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Recently I posted a query regarding advice for future librarians. I
posted to both LM_Net and EDTECH and received excellent responses. Here
is a HIT for these responses:

Here is my original message:

I am about to conclude a class called "Instructional Design and Library
Media Production." I want to leave my students with some wise words to
carry as they seek positions as school librarians with a mission to be
leaders in technology for all their patrons. What advice would you pass
on to them? What would you like for them to be able to do for you and
for your students? This is my first term to teach this course; indeed my
first time to be away from K-12 schools. I would like to have a nice
conclusion for the course and would appreciate any comments. Thanks in
advance!

Responses:

********************************
I wish someone had told me this.......be prepared to be the computer
teacher as well as the librarian!  I graduated from library school in
1999 with my MLIS. I took a job in a library this year and am the
computer teacher as well as the LMS.  It is very hard to do 2 jobs and,
of course, I'm
only getting one salary!  I see every class twice a week so they can get
in both areas.
Good luck!
****************************
I just attended a workshop yesterday with Jamie McKenzie as a speaker.
He was so motivational, that I came away with a great optimism about the
future of technology and the library media specialist or
teacher/librarian, as he prefers. I'm sure you are familiar with him and
just browsing around
on his web page should get you some great snippets of wisdom!
<A HREF="http://www.fno.org"> http://www.fno.org</A>
***********************
If your interest in content areas includes the social sciences, you
might want to take a look at our product Metanoia.
You can get a VERY quick overview at
http://www.aicusp.com/Attributes.htm
You can also download a free examination copy from the web site shown
below.
*******************************
Don't wait for someone to come to you. You've got to want it and know
how to get it. If you think you "deserve" in-service, you will miss the
boat.
Realistically, you aren't going to be given "release" time to do
anything, it must be on your own time and DESIRE.
Find a "partner". Just like tennis, it is always beneficial to "play"
with someone better than you, it helps perfect the game.
Be open and honest and sharing. Watch your students, listen to their
conversations. Have lots of goodies to give away to people that have
something you want (knowledge!) Students are often the biggest help.
Be passionate!
******************************
There are three things that I try to remember as I go through the day
working with teachers, students and yes even administrators.
A.  K.I.S.S.  Keep It Simple, Short.  (better than stupid :-)
Not everyone knows the tech, the terms, or the library as well
as you; everyone is busy with their work including you.
B.  Do not count on technology, books (reading), and the library selling
themselves.  The librarian/ information specialist has to pleasantly
persuade and practice what he preaches.
C. People are important, not the agendas we set for ourselves.
***********************
Some wise words to carry as they seek positions as school librarians
with a mission to be
leaders in technology for all their patrons:

1. Be curious.
2. Be enthusiastic.
3. Be willing to share loudly and joyfully - Look What I Found For
YOU!!!!
Grab people in the hallway and pull them in to share what you have
found.
4. Be helpful - even pushy - as many teachers may not be familiar with
coming to you for help - you need to go to them and ask what they are
doing. I find out by quizzing the kids as to what they are doing in
Science, etc., and put piles together to deliver to the classrooms.
5. Be kind - always - even when someone is not kind to you. If someone
is rude, bite your tongue, or slap your hand over your mouth. The
silence will be as telling or more than what you say out loud. (that
really
doesn't have to do with being a leader in technology...)
6. Become best friends with your school technician or computer teacher.
Together, you can do wonderful things.
******************************
Couldn't resist this one 'cause this is one of the big issues I grapple
with in my position. However, the things I always keep in mind are:
1. When someone asks for help, be as concrete as possible in your
suggestions/recommendations.
2. Don't be upset when someone doesn't ask for help, or asks someone
else with less knowledge for help.
3. Keep the mantra in mind:
     Students want to know -- "How is this going to help me get a good
grade? (or get this assignment done!)
     Teachers want to know -- "How will this help me be a better
teachers?" or "Can this be done/found quickly?"
Hope this helps.
**************************
As a fellow teacher-librarian from Australia I'd like to say the
following to your students:
The amount of information available is growing so quickly that
everything is blurring. As teachers and librarians we need to be out
there testing
what's new, seeing if it is useful for our  teachers and students. If it
is, do your best to get it for them and model the best way to use it.
Both students and staff will need help with information literacy -
there's
too much information available and not all of it is useful.
Get involved with committees that make the technology decisions in the
school. Help to design the future direction of technology in your
school.  See if you can take the lead in developing your school's web
pages,
involve your students, be the pivot for it happening in your school.
Ensure that
staff and students know what you can offer them, your knowledge and
expertise - know your own worth!
We provide the keys with which our students and staff can unlock the
future. Make sure they know it.
*****************************
this is my saying:
"If info is power . . . and libraries equal info . . . then, libraries
are power"

--
***?***?***?***?***?***?***?***?***
"Try curiosity!"--Dorothy Parker
***?***?***?***?***?***?***?***?***
Dr. Mary Ann Bell
Department of Library Science
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX
Adjunct Reference Librarian
Montgomery College
The Woodlands, TX
mbell@main.com

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