Thank you, thank you, Shonda for saying so much, so clearly, so to the
point. "Library 2.0" (an irritating meme, but a crucial concept) is
already here. Those librarians who are not willing to put in the time
and effort to keep out front and meet the children where they are will
soon find their libraries empty and eventually their programs destaffed.
We know this is already happening. That is the discomfitting reality.
In our library the manga fly off the shelves; they're also a great way
to reach out to some reluctant readers and LEP kids and begin shifting
them to more challenging materials. We're looking into gaming, blogs and
wikis, too. There is so much that could be done it's exhausting to think
about. For me, this isn't bandwagonism, it's engaging the mission:
serving children.
At Computers in Libraries/Internet@Schools in March I had a refreshing
conversation with Joyce Valenza, who had had the gumption to endorse
Wikipedia in her keynote (albeit with qualifications). I told her I
suddenly felt less alone. As she pointed out, Wikipedia ought to be the
reference of first resort for any number of topics, including
contemporary entertainment and many aspects of computer administration
and programming. If we had kids building their own wikis, they'd
understand intuitively what the strengths and weaknesses are; we
wouldn't even have to tell them. We spend so much effort telling kids
that Wikipedia and MySpace and video games and IM are bad and not worth
their time, we don't even notice the deafening silence of their
response. What do we think our children are spending the bulk of their
non-school time doing? Why aren't we meeting them there? School (or
work, from our perspective) is not a separate entity from the rest of
life; it is distinct, but part of a continuum.
/****************************************/
/* Bob Hassett, Head Librarian */
/* Luther Jackson Middle School */
/* 3020 Gallows Rd. */
/* Falls Church, VA, 22042 */
/* (703) 204-8133 */
/****************************************/
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Shonda Brisco
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 12:59 PM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: GEN: No Games for Me, Thanks.
I don't think libraries need to be jump to every fad---or go to the
extremes like "huffing," obviously---but I do know that making our
libraries more "student-friendly" is how we increase our presence in
their minds.
School libraries should be on the cutting edge of what our kids are
involved in, if only through our awareness and our advocacy---because
our focus is on KIDS and what they do both in school and out of school.
We offer books, computers, databases, the Internet, and reference /
referral...but sometimes, we aren't "kid friendly." We want things on
our terms MOST (if not ALL) of the time. We have stereotypes out there
because we are not flexible in what we think, do, or offer regarding our
library programs. Then we whine when we see a typecast of ourselves in
the media.
Can we be cool AND informative...yes. However, it takes work and it
takes involvement. Getting to know what the kids like is half the
battle. Making those things "connect" to what is being taught in the
classroom is also a challenge. Can gaming be educational? Can Manga
teach us about other cultures?
Yes, not everyone wants to do all of this work...because that's what it
is...hard, hard work. However, it's important to ask those questions
and to be ready to respond to what our kids are doing.
Being able to flex your program to the needs and interests of students
is how to keep your students' interested in the library and the
resources, programs, and people. Reading clubs can be expanded to
graphic novel groups. Computer clubs can expand to gaming tournaments.
Being "out there" asking questions can make you appear more approachable
to many students who only know the stereotypical "media-driven"
librarian.
My kids don't like video games or manga...but they certainly like
utilizing software programs that help them create their own
publications---so we'll order those things. My kids like iPods...we'll
do podcasts and investigate what it takes to broadcast using new
technologies. My kids love checking out Wikipedia...so we'll create our
own wikis and blogs and webpages.
I think in order to prepare ourselves for Library 2.0, we need to stop
thinking of how to not do these things (or stop others from doing them),
but learn how to re-create ways to incorporate our libraries into them.
I was one of the first school libraries in my district to offer video
tapes for student check-out back in the 1980's.....a new "fad".....but
my kids loved it! I WAS the local video store for many of them because
I was free! We need to remind ourselves that making programs available
and being on the edge of new technologies is where libraries SHOULD be
and if aren't or if we wait, we lose our best to a stereotype that
should never exist.
Just an opinion....
~Shonda
Shonda Brisco, MLIS
US / Technology Librarian
4200 Country Day Lane
Fort Worth Country Day School
Fort Worth, TX
817.732.7718 ext. 339
"We can't wait for somebody outside of ourselves to rescue us, because
nobody is coming to the rescue..."
~ Ross Todd, Professor
School of Communications, Information, and Library Studies, Rutgers
University
sbrisco@fwcds.org
http://www.fwcds.org/campus/libraries/default.asp
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