Excellent post, Shonda. Another area in which we can make an impact is working
with student teachers in our buildings. I make it a point to try to create a
collaborative project with any student teachers in my building or at the very least
provide them with resources. I encourage them to forge a relationship with the
media specialist when they get their first job. Sadly, nearly all of these student
teachers tell me that they didn't know that media specialists did these things!
Dana W. Fisher, Library Media Specialist
Joseph F. Tuttle Middle School
612 S. Elm Street
Crawfordsville IN 47933
765.362.2992 ext 2115
dfisher@tms.cville.k12.in.us
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU]On Behalf Of Shonda Brisco
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 9:14 AM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: K-12 Perception of libraries/librarians
This was one of the top ten items that came from the SLJ Summit in Chicago
this weekend. If we are not involved in the pre-service teacher education
programs, if we don't take our message out to others (administrator
conferences, school board conferences, etc.), then we are continuing to
preach to the choir. It's time for each of us to take the responsibility to
work at our local levels, to educate, and then to move upward to explain our
impact on student achievement.
We can start by working with our teachers--- collaborate with those
teachers, show them how you can infuse technology and resources into their
lessons and explain that you want to share your partnered results with
others. Publicize your successes, show them on your website, explain them at
school board meetings, give those positive strokes to those who hold the
pocket books---they want to know that the money they've invested is earning
some interest. Make an influence at the top levels within your own schools
and districts. If you start with your teachers, you ARE making an
impact.....remember, the classroom teachers that you work with today will
most likely become the administrators of tomorrow!
Make sure THEY have a positive view of libraries and librarians. Start
working with them today---and move into other areas outside your comfort
zone. Take it to the university level, contact those in the universities
within your state, lobby to be a part of the pre-service instruction course,
show your awesome library to pre-service teachers, make YOUR library a model
for new teachers to visit, offer your program as the ideal school library
and show what you do every day....tell those new teachers to expect nothing
less when they arrive at their new schools because we're all out here
waiting to show them how awesome we really are!
~Shonda
On 11/6/06, Long <along@homercenter.org> wrote:
>
> Dear Friends,
> I have been reading the posts as of late discussing the research linking
> us to increased test scores. Everybody has an opinion whether these studies
> are valid or not. However, the crux of the issue is how our staff, students,
> etc. perceive us. To that end, there needs to be a nationally based "push"
> for us to get into the teacher education programs, the superintendent's
> meetings, the PTA meetings, the principal certification programs, etc. For
> too long we have sat by and watched our profession be denigrated. Just
> think: what if AASL created a presentation that could be used universally
> to talk to school boards, teacher education programs, superintendent's
> meetings, etc. It could be placed on their web site, downloaded, and used by
> all of us all over the US and the world.
>
> I know this is asking a lot. I also can hear many of you saying, "Great
> idea but when do I have time?" and "What does she know? Has she done
> this?" Time is always an issue and all of us have differing
> situations. Maybe you could start off talking to your own principal or talk
> to your student teachers in your building.
> As to, "have I done this?" the answer is yes. I decided last year to
> really push this issue. I finally was asked to lecture education students
> about libraries/studies, etc. at our local college after trying for 3
> years! It did take some preparation but it was worth it. I spoke for about
> 45 minutes. My next step is to find a principal certification program that
> will be willing to have me speak. I speak to our PTA next week.
>
> I appreciate all of this community and the help you have given me over the
> years. Please read this post and think about it. We are all in this
> together and our jobs are at stake.
>
> Regards,
>
> Angela
>
> Angela Long
> MSLS
> Librarian
> Homer-Center Ele.
> Homer City, PA 15759
> along@homercenter.org
> Shattering librarian stereotypes every day!
>
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--
Shonda Brisco, MLIS
Technology Librarian /
Independent Library Consultant
Fort Worth, Texas
sbrisco@gmail.com
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