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Cindy, I did not mean your post about telling us where you've looked already. I think that's common sense. However, there have been others whose tone has been condescending and judgmental. I, too, wish the 40-some people (mostly newbies) who wrote to tell me they are about to leave the list because they perceive they aren't welcome felt comfortable giving their opinion openly. That they aren't is an indictment of the list as a whole (me included), which is what I was trying to say. I'm sorry I wasn't more clear, Julie Julie Anderson, Librarian Liberty High School, a National Blue Ribbon School Renton, WA (425) 837-4901 -----Original Message----- From: Cindy Dobrez [mailto:dobrez@NOVAGATE.COM] Sent: Monday, October 04, 1999 3:14 PM To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU Subject: Re: Community I think a community helps one another, and that intolerance can work both ways. I received numerous supportive replies to me personally last week after I suggested that people let us know whether or not they've checked the archives, do some basic research before asking for help, and--gasp--attempt to read their own collections in addition to relying on LM_NET for all of their reader's advisory. Unfortunately, the people who agreed with those sentiments--most very strongly--replied only to me, rather than to the list. Those who disagreed replied to the whole list, which made it appear that there was only disagreement to the request. It was not my intent to make the general membership afraid to post questions. But I still think that our community would be better served if professional librarians would at least let us know where they have looked first for their answer. In some cases, with a very specific question that you know someone can quickly give you the answer to, that may not be necessary or appropriate. But to ask other busy professionals to just do your job for you should not be tolerated. Perhaps the broad, general questions (I have to do a poetry unit, does anyone have any ideas?) doesn't bother anyone else, and I can hit the delete key. I wonder, though, if because of the ease of posting a question, that some of us skip some of the steps in the research process that we would ask our students to do before we just give them the answer. I think it is only fair if you are asking for a list of something (websites, books on a theme, etc.) that you tell us what you've already found. You're much more likely to get people to fill in holes in your list than to have them be willing to build it from scratch for you. I don't have time to send you every website I find useful for middle school, but if you give me a list of what you already have, I would be glad to send a couple of suggestions to add to your list. If you've tried to start your list and just can't get a handle on it, that's different. I spend a lot of time reading my LM_NET messages when I get home at night and I reply to as many people as possible when I feel I can be helpful. I enjoy being a part of the LM_NET community. I think that some of the posts today to which Julie referred in her message were not necessarily from people hesitant to ask a question, but perhaps from some who were taking shots at the suggestions from several of us for improving LM_NET. Apologies to anyone who truly is afraid to post to the group. I'm sure that some disagree with my points, but I know that there were others who agreed. I'd like to think that the tolerance that Julie was asking for is meant for all of us whether you agree with our opinions or not. Cindy Dobrez, Librarian Harbor Lights School West Ottawa Public Schools Holland, MI 49424 dobrez@novagate.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-= All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law. To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST 4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv For LM_NET Help & Archives see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-= All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law. To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST 4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv For LM_NET Help & Archives see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=