Re: [LM_NET] NOT Breaking away from ALA

[Sara Kelly Johns <sarakellyjohns@YAHOO.COM>]

Thanks, Peter, Ellen, Diane, Lisa, Barbara, Melissa, Debbie, David and Cyndi,

I was raised with debate being a family sport so really appreciate the open 
discussion of the benefits of AASL being part of ALA. I may have been the only one 
who noticed Cyndi's "play on words" in her subject line. Her theme is "AASL is you 
and you are AASL," and I think that is really that on which we need to focus with 
ALA involvement. We gain a lot from being part of ALA, including working with and 
learning from librarians in all types of specializations. We give a lot to ALA, 
too, with our focus on our students' needs. 

AASL is very aware that it takes both the organization and the division's members 
to work on increased visibility in ALA. Our strategic plan 
<http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aboutaasl/aaslgovernance/aaslstrategicplanning/spgoals.htm>
 has five goal areas and one of them is increased influence in ALA. (The other four 
are advocacy, guidelines and standards, professional development, and community.) 
The Executive Committee and the Board base our work on that plan and I can see our 
influence growing since the plan was adopted in 2004. It just might be time for the 
Board to request again that school libraries be included in the salary survey since 
the APA is hearing from school librarians about it. But it DOES take the members 
being actively involved for our influence to really grow. As Carol Simpson said in 
her post about the standards which I think applies to all areas of our visibility, 
"No matter how many lessons we teach, if we aren't vocal and explicit with 
decisionmakers and
 other professional organizations, we will still be trivialized." 

Peter's and others' letters to the editor of American Libraries (AL) had an 
immediate result. I too was one of the bloggers interviewed for a follow-up, 
egg-on-their-face article that should be really good. My answers are posted on my 
blog <http://fromtheinsideout.squarespace.com> as were Diane's, Joyce Valenza's, 
Doug Johnson's and Rob Darrow's. AL and other parts of ALA respond well to 
constructive criticism and constructive action. With e-mail and blogs as well as 
the directory of phone numbers for offices 
<http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=stafflists&Template=/CFApps/Information/staff_directory.cfm>,
 I've had personal concerns answered very quickly. 

Deb, I'm glad you will find ways to use your ALA membership more. Letters when 
school librarians are not included are a great, active idea. Knowing you as I do 
from LM_NET and conferences, I'm betting that you will find many ways to 
participate in increasing the visibility of school librarians (which will translate 
into more support from ALA, IMHO) but I wish you would vote. One of the ways ALA 
KNOWS a major division wants to be involved is through the percentages of its 
members who vote. Reading all the candidates' bios can be pretty daunting and 
time-consuming, but AASL has compiled a list of AASL and youth members running for 
Council 
<http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aboutaasl/aaslgovernance/aaslelections/aaslelections.htm>
 

I would NEVER tell anyone to vote for the people listed on it blindly but it does 
help to concentrate our Council votes and there are not all that many people's bios 
to read when you use that list. It's doable and makes our school library voice 
louder. OK, I hope LOTS of people on LM_NET decide to vote, not just Debbie.

And I want to pick up on Melissa Techman's idea of a separate advocacy 
organization. Without paying more dues, it is possible to develop an interest group 
within AASL through starting a Professional Learning Community, a PLC. They are 
designed to provide members with the chance to connect virtually on a topic of 
interest in a virtual environment as well as face-to-face meetings at conferences.  
One centered on advocacy would be really powerful for action. Hmmm.

By the way, the AASL Executive Committee meets on April 20-22 and Cyndi and I will 
take your ideas with us. 

Back to vacation, Sara J




Ellen Nosal <enosal@SBCGLOBAL.NET> wrote: I just had to come out of the shadows and 
respond to this one.
   
  Should "we" break away from the ALA?  Not I, after working so hard to become a 
librarian.
   
  Although I am proud and happy to be a library media specialist, I will always be 
a librarian first and foremost.  In my opinion, that is essential to being a good 
library media specialist.  The country is filling up with people who become 
certified as library media specialists without every having worked a single day in 
a library.  This is because the emphasis on librarianship has taken a back seat to 
all the other roles we must play.  A meaningful professional relationship with our 
local public librarians helps us to stay grounded in our own profession, and allows 
us to be of greater service to our students.  
   
  If I were to find myself facing a challenge to a book, I'd want to have the ALA 
backing me.  
   
  Ellen Nosal, MLS
  Library Media Specialist
  Walter Polson Middle School
  Madison, CT 06443
  nosale@madison.k12.ct.us
   
   

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
  You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
  by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
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/
 * 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
--------------------------------------------------------------------

   

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sara Kelly Johns
AASL 2006-07 President-Elect
Associate Editor for AASL Community, Knowledge Quest
Lake Placid Middle/High School LMC
34 School Street
Lake Placid, NY 12946
518-523-2474, ext. 4132
FAX: 518-523-4861
johns@northnet.org
SaraKJohns@aol.com
<http://fromtheinsideout.blogspace.com>

"Information is the currency of democracy." -- Thomas Jefferson

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
  You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
  by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
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/
 * 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
--------------------------------------------------------------------