[LM_NET] Role Redefined

[Maurine Toth <mtoth@MONTCLAIRKIMBERLEY.ORG>]

I am in agreement with David.  I have been involved in librarianship  
for thirty years.  Twenty years ago, the first Apple IIe came to the   
floor of the public library where I was working, the sound of the  
printer echoed like machine gun fire breaking the silence, and there  
was absolutely no professional training.  Hmmm, what have we here?  I   
was looking at the vehicle for synthesizing new information, and I  
embraced the new technology once I had a better sense and  
understanding of the potential for organizing and accessing future  
information.  I read everything I could get my hands on because I  
thought it was a new exciting adventure for the future of  
librarianship.  What I didn't forsee was the demise of librarianship  
as a profession for so many.   We all should have been the leaders but  
too many did not embrace technology...and thus a new profession sprung  
from our lack of advocacy...educational technology...and what exactly  
is that...non-trained librarianship with a lot of 2.0 tools to manage  
and teach...and more importantly the "idea" of  new...out with the  
old.  Professional librarians coming into the field will bring a  
revitalized strength and pro-active vision for our schools.  When I go  
to workshops/conferences, I hear, feel and see bitterness in regard to  
the status of librarianship, but until we make ourselves  
indispensable, we will continue to follow the tradition of always  
being the first to be cut...if indeed we will be asked back this  
time.  The 21st century has just begun, and I believe we can turn this  
around and prove our credibility and passion by designing 21st century  
curriculum, lesson plans, collaborate with every person and parent in  
the school, embrace new teaching tools...rather than sitting back and  
wondering what the heck just happened and why.  I think we know why.

He [She] who has a library and a garden, wants for nothing- Cicero

Maurine Toth
Head Librarian
Montclair Kimberley Academy
6 Lloyd Road
Montclair, New Jersey 07042
973-783-8787
mtoth@montclairkimberley.org

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