My question was:
I was a school librarian 21 years ago and am currently taking courses to =
renew my certification. I know through my current work that this field =
has changed greatly since I was in the profession.
Before I should ever consider applying for an actual position as a =
library media specialist in the future, I just wanted to ask two =
questions:
1. What makes you HAPPY that you're a library media specialist?
2. What frustrates you the most about your career choice?
First of all, thanks to all who took the time to respond. I feel very =
encouraged about the field after receiving your replies. Rather than =
building a string of quotes, I've tallied the main themes for you.
In answer to what makes you happy that you're a library media =
specialist, here are the answers in order of frequency:
a.. helping students learn to love books=20
b.. helping students with research=20
c.. doing a variety of tasks in the work day=20
d.. dealing with books- buying, sharing, reading=20
e.. working with ALL the students and teachers in the school=20
f.. having no report cards or parent teacher conferences (two =
librarians compared this to being a grandparent - having the fun of =
being with the students for short periods of time)=20
g.. developing life long learning skills in students=20
h.. helping teachers=20
i.. working with book clubs
In answer to what frustrates you the most about your career choice, here =
are the answers in order of frequency:
a.. lack of understanding of what school libraries SHOULD do/be=20
b.. view of libraries as a frill - not essential to the school=20
c.. lack of time to do all the things needed=20
d.. need for more funds - and being the first to have budgets cut=20
e.. difficulties in making teacher collaboration a reality=20
f.. problems with automation - needing to do this, or doing =
conversion, or technical difficulties=20
g.. feeling of being left out by the rest of the staff=20
h.. problems with technology=20
i.. need for more pay=20
j.. irritation with vendors who are less than ethical or considerate
And since turnabout is fair play, I'll tell you the best and worst =
things about my job as a sales rep to school libraries for the past 20 =
years:
The best:
a.. knowing that my work plays a role in education=20
b.. the many, many librarians I've come to know=20
c.. being able to help librarians and others in the school=20
d.. the students - watching them enjoy the library=20
e.. working with a company that continues to come up with ideas to =
help our customers=20
f.. traveling to many places and seeing wonderful library ideas=20
g.. being paid according to my efforts (commission sales)=20
h.. creating book lists for special needs
The frustrating parts:
a.. not enough time - my work week is usually at least 60 hours=20
b.. budget cuts by schools - they have a very direct affect on my =
income too=20
c.. being away from home gets old sometimes=20
d.. trying to reach librarians by phone to set appointments - it's =
hard to catch you sometimes=20
e.. snow days, hurricane days, etc - trying to shift my schedule at =
the last minute=20
f.. wishing I could work with the kids=20
g.. books going out of print, which happens a lot
Once again, thanks for your input. I don't know if I'll ever jump ship =
and become a librarian again, but I know I'll always appreciate the =
profession and I'm glad to play a part in what you do.
Claudia Reed, Follett Library Resources, account manager
Richmond VA
klaudiakat@msn.com
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