[LM_NET] Franklin High changes

[Thomas Kaun <tomkaun@GMAIL.COM>]

Hi, Catherine.
Thanks for sharing this story with LM_NET.
Though it's very disheartening to see the changes being made to the library
at FHS and I know nothing about the library or its programs, I am wondering
how it got to this state where the librarian was considered "dispensible."
The most interesting thing to read were the comments of folks in the
community in re: the article that appeared in the Milford paper. It
certainly set off in interesting and heated discussion.
I hope we are able to follow the changes and someone would do well to
document how things change for students and staff at the high school as a
result of these changes. Unfortunately, given the work load of most school
people I have very little faith that it will actually be studied.
Thanks for sharing the story. Hopefully,
ALDirect<http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/aldirect/aldirect.cfm>will
pick it up before too long.
Tom

Thomas T. Kaun
Teacher Librarian
Bessie Chin Library @ Redwood High School
395 Doherty Drive, Larkspur, CA 94939
tomkaun@gmail.com | Library Web site: http://rhslibrary.org | Professional
development blog: http://tomlmt2.blogspot.com/ | Library news blog:
http://libraryleaves.blogspot.com | Twitter: besschinlibrary



On Wed, Aug 5, 2009 at 9:06 AM, Catherine O Brown
<kbrown@brevisconsult.com>wrote:

>
>
> Colleagues --
>
>
>
> I want to share with you an article I received in today's email.  I am
> familiar with the town mentioned in the article, but in order to give the
> article some perspective, I have included some additional information for
> those of you are not.
>
>
>
> I found myself going back to the article several times today to assure
> myself that, in fact, I had read it correctly.  Sadly, each subsequent
> reading not only confirmed that I had, but disheartened me even more.  Over
> and over, I kept coming back to this question: Is this where our profession
> will be in a few years?  Is this the future of school libraries?
>
>
>
> I share so many of Principal Light's visions for education; much of what he
> says in the YouTube videos is extremely insightful and praise-worthy.  He
> seems to be a truly dedicated educator ... except in the particular
> instance
> of libraries and librarians and the contribution they make and the role
> they
> play in achieving the kind and quality of education he wants for the
> students in his charge.
>
>
>
> As always, it is jarring to hear a talented musician such as Mr. Light miss
> a beat or play slightly off-key, especially during such a critical
> performance
>
>
>
> I hope the following will precipitate an excellent discussion.
>
>
>
> Kate Brown
>
> labookworm@gmail.com
>
> Librarian Looking for a Library
>
>
>
> ===================================================
>
>
>
> By way of background, Franklin, MA is located in southeastern
> Massachusetts,
> about 45 minutes from Boston.
>
> <http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/index>
>
> As of July 2008, the population was 32,148, the average age was in the
> mid-thirties; and in 2007, the average income was $88,873, more than
> $26,000
> above the average income in the Commonwealth.  It is a predominantly white
> community with a largely Irish and Italian heritage.  For population 25
> years and over, 92.9% have completed high school or higher, 42.7% have a
> bachelor's degree or higher, and 13.7% have graduate or professional
> degrees.
>
>
>
> One can find several pieces on YouTube.com about Franklin High School's
> principal, Peter Light, the subject of the article below, that detail his
> professional background in Franklin as well as his vision for Franklin High
> School.
>
> <YouTube.com <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uAh1EL6JbI> >
>
>
>
> Principal Light has a blog, FSH Principal's Blog:  The Online Newsletter of
> Franklin High School, <http://franklinhighschool.wordpress.com
> <http://franklinhighschool.wordpress.com/> > on WordPress.com where he
> recently posted a letter to the community concerning changes that students
> will find have been made to the school, etc. when they return in September.
> I direct your attention to p.3, in particular, where he details changes
> made
> this summer to what had been the school's library.  I also direct your
> attention to the chart detailing personnel changes made over the summer.
>
>
>
> In particular, however, I direct your attention to this article from the
> Milford Daily News that explains the changes made to the former library in
> consummate detail:
>
> <
> http://www.milforddailynews.com/homepage/x1202627306/Franklin-High-library-
> 
>undergoes-transformation<http://www.milforddailynews.com/homepage/x1202627306/Franklin-High-library-%0Aundergoes-transformation>
> <
> http://www.milforddailynews.com/homepage/x1202627306/Franklin-High-library-
> u> >
>
>
>
>
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