I too would like to thank Mariya. She put all of my thought into words
much nicer and politely than I would have. I agree with all of the items
she listed as ways for secondary LMS to understand what elementary LMS
do. I also think some of these are things that a Library Media
supervisor, director or other administrator should do too. Thanks again
>Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2005 12:50:47 -0500
>From: Mariya Rodriguez <mrodr131@NEISD.NET>
>Subject: Re: GEN: series placement
>
>At the risk of being flamed, I have to say that as an elementary library
>professional, I was somewhat offended by this plea for elementary
>librarians to "please teach your students how to locate books by using
>your catalog and then locating a call number
>on the shelf. This is a lifelong skill we all need to be teaching at
>every level." This statement assumes that we're not doing it. I can tell
>you, in fact, that we are. I begin with kindergarteners who, while
>learning all about ABC order come to the library where they learn about
>the Everybody section and how we put shelve books by the same author
>together. They learn about the catalog and doing an author search for
>books written by their favorite writers. In no time, they have questions
>about those "other books", what we call Dewey books in this library
>(because not everything in that section is nonfiction). With little ones,
>with whom we are emphasizing the reading of the environment, we use the
>visual search feature of our catalog so that they can find the books by
>the picture of their subjects. So, before they can even spell dinosaur,
>they know how to write down 567.9. Then, they learn all about the book's
>address-- how every book in the library lives in a special place on the
>shelf. The book's address always has two parts: 1) the section of the
>library to start in and 2) the place in that section to start looking. We
>practice and practice as much as we can. And, it may still not be enough
>if they only come to the library with a class, once a week without a
>teacher.
>
>The reality for many elementary librarians is that they are functioning on
>a fixed schedule. That means that they will see every single student in
>the school at some point during the week. I doubt very many high school
>librarians see every single student in their school every week. While
>this once a week visit may sound like a luxury, please know that during
>that time, the classroom teacher is off planning and the librarian is
>responsible for teaching a lesson and then helping 25-30 children checkout
>books, often without the assistance of an aide (whose position has been
>cut because of funding or who now has to do some other kind of duty).
>And, don't forget that there are many among us who are responsible for two
>or three libraries.
>
>So, to categorically assume that "elementary librarians" don't understand
>the importance of our jobs is to grossly underestimate and undervalue what
>we do. Please remember, that although I work in an elementary school, my
>Masters degree (and the program I completed to earn that degree) qualifies
>me to administer quality library programs in grades K-12.
>
>What at a secondary level you can do to help your situation is 1) go
>observe the best elementary librarians you can find... follow them for a
>day or two; 2) stress to your district how your students' achievement
>would be improved if the staff of elementary libraries in your district
>was doubled; 3) help your elementary colleagues by voicing how important
>it is to operate a flexibly scheduled library program so that your trained
>library personnel is available at point of need and volunteer to help
>present with them to their administration and faculty at resistant
>campuses; 4) continue to read the posts by elementary librarians on
>LM_Net so that you can stay abreast of what's happening in every area of
>our profession, especially as it relates to the foundational learning that
>the elementary librarians are providing. We need to continue to hear your
>voices, but you need to hear ours, too.
>
>Respectfully submitted,
>Mariya Rodriguez, MLS
>Oak Meadow Elementary School Librarian
>San Antonio, TX
>
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--
Diane Mentzer - NBCT
(Library Media Specialist / Tech Coordinator / Webmaster)
Bester Elementary School
Hagerstown, MD
http://www.wcboe.k12.md.us
mentzdia@wcboe.k12.md.us
dmentzerLMS@comcast.net
To learn to read is basic, To LOVE to read is the plus!
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"Show me a computer expert that gives a damn, and I'll show you a librarian."
Patricia Wilson Berger
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National Board Certified Teachers Promote...
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