LM_NET: Library Media Networking
- Subject: ELEM: Job description for library para vs. library aide
- From: Barbara Courter <barbara@MSC.NET>
- Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 16:27:20 -0500
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I have been reading an old listing of job descriptions for library aides =
and it brings some questions to my mind about my situation with my =
library paraprofessional. This will be her third year with me. She is =
with me each AM for 3 1/2 hours, during which time we have a 2nd, 3rd, =
and K class. She has a BS
degree and library science certification. Due to the fact that her title =
is "paraprofessional" rather than
"aide", I have tried to incorporate some actual instructional =
experiences into her job-she is actually in charge of the K class each =
day. I have tried to stay away from the more clerical tasks, such as =
those listed in the postings about aide responsibilities.
I would be interested in hearing from those of you in Elem. libraries =
who have one of the following situations:
1. Both a clerical aide AND a paraprofessional (if this fits you, =
how do you distinguish between the=20
responsibilities of the two positions, what are the =
responsibilities, problems this causes, etc.
2. A former "aide" position which is now a "paraprofessional" one =
(how do the job descriptions differ,
what problems do you have in this situation, etc.
I am also curious as to whether any of you have had problems with either =
of the following items:
1. Is attention to detail, accuracy ever a problem, and if so, how =
have you handled it-especially
if the subject is sensitive due to her self-acclaimed poor =
spelling skills. This causes problems =20
especially when she performs data entry tasks.
2. How do you accomplish helping the para to achieve a feeling of =
ownership in your program? I feel
that mine just looks at it as a 3 1/2 hour job, and she has =
capabilities that would seemingly allow
her to be so much more to the program- I've tried, without much =
luck, to show her that we are co-
workers, but her attitude seems to be "that's what you get paid =
the big bucks for!
I will appreciate hearing from those of you in either of these =
situations- I want to get off on the best foot at the beginning of this =
year-I admit that I have procrastinated in meeting these problems head =
on due
to her negative attitude-paras don't grow on trees, and I wasn't sure =
she would continue.
Barb Courter
Eugene Field Elem. Library
Maryville. MO 64468
barbara@msc.net
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<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>I have been reading an old listing =
of job=20
descriptions for library aides and it brings some questions to my mind =
about my=20
situation with my library paraprofessional. This will be her third =
year=20
with me. She is with me each AM for 3 1/2 hours, during which time we =
have a=20
2nd, 3rd, and K class. She has a BS</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>degree and library science =
certification. Due to=20
the fact that her title is "paraprofessional" rather =
than</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>"aide", I have tried to =
incorporate=20
some actual instructional experiences into her job-she is actually in =
charge of=20
the K class each day. I have tried to stay away from the more =
clerical=20
tasks, such as those listed in the postings about aide=20
responsibilities.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>I would be interested in hearing =
from those of=20
you in Elem. libraries who have one of the following =
situations:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2> 1. Both a =
clerical aide AND a=20
paraprofessional (if this fits you, how do you distinguish between =
the=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 =
size=3D2> =20
responsibilities of the two positions, what are the responsibilities, =
problems=20
this causes, etc.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2> 2. A former =
"aide"=20
position which is now a "paraprofessional" one (how do the job =
descriptions differ,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 =
size=3D2> what=20
problems do you have in this situation, etc.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>I am also curious as to whether any =
of you have=20
had problems with either of the following items:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2> 1. Is attention =
to detail,=20
accuracy ever a problem, and if so, how have you handled=20
it-especially</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 =
size=3D2> if=20
the subject is sensitive due to her self-acclaimed poor spelling skills. =
This=20
causes problems </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 =
size=3D2> =20
especially when she performs data entry tasks.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2> 2. How do you =
accomplish=20
helping the para to achieve a feeling of ownership in your program? I=20
feel</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 =
size=3D2> that=20
mine just looks at it as a 3 1/2 hour job, and she has capabilities that =
would=20
seemingly allow</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 =
size=3D2> her=20
to be so much more to the program- I've tried, without much luck, to =
show her=20
that we are co-</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 =
size=3D2> =20
workers, but her attitude seems to be "that's what you get paid the =
big=20
bucks for!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>I will appreciate hearing from those =
of you in=20
either of these situations- I want to get off on the best foot at the =
beginning=20
of this year-I admit that I have procrastinated in meeting these =
problems head=20
on due</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT><FONT size=3D2>to her =
negative=20
attitude-paras don't grow on trees, and I wasn't sure she would=20
continue.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Barb Courter<BR>Eugene Field Elem.=20
Library<BR>Maryville. MO 64468<BR><A=20
href=3D"mailto:barbara@msc.net">barbara@msc.net</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
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