[LM_NET] Thank you and let's keep discussing the role and future of libraries and librarians

[Paula Yohe <paula_yohe@YAHOO.COM>]

Thanks to all of you who emailed me individually -- we need to keep a healthy 
discussion going....

Some general observations from the emails that I received and any of these could be 
individual threads for discussion if anyone wants to pick these up as discussion 
topics 

1. Why is it when someone asks for ideas or input - very few people post - but let 
something a little controversial be posted and everyone jumps on that. Are we here 
to share information and ideas -- or to wait for a controversial topic - before we 
share --

2. Why would we be concerned about typos, grammar, etc. when this is a discussion 
and no one should be judged for grammar or typos -- some folks feel uncomfortable 
posting that they may be criticized for spelling, etc. Why are we here?

Back to some additional things to think about --

1. With the budget crisis everywhere --
if media specialists are not legislated in your state --
would they keep you or the IT staff - or the literacy coach or technology coach

2. When you purchase materials and/or equipment -- do you make the best 
professional judgement that you can? How do you feel when someone questions your 
decision? -- Are we not as guilty when we judge the IT department or another 
department when they make a decision? Should we not be proactive in helping provide 
selection criteria and guidelines to these folks? Don't wait till they purchase and 
criticize -- share before hand

3. When someone comes to you with an idea -- do you listen to their idea and try to 
help them fulfill it or do you try to put your spin on it?

4. When the teachers or administrators get one of their "brilliant" ideas like 
leveling the library - or lexiling the library -- do you flip out and start 
spouting theory or do you ask what they are really trying to accomplish and try to 
provide what they need without being completely negative -- what can you do to give 
them what they want - without leveling the library or lexiling it -- 
probably an easy way for the kids or teaches to get the books is what they really 
want -- how can you make that happen?


5. Do you feel overburdened and unappreciated? How do you think the IT staff feels? 
I tell my staff that we are like the phone company, the cable company, etc. No one 
calls when stuff works -- they call when it is broke -- and they want it now --- 

6. If you feel IT never gets to the library and what you need -- have you stopped 
to think about what IT's priorities are --
I could guess they are about the same or close in every district.
payroll -- and paying the bills
district office
the student information system
 the lunch system/bus system/ etc.
 labs that meet for class credit
 office computers
teacher computers
 instructional software
libraries

It isn't intentional in alot of cases -- it's the same thing you have priorities....


So I have thrown out several topics and let's try to brainstorm and come up with 
positive things we can all do -- to promote the cause of libraries and librarians --

We must be proactive and have a new percpetion out there -- or we will cease to 
exist

That's my passion for the last few years of my career --
I started working in libraries in the 4th grade and never worked anywhere else -- 
all of my part time jobs in high school and college were in libraries

I move to IT so I could try and change the perception and importance of libraries 
to the educational process --
much to my surprise -- so many times I find myself fighting my own profession as I 
try to change the perception of libraries and librarians.

When I got my degree in administration -- not once were libraries mentioned -- even 
in the index of the textbooks -- libraries were barely mentioned -- the school 
nurse got more coverage -

we have so much work to do and so much change we need to do

let's find the way to be a bridge and become indispensible not the first group cut 
when budgets get tough...









Paula Yohe
Director Of Technology/Library Media Center
Dillon School District Two
405 West Washington Street
Dillon, SC 29536
Phone: 843-841-3604 Fax:843-774-1214
paula_yohe@yahoo.com


      

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