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Barbara, Very eloquently put. I share your sentiments. The current trend on our list serve reminds me that we all share the same goal -- to be great at our jobs and help our patrons in the best way possible. We just have different avenues we must use to get there. Kelly :-) Kelly Smith, Librarian School Technology Specialist J. W. Wiseman Elementary 922 South Broadway Portland, TN 37148 (615) 325-8580 On Sun, July 10, 2005 3:51 pm, Barbara Paciotti said: > Friends, > It's always interesting to see how one listserv discussion diverges to > another, how a remark stimulates controversy. For example, the recent > thread about placement of series books generated a clash about teaching > library skills (still going on) and has now thrust its way into rigid vs > flexible library access. > > [I appreciate flexible scheduling of the library, but I'm always a > little envious of librarians whose students have "library class" once a > week. I'm sure I echo the thoughts of other flex-schedule librarians > who would love to see every student in the school even once a month! > Ah, imagine what I could teach, how I could build knowledge, if I knew I > would see students on a regular recurring basis... anyway...] > > My only elementary library experience was as a parent volunteer two > decades ago, and I was privileged to work with a librarian who has > become a respected, published professional in our state. I still > remember how she used scheduled library time to reinforce what was > happening in the classroom, introducing relevant books to read and > teaching library skills when needed. I remember her difficulties > finding time to speak with teachers, but I also remember her command of > curriculum, how she knew who to talk to, when, about what skills needed > to be introduced or reinforced when a particular class came to the > library. Memories of her inspired me while helping my own children > progress through school, while teaching students when I re-entered > teaching, and while studying and becoming a librarian. About two years > ago, I attended a workshop with this librarian, now in a high school > library, and she continues to impress me with her ability to accomplish > much in whatever circumstances. > > While I know this librarian is exceptional, I don't think she is > unique--this listserv alone has introduced me to many such librarians. > What I also know is that student interaction with school (and public) > librarians varies widely across ages, locations, and circumstances. > That is why I'm distressed when one or more of us assumes that the > reason students don't know something is because some other librarian > deliberately refrained from teaching it, whether through laziness or > ignorance. If we chastise other librarians for incidents about which we > have no background information, we imitate those outside education who > arbitrarily blame our community for so many problems. > > I implicitly _trust_ that, with whatever circumstances librarians have, > we teach as much as possible, always striving to increase and improve > each student's learning opportunities. I plead that all of us adopt > this trust. We can air frustration without blame (causing us to defend > ourselves against each other) and request ideas for solving a problem > (and this, in fairness, is what usually happens here). Before posting, > please ask yourself if a problem is really someone else's? if a comment > is worthy of rebuttal or vindication? if you would want to hear your own > commentary directed at you? > > This turbulent time for all of education is not a time for divisiveness, > but is a time for us to work together on behalf of students everywhere. > > Barbara Paciotti, SLMIS > Barbara Bush MS, Irving TX > barupa@swbell.net > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ > Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ > EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/ > LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > -------------------------------------------------------------------- All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. 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