David,
You've raised an interesting issue here. I'm surprised more people
haven't posted to discuss it already.
I would agree with you that many of the traditional library tasks are
now automated, but I think that if we focus on our growth as
professionals, we can prevent our own obsolescence. By stressing the
importance of developing a love of reading in children of all ages,
developing the skills to be technology mavens, proactively collaborating
with classroom teachers to make their jobs more pleasant, and by finding
ways to tie library services to standardized learning, we can maintain
our level of importance in education.
I agree with you that resting on our traditional laurels would be a
mistake. We need to make our administrators aware of how we can help
them, help the faculty, and help the students. And we need to behave
like leaders. Classroom teachers generally do not have time to keep up
with the latest trends in education or in technology. We can serve as
research professionals by staying informed through blogs and other
means, and create digests of what we find to make it easier for teachers
to stay current. This can also be accomplished through collaboration.
I think that research is a key word in this discussion. If we can show
we are more skilled at conducting focused research than those around us,
we will be an invaluable resource to them.
There will always be those who complain that librarians "do nothing all
day but sit around and read books," but there are many of our fellow
professionals that we can reach if we try. The life of a classroom
teacher is very different from that of a school librarian, and I would
not personally have the talent to do what they do. But most of them
could not do my job either, so it balances out.
Find your talents that can benefit your colleagues in the modern world,
and I don't think you will ever have to worry about your job disappearing.
Deb Waugh, Librarian
Graham High School
Bluefield, Virginia
dwaugh@tazewell.k12.va.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
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LM_NET
Mailing List Home