As a graduate student myself and as a someone who has reached out for
help through the LM_NET, I would like to remind "seasoned" library
media specialists what it is like to be a graduate student while
juggling full-time jobs and families. Although I am sure there are
some people who are fortunate enough to be able to pursue this career
without having other responsibilities, I will say that most of the
students in my classes are trying to make mortgage payments, send their
kids through college and be a part of their families lives while
fulfilling the requirements for certifications or degrees.
I did take offense to the comment that when some students leave their
classes they just run off "to shop" and do not take their studies
seriously. I myself am enrolled in two classes at the moment while
working full-time. I travel 1.5 hours a day to class in the morning
and then return (1.5 hours) to my full-time job in the afternoon. When
I leave work, I continue with my studies and homework while trying to
keep up with housework, grocery shop and put food on the table for my
family.
I have made a commitment to becoming a library media specialist because
I truly aspire to be an instructional partner, an informational
specialist and a teacher. I have made many sacrifices to accomplish
this goal, as I believe many others have as well. When we reach out to
professionals on LM_NET, we are not looking for an easy out to an
assignment. Often we are just limited in time, and we believe we are
using the informational skills we have been taught. As we move forward
in this ever-changing technological world, I believe the ability to
communicate with others around us is just one of the many advantages
that technology affords us.
I do understand that knowing how to research is very important and that
we should be informational specialists. I believe my graduate program
program is doing a fabulous job to prepare me.
As far as the help request posted by a graduate student ... I believe
her request was misunderstood by many who viewed her posting. I have
taken this same class, and I know the professor does a thorough job of
explaining what resources are out there. I believe this person has
looked at the syllabus and has excitedly decided to dive into the
activity. I am saddened that the responses she is receiving are ones
of questioning and bitterness. Why not build her up in her quest for
knowledge rather than tear her down?
Melinda Holmes
mholmes125@comcast.net
graduate student
----- Original Message -----
From: robert <beiffert@COMCAST.NET>
Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2003 12:19 pm
Subject: Re: Need censorship challenge.
> Or the instructors could post to LM-Net that students are doing xyz
> assignment. Like the public librarians always ask us to inform
> them (and
> I always forget and am putting in as a professional goal this coming
> year).
>
> Or have part of assignment to ask another libriarian, AFTER doing
> stepsa-g, for personal example, etc. And explain that in the post
> to the
> lib/LM-Net.
>
> Not that we are unqualified, but my personal experience of dealing
> with_Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark_ is probably not the same as
> another's experiences with _Catcher in the Rye_. So the student would
> need to be doing a big chunk of resource evaluation (and/or
> getting a
> lot of responses).
>
> For the EdTech list, which is moderated, we will send back
> requests that
> sound too much like assignments. With a request to note what research
> has been done, and/or narrow focus, etc, or point to archives and a
> couple of resources. Hmmm, sounds a bit like steps 1&2 of Big6.....
>
> But, going back to the original post,(OT-Need censorship challenge
> From:Kathy Cool July 1), it sounds like she hadn't found info
> like ALA's
> Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom but was relying on a newspaper
> database search. I wonder what resources were mentioned in class.
>
> Robert Eiffert, Media Specialist
> Pacific Middle School
> Evergreen SD, Vancouver Washington
> beiffert@egreen.wednet.edu
> beiffert@crypticmachinery.net
>
>
>
> > Hello;
> > The request by this student is a particular frustration to me. I
> am an
>
> > adjunct instructor at the SUNY Albany School of Information
> Science &
> > Policy. I also give my students assignments about materials
> challenges
> > in schools. The class I teach is titled Administration of School
> Media
> > Programs. The students are aspiring library media specialists. I am
> > not against the personal interview as a form of information
> gathering.
> > However all decent sized libraries have materials on this issue.
> > Before answering this question, as a librarian, I would ask this
> > student "Where have you already looked?" As an instructor of future
> > librarians, I expect my students to emulate a librarian and do an
> > exhaustive search locally before going beyond the region to find
> > information. Graduate level assignments and projects are not
> meant to
> > be scavenger hunts. I would respectfully ask LM_Net members to
> refrain
> > from providing information to library media students for their
> > projects. Please don't do their homework for them. There is a
> lot to
> > be said for students getting directly to the content without
> doing a
> > search ( and we know that location skills are often on the
> bottom of
> > the hierarchy). However, I do believe that there is a lot of
> learning> in the search. You know, getting there is half the fun.
> Searching for
> > resources themselves provides LMS students with an example of the
> > frustration their students might feel one day, an opportunity to
> hone> their location skills and finally, an awareness of the
> availability of
>
> > local resources on a particular content area. BTW - this is not
> meant> to be personally directed at the individual who posted the
> request.> She has exhibited good management skills by delegating
> her work - to
> > you! Thanks for letting me vent!
> >
> >
> > Linda Fox - Director VOICE: (518) 786-3221
> > School Library System FAX: (518) 786-6401
> > Capital Region BOCES E-MAIL: lfox@gw.neric.org
> > 6G British American Blvd. URL: www.crbsls.org
> > Latham, NY 12110 Member - NYLA Legislative Committee
> > Member
> >
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