My 2 cents worth on some of the points that have been made. This thread has
me thinking while on spring break.
Yes, we need to know technology, but then so do all of the other educators
in our buildings. Is there really anyone in a school who shouldn't know
about and be implementing technology? Just because we do, won't save our
jobs. Too much on technology might mean "they" decide a computer lab monitor
would be a better way to spend money. Too much time spent online blogging or
web paging could be the equivalent of shelving, meaning your teachers won't
understand what you do.
I like Joyce's focus on retooling. Automobile manufactures would retool
every year, to put out a better car. But the product they put out still was
a method of personal transportation. Retooling is good but the focus should
remain on the product. When I began as a school librarian teachers didn't
want students using the World Book Encyclopedia for research. Now they don't
want them in wikipedia, probably for the same reason. This is where I try to
influence the product through a mixture of aggressive pushiness and meek
"let me help you".
Many of us do not have assistants to do the "stuff". While I have a half
time person, I like to keep my hand in. Doing the inventory lets me put my
hands on all of the books. I rediscover treasures, notice holes in the
collection, weed. I check books in and out, and talk to the students and
teachers while I am doing that. Often I can make another suggestion for
material, or I can influence the product. I do my own orders, it is an
ongoing task and there is always an order ready to go in case someone wants
to give me money. I check in magazines, great for finding that article that
directly speaks to what a teacher is doing. I would not totally give up
these tasks, I am a better resource person by doing them.
Within my building I can and should be as proactive as possible. Within my
district I try to be proactive and visible highlighting what librarians do
to facilitate student learning. Participating in conferences is also useful.
But I still NEED the organizations to which I belong to be advocates at
their end. Some of my administrators are more interested in what "research"
and "professional journals" have to say. You could say that I should be
willing to write for them, but the truth is, I am not a very good writer.
Thanks for listening.
Deborah Stafford
Gen. H.H. Arnold High School
Wiesbaden, Germany
deborah.stafford@t-online.de
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