> busy just dealing with their buildings.  They need someone to represent them
> who understands what goes on in a library media center.  To not have this,
> indicates a that the adminstration does not think that what we do is
> important.
>
> Michele Missner
>

Thanks to all who shared- Audrey, Suzanne, Michele, Mary and several
others.
--
Sincerely,
Deb Logan
Librarian/Media Specialist
Taft Middle School
Marion, OH
KidsConnect Volunteer
jd3logan@bright.net

Taft Middle School
http://156.63.251.180/taft/index.html
Taft Library/Media Center
http://156.63.251.180/taft/tlibrary.html

KidsConnect is a question-answering and referral service
on the Internet, provided by the American Association
of School Librarians, a division of the American Library
Association.

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