LM_NET: Library Media Networking
My principal asked me to form an advisory committee and suggested I give =
them a part of my budget so they could have real power. Most who responded =
to my message advised me not to give up any part of the budget (so I won't!=
). I ended up informing them about what I've done, what I want to do, and =
the problems I see so hopefully they spread the word. Then they worked on =
the selection policy including the book ban procedure because I thought =
they would make a good committee should someone have a consideration about =
a book. They will also be working on a promotional brochure for parents (=
their idea!)
Thanks for all the help; hope this helps others!
Corey Current, Media Specialist
So. St. Paul High School
700 N. 2nd St. =
So. St. Paul, MN 55075
651-457-9439
fax 651-457-9455
corey_current@sostpaul.k12.mn.us
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I'd show them and the principal the journals you use to
read book reviews and select quality materials for your
collection. Are they willing to spend the time to pour
through the journals each week/month?
Also remind them that in your training you have had classes on =
selecting materials. Maybe make them a handout of what to look for.
One thing I do to ensure the teachers have input into the library is =
to sponsor a book buying trip for the teachers each Spring during =
Library Month. At the beginning of the year I set aside about $500 =
in my budget for the trip. Several weeks before the trip, I announce =
the date and take reservations for dinner after. Usually about 10 =
people sign up, 7-8 people show up, and only once have we had enough =
to stay for dinner! I go to the bookstore after school and stay =
until dinner time. The teachers drop by and shop and then go on to
their evening activities - usually picking up their kids! We have
a faculty of about 70. On my invitation, I also invite people to =
send me suggestions of books they would like purchased, esp. if
they can't make it that evening. After we show, I have a display of =
the books chosen by the faculty, which the students esp. like. I put
the teacher's picture on the front of the bks they've chosen. =
The teachers look forward to this event every year, and it does
seem to accomplist some of your goal.
---------------------------------------------------------------
My first thought...knee-jerk reaction...is to have HIM give them part of =
HIS
budget so they feel like they have power...phooey on you giving up part of
yours. I'd make it real clear to the group that YOU will have final
decision-making power, that they are an ADVISORY group only. While you
welcome their input, as the "legal" employee and representative of the
school, any decisions on anything will necessarily have to rest with you,
since you'd take the heat. These parent advisory groups can come up with =
all
kinds of agendas...watch it, and have your district attorney give you an
opinion on anything that smacks of censorship or things along that line. I'=
d
have a set of the Right to Read stuff on hand, your selection policy, the
"Questioned Materials" sheet, whatever that's called. You don't have to
start right out with these as they might set kind of a defensive tone, but
have them at hand just in case. Have the Board Policies on hand, too. Read
over any sections that might apply to the library / computer lab, just in
case. You don't have to like them or agree with them, but you have to be
familiar with them. I'd find out up front if any of these parents are =
former
(or present) educators, attorneys, etc. because they'll be coming in with =
a
certain mindset. I don't want to sound too negative or alarmist...bet you
can tell I've been burned by these kind of advisory groups...hopefully
you'll have a more positive experience than I did. But again, phooey on =
the
money...if they want to buy something you can see if it fits within your
budget and go ahead, or approach the principal at that time...I don't know
if I'd start right off the bat telling them they've got some bucks to =
spend.
These are volunteers, right...they can always chip in themselves if they
want something. Put their money where their mouth is. Be prepared to =
explain
why you do things like you do, why you have certain policies in place. =
Never
never get into a "gossipy" session about any kids either as a group or
individually...there's a parent-network out there like you wouldn't =
believe
and cell phones abound. I'd be real careful how I word anything; you can
always deflect their questions back with a question of your own.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of middle schools has formed an advisory committee. The principal's
goal is to do planning and get the staff more involved in the media
center. I would not give them an amount to spend, that is your job, but
certainly solicit needs for the collection. Ask them to review the =
section
of the collection pertaining to their teaching area and get their input
about how the media center and services can be integrated into their
curriculum and their informaiton needs. They certainly can be an advocate
for you and the media center. It is a good idea.
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I really do not have solid suggestions, but I have thought about =
something along the same line - an advisory board. I would =
appreciate your sharing suggestions that you receive.
My idea was more of a student advisory board. I thought they =
could help with decorating for special events, decorate a big =
bulletin board in the hall outside the library each month, suggest =
titles for my paperback section which is totally recreational =
reading, come up with ideas that would involve the library in school =
activities such as pep rallies, homecoming, student contests, =
student newspaper,etc, and just be handy when I needed extra =
hands.
I can see using adults to serve on a materials challenge committee =
and as volunteers for special projects. I don't know what else, but =
I would be interested in knowing what you find out.
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Your decision, of course, but you might want to require his
rationale for this course of action. Smacks of "too many cooks." It's =
all
well and good to encourage and invite others to "cheerlead." In point of
fact, we ought to have the good sense to be doing that, anyway--but with
the library professional leading our efforts, rather than us playing lone
ranger and ever-so-cleverly "helping" out of our ignorance.
I do not envy you this necessary task. You just might need to go
over your principal's head (which appears to be stuck somewhere pretty low,=
right now, anyway... !). (Sorry!)
JEK
*****
Imagine if the train engineer were expected to not only engineer
the train's progress down the track, to include scrounging for fuel, but
actually left to secure permissions; construct bridges; smooth out
areas--both physical and political--and in many cases to also actually
build the track onto which the train might run. Imagine that engineer
being ordered around by practically everyone, on or off the train, as to
the train's size, shape, scope, speed, scenery, cargo and destinations.
Imagine the engineer being expected to chug toward each destination with
ever faster speed, while concurrently pursuing all those other diverse
destinations and expectations.
Think the passengers and the gawkers would succeed in achieving
each of their dictates? Think their train would experience much actual
forward locomotion? (And while it did, quite miraculously, achieve many =
or
most of these goals--through the fantastic interventions of that
engineer/magician--might these know to appreciate the benefits they had
received?)
Think the engineer would be at FAULT for such circumstances?
Now, imagine library professionals.
How does it serve the interests of the untrained to dismiss these
as mere whistleblowers... ?
With libraries, what is happening routinely, at present, compares
to individuals whose only experience with food is in eating it, being the
ones to decide what, if anything, is to be prepared, served, and stored,
and what budget is available for this miracle to occur. Under such
conditions, those being served should be surprised and elated to get beans.=
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I thought the purpose of a media advisory committee was to assist in =
making informed choices about materials, not to "spend a portion of the =
budget". I'm not sure I would want to give up final decision on what is =
purchased.
That aside, perhaps you could ask them to survey faculty members and other =
interested parties as to what they feel would be welcome additions to your =
collection, especially with respect to curriculum needs. Put them in =
charge of creation, distribution, and tabulation of the survey. I would, =
however, make sure you see the final product before it goes out. You will =
probably get some good feedback.
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------------------
My purchase philosophy is that I honor staff requests, student requests if
appropriate and curriculum support and the last is general information. I
would be quite reticent to "give a group part of my budget so that they =
feel
that they have power". Reason one: Ordering materials is YOUR job. =
Reason
two: Would it be legal for non school personnel to spend tax funds? =
Reason
three: I feel that relinquishing your funds is a very dangerous precedent =
to
set. Reason four: Materials selection is NOT "throwing darts at a catalog"=
,
that is one of the reasons that you went to school and became certified as =
a
librarian/ media specialist. If the principal feels so strongly that this
group should be funded, then why not take those funds out of the Principal'=
s
category in the budget. I would be shocked if there was not a category =
that he
controlled. Having an ADVISORY group is fine and could alleviate problems =
real
of imagined by your staff or students. It could also be part of a
reconsideration committee if the need should arise. If it were me, I =
would not
release funds to a group unless it becomes a "YOU WILL DO THIS" type of
directive.
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The advisory committee idea sounds great but the idea of giving them a
portion of the budget sounds really scarry! I'd give that real careful
thought before you give that away. I still think the Librarian should be
the final say for book ordering, that is what we are trained to do and get
paid to do. If they want to make suggestions that is fine. Committees =
can
be helpful but they should be there to advise, not to start dictating
policy and deciding what should be on the shelves. Everyone has a =
personal
agenda and the Librarian should be the final voice of reason! Just my own
personal thoughts! Good luck!
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