I don't think libraries need to be jump to every fad---or go to the extremes like
"huffing," obviously---but I do know that making our libraries more
"student-friendly" is how we increase our presence in their minds.
School libraries should be on the cutting edge of what our kids are involved in, if
only through our awareness and our advocacy---because our focus is on KIDS and what
they do both in school and out of school. We offer books, computers, databases,
the Internet, and reference / referral...but sometimes, we aren't "kid friendly."
We want things on our terms MOST (if not ALL) of the time. We have stereotypes out
there because we are not flexible in what we think, do, or offer regarding our
library programs. Then we whine when we see a typecast of ourselves in the media.
Can we be cool AND informative...yes. However, it takes work and it takes
involvement. Getting to know what the kids like is half the battle. Making those
things "connect" to what is being taught in the classroom is also a challenge. Can
gaming be educational? Can Manga teach us about other cultures?
Yes, not everyone wants to do all of this work...because that's what it is...hard,
hard work. However, it's important to ask those questions and to be ready to
respond to what our kids are doing.
Being able to flex your program to the needs and interests of students is how to
keep your students' interested in the library and the resources, programs, and
people. Reading clubs can be expanded to graphic novel groups. Computer clubs can
expand to gaming tournaments. Being "out there" asking questions can make you
appear more approachable to many students who only know the stereotypical
"media-driven" librarian.
My kids don't like video games or manga...but they certainly like utilizing
software programs that help them create their own publications---so we'll order
those things. My kids like iPods...we'll do podcasts and investigate what it takes
to broadcast using new technologies. My kids love checking out Wikipedia...so
we'll create our own wikis and blogs and webpages.
I think in order to prepare ourselves for Library 2.0, we need to stop thinking of
how to not do these things (or stop others from doing them), but learn how to
re-create ways to incorporate our libraries into them.
I was one of the first school libraries in my district to offer video tapes for
student check-out back in the 1980's.....a new "fad".....but my kids loved it! I
WAS the local video store for many of them because I was free! We need to remind
ourselves that making programs available and being on the edge of new technologies
is where libraries SHOULD be and if aren't or if we wait, we lose our best to a
stereotype that should never exist.
Just an opinion....
~Shonda
Shonda Brisco, MLIS
US / Technology Librarian
4200 Country Day Lane
Fort Worth Country Day School
Fort Worth, TX
817.732.7718 ext. 339
"We can't wait for somebody outside of ourselves to rescue us, because nobody is
coming to the rescue..."
~ Ross Todd, Professor
School of Communications, Information, and Library Studies, Rutgers University
sbrisco@fwcds.org
http://www.fwcds.org/campus/libraries/default.asp
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