I have received several suggestions, but I want to clarify.
We have a clear vision and mission for our library program, and I structure
what I do around our state standards, which are measurable. But what I am
being asked to do this year is come up with ONE big, overall measurable
goal. For example, if I set the goal to increase reading, I have to define
by how much and have a way to measure it. Increasing collaboration ranks
high with me, but how is that measured? If the goal is to increase
information access and evaluation, it must be measured... by hits on the
databases, circ statistics, etc.?
What I am struggling with is having only ONE measurable goal for a library
that serves grades PreK-12. And it has to be ONE, only one, that directly
impacts the district's big five. And it has to be attainable in a library
that measures 800 sq. ft.
I have begun think it is not realistic and feel I am spending too much
setting one big goal, which is time spent away from actually working toward
any library goals.
Before I share the above opinion with the admins, I thought I'd see if
anyone else has had to do this and was successful at it. Perhaps I am
making this more difficult than it should be.
Thanks for your collective expertise (and listening ear).
Original Message:
Our district has changed their format for evaluation, and everyone needs to
be working toward their own one big goal that supports one of the district's
five big goals. Sounds easy, right? I'm a goal setter, love having a
target to work toward, and appreciate accountability. However, it is
proving difficult to define ONE big goal for the library.
As we work to define my one big goal, I also bear the burden of educating my
admins on the multiple roles of the library as it supports instruction,
literacy, and technology. I'm thankful I work for such wonderful people who
appreciate my base of knowledge, are open to learning, and want to have the
library program contribute in the best way possible, but it is a big job to
do alone. We have 1400 students in 14 grades at my school, and I am the
only certified librarian in our district. That is why I am calling on your
collective brain: to help me see what I am overlooking.
I don't think it is possible to boil the library program down to ONE goal...
but what do you think? Can you define the role of the library in one
sentence/action/measurable task/goal? What would it be?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Cindy Rogers, MLS
Certified Media Specialist/Librarian
IDEA Academy
IDEA College Preparatory
401 South 1st Street
Donna, TX 78537
O (956) 377-8083
F (956) 464-8532
crogers@ideapublicschools.org
http://www.ideapublicschools.org
IDEA Public Schools are dedicated to providing students with the academic,
social, and leadership skills needed to apply, matriculate, and succeed in a
four-year college or university.
"In the nonstop tsunami of global information, librarians provide us with
floaties and teach us how to swim." -- Linton Weeks, Washington Post
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