LM_NET: Library Media Networking
On Mon, 10 Jul 2000, Heather Norris wrote:
> Well, as a yet-to-be new library media specialist, I can hold my tongue no
> longer. (That's a bad habit of mine, as some of you know.) I've been
> following this thread with much interest because I will be a full-fledged
> member of your group (credential-wise) after my practicum next fall and I
> will undoubtedly have many questions to post when I land that first job. For
> the time being as a student in the library media track at the University of
> Maryland, which is truly the #1 program by the way, no offense to the
> University of Illinois contingent ;), I have been amazed by some of the
> questions posted because we cover them so thoroughly in our classes here and
> I assumed that other ALA approved programs did also.
Because a question was asked on LM_NET is not automatic proof that the
question was not discussed in a university class. Do you suppose there
could be a difference between having a discussion with a room full of
folks who have not yet practiced (moderated by perhaps one or two
professors who may or may not have practical experience) and a "room" of
over 10,000 practicing media specialists/librarians with a wide, very
wide, range of backgrounds and experiences?
> Which got me to
> thinking--aren't there many areas of the country where a MLS is not required
> (I can think of the state I am moving to, for instance)?
At the same time, aren't there many places that don't require a teaching
degree yet put the librarian in a position to teach 25 classes or more a
week and to play a critical role in support of curriculum and instruction?
The conversation goes both ways and has been discussed on LM_NET more
than once.
> Also, we had a
> lively discussion not long ago about whether paraprofessionals could run a
> quality program or not and of course those people have not graduated from or
> been certified by an ALA approved graduate program either.
And what did your group decide?
> As long as these
> situations exist in our profession, we will find people asking for help in
> matters some of the LM_Netters may think of as "no-brainers."
This naively suggests that there are programs that will prepare would-be
school librarians for every situation and slice of reality they may
encounter in the real world. It also suggests that there is a "one right
way."
> Until such
> time as we manage to get our profession to standardize its requirements (no
> where in this country can someone practice medicine without a medical degree
> for example)
Then you would agree that a degree in education/teaching would be an
appropriate part of those standards. Add to that an MLS in some flavor
of "librarianship" and the result should be the perfect school teacher-
librarian. This, of course, doesn't stop to consider realities we
encounter, but it sounds good on paper.
> profession without the fine background offered by an outstanding Library
> College. (GO TERPS! )
>
And again, this assumes that a single program will prepare everyone
for everything and that once we are standardized on that (mythical)
program, we won't be confronted with "no-brainers" anymore. But I've
yet to see a question asked here that doesn't have at least two possible
answers, two schools of thought, and another way of looking at things.
What might be a no-brainer to one person could be a critical issue to
others regardless of training and background. Why? Because it's possible
that reality sometimes differs from the safety of the university
classroom. Indeed, reality differs from my side of town and the other
side of town --> two entirely different worlds.
Now, out to see if I have finally succeeded in killing all of my
strawberries or if some still live!
Not all who wander are lost...
J. Rathbun, Librarian
Lincoln Elementary School - Las Vegas, Nevada
jrathbun@orednet.org [home]
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