I don't know what I offends me most about the post below. There are so
many things....
How does Angela know anything about "most" rural libraries. She obviously
doesn't know anything about mine or those around my area. We have internet
and computers (I have 11 XPs plus 7 others) in our libraries. We even have
indoor plumbing and electricity. And push button telephones. In fact, in
my library, we have had our collection on computer since 1986. We started on
old Tandy's with the big floppy disks. I have NEVER used a check out card
to check out a book. Also, I had the only internet connection in the area
in MY RURAL library in January of 1995. We were among the first ones to use
Netscape instead of Mosaic for our browser. And, yes, I belonged to LM_NET
then.
I also resent the personal generalizations about our qualifications and our
"struggles" to know what we "should" be doing. I actually have a MS degree
in Library Science from that "rural" University of Illinois. Perhaps that
isn't a "real" degree. As to the comment about not being aware of the
standards...How can anyone who works in a school today not be aware of the
standards? We get bombarded with them all the time. How dare Angela say we
"choose to ignore". Who set her up as judge of what I do?
By the way. Once in awhile my rural district buys extra oats for the
horses, and we hitch up the buggy and go to a conference to learn how better
to read a story and do a worksheet, or even how to better use our computers.
My bottom line is I very much resent being classified as someone who is not
willing to save my profession from extinction. Although, if there are a lot
of librarians who think like Angela, maybe we should become extinct.
How
However, a large part of the picture is missing. In
most rural =
school libraries, librarians are still struggling to get
Internet and =
computers in their libraries. Yes, I know, they should try
harder, be =
better, etc. They are struggling to even know what they
"should" be =
doing. Their libraries can't afford School Library Journal,
they don't =
belong to LM NET, (because they do not have a computer of their
own), and =
they are not "allowed" by their district to go to conferences.
Some don't =
care. I have had several people tell me they don't have time to
read LM =
Net or go to conferences or do "PR" for their library. So, how
do we save =
a profession from extinction if the very people in it will not
save =
themselves?
School librarians across the country are still doing the check
in/check =
out, read a story, do a few worksheets, etc. They aren't aware
of =
standards, the don't want to collaborate, they choose to ignore
standards =
because "that's the way they have been doing it for years."
These =
librarians are the ones that are dooming our profession. The
perpetuate =
the stereotype that we all loathe. =20
So, as this discussion contintues, realize that a large part of
our =
profession is unfortunately sitting on the sidelines.
I intend not to be on the side lines but in the game, giving it
all I have =
and then some!
Janet Perry, Prek-12 Librarian
Cerro Gordo CUSD 100, Cerro Gordo, IL
perrybros@hotmail.com
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