I don't look as inventory as unprofessional either. However, when I was in
the public school (33 years) and I did inventory every few years - Not once
did anyone from the Federal Govt. ever ask for an accounting. All those NDEA
and ESEA cards which I carefully marked and kept separate - nada.
Now that I am in a Roman Catholic school and we do not receive any outside
funds from anyone - the question doesn't apply. I don't do inventory simply
because there is no one to help me and I have too many projects due to shut
down. For some reason the faculty decides (every year- under my protest)
that May is the time for major papers. Next week is the last week for
Seniors - but, even then, I will not have the time for inventory. Maybe
someday - but not now.
Allan
Dr. Allan O'Grady Cuseo, Librarian
Bishop Kearney High School Library
125 Kings Highway South
Rochester, New York 14617
Education in the tradition of the Christian Brothers
library@bkhs.org
585-342-4000 x231
585-342-4694 (FAX)
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU]On Behalf Of Sheryl Blair
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2003 9:03 AM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: library closing for inventory
I think maybe we're dealing too much with generalities here when we say
that inventory is unprofessional.
Are there none of you that have bought your materials with Federal
funds? Do you not have to account for those materials every year in some
manner? I have been a librarian for 29 years & have had to do an
inventory every year for this reason. Yes, I have student helpers. Yes,
I make exceptions for students that need something from the library, but
doing inventory comes down from the School Board. There are some
librarians that come in during the summer & do theirs, but I'm not one
of them. I get paid for 10 months & that's what I work. To me that is
also a matter of professionalism. I don't really look at inventory as
beneath me. I do a lot of processing and cataloging during that time.
When I am involved in the inventory, it gives me a chance to evaluate my
collection as to condition of books, what's missing, what needs to be
re-ordered, etc. I have to do it anyway so it might as well be useful.
Just another way to look at things. BTW - I start inventory tomorrow.
Sheryl Blair
Sullivan Middle School
Kingsport TN
sblair@rblair.com
Claudia Vandermade wrote:
> I think the other issue in closing the library to inventory is one of
> professionalism. We already endure a stereotype that portrays us as fussy
> and persnickety....why reinforce it? Many of us have educational
> credentials that surpass that of most people in our buildings...why should
> we deny services that require our unique skills to engage in activities
> (i.e. inventories) that probably require less than a GED education? Do
the
> teachers and students in our buildings understand the depth of our
> educations? Counting books is not professional...and if and when we do
it,
> it should be under duress and then delegated to people we supervise. The
> general public already has an impression of what an "inventory" is - it is
> temporary employees who go into department stores in January and count
> things....this does not require a graduate degree, nor does most library
> inventorying. Do the people in your school know the topic of your
graduate
> thesis? Have you published in national journals and magazines? Believe
me,
> they are happy not to know these things, and will never even believe they
> are possible if they see you closing the library to count...
>
> Claudia Vandermade
> James Monroe High School
> 2300 Washington Ave.
> Fredericksburg, VA 22401
> 540-372-1100
> cvanderma@cityschools.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: School Library Media & Network Communications
> [mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU]On Behalf Of Rosina Alaimo
> Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2003 7:32 PM
> To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> Subject: Re: library closing for inventory
>
> Claudia,
>
> You have said what I believe. Yes we have to be accountable for the
> materials in our libraries, but the program is more important. We attempt
> to stop all circulation on a certain date, but if a class needs books to
> complete a project, that need comes before our need to gather and put away
> all the books. So we lose a few books, it's not the end of the world.
>
> Rosina
>
> on 5/19/03 8:58 PM, Claudia Vandermade at claudia.vandermade@VERIZON.NET
> wrote:
>
>
>>I have to side with the administration here. Libraries need to focus the
>>books/materials being used, not those in nice order on the shelves.
>>Inventory is not as important as student work and reading - let them check
>>out until the very last day if they want to...you may lose some material,
>>but you'll be able to get most back over the summer or the next year.
>
> Lost
>
>>material is not nearly as tragic as lost opportunities -- accept the
>>physical losses and know that maybe some kid somewhere treasured that book
>>and is secretly reading it under the covers at night, over and over.
>>
>>Claudia Vandermade
>>James Monroe High School
>>2300 Washington Ave.
>>Fredericksburg, VA 22401
>>claudia.vandermade@verizon.net
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: School Library Media & Network Communications
>>[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU]On Behalf Of Mary Miner
>>Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 3:05 PM
>>To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
>>Subject: library closing for inventory
>>
>>I, too, need help in convincing ANYONE that the library needs materials
>>checked in before the last day of school. I have to contend with teachers
>>refusing to honor the last due date and assigning lessons requiring
>
> library
>
>>materials up to the last day. The administration supports them. If those
>>of
>>you who are able to curtail services that last week of school would
>
> contact
>
>>me, I'll be grateful. I'll use the statistics to support that I'm not
>
> just
>
>>trying to be difficult.
>>--
>>Mary Miner
>>Niobrara Public Schools
>>Niobrara, NE
>>mminer@esu1.org
>>
>>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-
>>All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
>>To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
>>In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
>>3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
>>LM_NET Help & Information: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
>>Archive: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml
>>LM_NET Select/EL-Announce: http://www.cuenet.com/archive/el-announce/
>>LM_NET Supporters: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ven.html
>>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-
>>
>>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-
>>All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
>>To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
>>In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
>>3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
>>LM_NET Help & Information: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
>>Archive: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml
>>LM_NET Select/EL-Announce: http://www.cuenet.com/archive/el-announce/
>>LM_NET Supporters: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ven.html
>>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-
>
>
> --
>
> Rosina Alaimo
> School Library Media Specialist
> Maple West Elementary School
> Williamsville, NY 14221
> 716-626-8846; FAX: 716-626-8859
> Rosella@att.net
> ralaimo@williamsvillek12.org
>
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-
> All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
> To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
> In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
> 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
> LM_NET Help & Information: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
> Archive: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml
> LM_NET Select/EL-Announce: http://www.cuenet.com/archive/el-announce/
> LM_NET Supporters: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ven.html
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-
>
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-
> All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
> To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
> In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
> 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
> LM_NET Help & Information: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
> Archive: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml
> LM_NET Select/EL-Announce: http://www.cuenet.com/archive/el-announce/
> LM_NET Supporters: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ven.html
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-
>
>
>
--
Sherry Blair
http://rblair.com
Anyone who has a library and a garden wants for nothing.
-- Cicero
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-
All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
LM_NET Help & Information: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
Archive: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml
LM_NET Select/EL-Announce: http://www.cuenet.com/archive/el-announce/
LM_NET Supporters: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ven.html
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-
All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
LM_NET Help & Information: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
Archive: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml
LM_NET Select/EL-Announce: http://www.cuenet.com/archive/el-announce/
LM_NET Supporters: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ven.html
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-
LM_NET
Mailing List Home