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While the question of "Should students be allowed to use Wikipedia for
research assignments" is being discussed, I was curious if we (as
librarians) have considered Wikipedia as an "Advocacy Tool" for our
profession?

Think of the entry ---"librarian".....it is already listed in
Wikipedia,... but ("yawn")... it's a bit boring (imagine what other
readers might think)...especially the ONE sentence written about
School Library Media Specialists.  Although there is another paragraph
later that discusses the different types / levels of librarianship
within a school, the training required, the organizations, etc., there
is NOTHING listed about how school library media specialists are
impacting student achievement (or why it would be important). There's
nothing listed about the Impact Studies, nothing about collaboration,
nothing about "tech-savvy" librarians....and NO School Library Media
Specialists are on a list of "School Librarians TO Know and Follow"
(and there are several on LM_NET who will BE in future textbooks
listed as the change-agents of the 20th-21st Centuries in school
libraries) ---however, there are several librarians listed on the
Librarian entry that we all researched and discussed in our grad
classes ---or was I the only person who took that class?? (yawn...).

Perhaps WE could create an impact (or an awareness) within Wikipedia
by including the things that WE, as school librarians, are doing to
change the face of school libraries and student achievement.  This is
an OPEN forum read by millions....it's a free publication that
definitely provides resources that the mainstream media, educators,
students, readers, administrators, and parents consult for basic
information.  Wouldn't you LOVE to have a teacher or student tell you
that they were just overwhelmed with the information that was provided
about what librarians do, the resources that were available, the book
resources, journals, and websites that librarians provide for one
another?  What if a student clicked on the term YALSA and discovered
links to websites with materials that we haven't had the chance to
post on your library's website....we KNOW this stuff already...let's
share it with the rest of the "congregation" and stop preaching to the
choir!

Rather than complaining that Wikipedia contains less than quality
material, why not ADD some quality to the content by showcasing what
School Library Media Specialists are doing in the 21st century?

Teacher Librarian link in Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teacher-librarian

 (Note:  "school librarian," "library media specialist" and "school
library media specialist" are NOT linked (found), so even though the
terms might be used, there are no additional links to entries in
Wikipedia to take a user deeper into "our world." These can be added,
though, if Teacher-Librarian is not "enough" information.  Remember,
the terms chosen should be what your patrons would also be using.
Librarian is there, but it is an overall description of the
profession.  Should "school librarian" be added with the wealth of
information and resources showcased and shared?)

Are you ready to create your Wikipedia password and draft some
information that others need to know about school librarians and their
impact on student achievement?

(Just some thoughts....more on my blog...)

~Shonda

-- 
Shonda Brisco, MLIS
Library Media / Technology Specialist
Digital Bookends wiki / blog:
http://digitalbookends.pbwiki.com
http://shonda.edublogs.org/
sbrisco@gmail.com

"Digital Resources" columnist
School Library Journal

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