New librarians

["Madeline L. Buchanan" <mlbuchan@hiwaay.net>]

The members of LM_NET do not mind new librarians asking questions when they
have concerns about their jobs.  I have had library interns say that the
internship taught them more than any course they took at library school.
Unfortunately, many of the ALA accredited schools emphasize public,
university, and special librarians more than school libraries.  Therefore
when a new librarian gets a job, unless he or she has had a good internship,
there are many questions that probably go unanswered.  Fortunately, my
husband had been a school librarian when I started out so I had a resource
right there at home.  Since there usually is only one librarian per school
and many systems do not even have library coordinators, the new librarian
has to get help from somewhere.

I think the controversy is when a new librarian says "tell me everything
about managing a library" rather than pointing to a specific subject dealing
with school libraries and librarianship.  Even after many years of
experience, there are questions that I ask from LM_NET when I need feedback
from other librarians.  For example, I had a principal several years ago who
got very upset when I read "Tailypo" to second graders and even reported me
to her supervisor.  She was very intimidated by the replies that I got from
LM_NET members letting me know that I had done nothing wrong (it is only
after five years that I even used the story again).  Thanks to LM_NET
members who did use the books and let me know how much their students
enjoyed it.

If I had to point to a pet peeve on LM_NET, it would be the 15-20 question
surveys that students put on the list when they are doing research for a
class assignment.

Sincerely,
Madeline Buchanan
LM_NET Hospitality Committee
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Madeline L. Buchanan, Library Media Specialist
W. J. Christian School (K-8)
Birmingham, Alabama  35206
Phone (205) 838-7666 or 231-5277
Fax (205) 838-7673
mlbuchan@hiwaay.net
http://home.hiwaay.net/~mlbuchan/
http://home.hiwaay.net/~wjcs/

"The world looks brighter from behind a smile."
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