I remember fighting this battle as an undergraduate library student at
SUNY/Geneseo. I fought that I was in library school to be a librarian and not a
teacher. 45 years later I have been a school librarian most of my career though I
also have been a public librarian and a Library School professor at 2 colleges.I
must admit that I am a teacher first and that many "library" duties just don't get
done. I haven't sent an overdue notice for over 3 years. It is next to impossible
when one is a one-person operation in a 9 period day. I am way behind in cataloging
also. Just when I think I may be catching up, a teacher will want to collaborate on
an assignment and everything else stops - and that is all good.Today I was going to
evaluate some donations for possible cataloging - that didn't last long. I worked
on a major student centered collaborative research project on various periods of
music (Baroque, twenty century, etc). Did a powerpoint for a Spanish IV class
coming in for 2 periods on Friday. They are researching Azetcs. Judged 5 periods of
projects for Senior English in the library. The students worked in triads - each
read the same non-fiction title (everything from Fast Food Nation to Obama
Barack's newest book). They then had to assume the role of author, event planner,
agent. Various teachers and administrators strolled the library among the displays
(powerpoints, display boards, food, bookmarks, etc.) and judged the students for
presentation, research, role playing, etc.Now it is 9th period and I am about to
write a review for Catholic Library World magazine. "Library" stuff will have to
wait until tomorrow or next week - but next week part of the career fair is in the
library and I am hosting the reception for the speakers. All the "library" stuff
may have to wait! Or maybe it is all library stuff and I am already doing
it.AllanDr. Allan O'Grady Cuseo, MGCDirector of Library ServicesBishop Kearney High
School | A Golisano Education Partner125 Kings Highway SouthRochester, New York
14617585.342.4000 x231585.342.4694 (fax)www.bkhs.orgCollege Prep.
Plus.-----Original Message-----From: "Karen Mitchell" [kem@QOFASCHOOL.ORG]Date:
02/27/2008 01:31 PMTo: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDUSubject: Re: [LM_NET] Honest Response
NeededI agree completely with Ms. Harrison about the basic split among media
specialists. I, too, am a librarian who works in a school, not a teacher
whose classroom is the library. I was a librarian long before I first
worked in a school library (I have been here 27 years now), and have worked
in a public library, a university library, and a federal government library
prior to this position. I am a school librarian who was a librarian first,
and then obtained a conditional certification as a teacher (I am only
certified to teach library skills and technology skills), whereas most
school librarians seem to be classroom teachers who then obtained a library
endorsement to their already held teacher certification. Two distinct
schools of thought, I believe.
I am a librarian down to my soul, and in my library properly cataloging and
processing books ARE "essential services". I do love to teach the children
proper library skills, and how to use and enjoy libraries and books, and
spend many hours per day doing just that, but NOT to the detriment of a
properly run library. If I have to work extra hours on my own time, which I
often do, the essential library cataloguing, processing, shelving,
correcting outdated Dewey numbers and subject headings, sending overdue book
notices, weeding, etc., WILL be done. And with computerized cataloging
these days, the time spent is truly minimal compared to the old days of
typing and filing an average of six catalog cards per book in the card
catalog, not to mention the near impossibility of keeping the Dewey numbers
and subject headings up to date!
Karen Mitchell, Librarian
Queen of Angels School (K-8)
1007 S. Oak Street
Port Angeles, WA 98362
kem@qofaschool.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "Harrison, Connie" <HarrisC1@DEARBORN.K12.MI.US>;
To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>;
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 7:46 AM
Subject: Re: [LM_NET] Honest Response Needed
This statement goes to a basic split in philosophy among media specialists.
I think we're basically divided into 2 groups: teachers whose classroom is
in the library and librarians who work in schools. Ms. Wools is clearly in
the first group. I'm in the latter group and I have inherited media centers
from others who share her philosophy. It's not fun. Books that have come
"fully processed" have not been incorporated into the existing collection,
leading to (for example) older biographies in a separate section with spine
labels reading "BIO" and newer biographies catalogued in the person's area
of specialization (ie., sports figures in the 790s, chefs in the 640s, etc.)
Consistency has not been a priority.
From my perspective, you can't support a library media program and any other
curriculum with books that are catalogued poorly, damaged or in the back of
some kid's locker. While these are clerical tasks and it is true that
secretaries should be sending out overdue notices, printing out spine
labels, etc., I am responsible for the secretary as her immediate
supervisor. If I am using technology efficiently, the amount of time used
for the processing and and collection management will be minimized.
Finally, I have my own library media curriculum which is intended to prepare
students for independent use of public and academic libraries. If my
library is poorly arranged or out of date, I am not fulfilling my own
obligations for instruction and I am a poor role model.
Connie Harrison
Media Specialist
Dearborn Public Schools
harrisc1@dearborn.k12.mi.us
Instructor
Library and Information Science Department
Wayne State University
ae2222@wayne.edu
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