6/14: Learners Chapt 4, Woolls Chapters 12 & 14

Empowering Learners Chapter 4:
I found this chapter to be a great guide to ‘expectations for a media leader’. It basically outlines the things that should already be taking place, options for taking those further, and the responsibilities of the librarian. ALA really stresses the point that the library program needs to be at the front and center of a school in all facets. One thing that really stood out to me was the list of ‘Characteristics of Good Leadership’. Obviously this isn’t just for the media center, but for every walk of life. I’m planning on making some kind of bulletin board centered on these characteristics in my classroom. In 5th grade basically all the kids want to be leaders of some sort or another and this will encourage them by using the right methods to get there. To make it interactive, I’ll probably have them nominate other students who exhibit these qualities to have their names put up on the same board. Positive role models are few and far between for some kids, so every opportunity there is for them to make a good decision needs to be acted on, especially when it involves peer interaction.
School Library Media Manager Chapter 12:
I thought it was interesting to look at the library as a small business. The references to producer, consumer, marketing, products, and services had me flashing back to my freshman business class. However that makes sense, if you want the media center to remain the forefront of a school you have to look at what it is that people (your students) want. Why would you go down and spend hours looking through books and indexes for a research paper when with a couple of quick clicks you have the same information? It’s all about drawing them in, the library can no longer be ‘just about books’. It has to be a welcoming space that encourages interaction, collaboration, and learning. How is a librarian going to do this? Woolls gives several examples in her text; changing bulletin boards and showcases frequently, have a yearly theme to encourage students in year after year, send out lists of new resources, create a blog about the projects or items offered in the library, or writing in the local newspaper or newsletter frequently to make sure that everyone (especially parents) are informed about what’s going on. The possibilities are endless on how to get kids to come to the library- it’s just the amount of work and effort one wants to put into it that matters.
I also love the idea of making sure that the media center has a good reputation. Too often students are sent home with past-due notices or their report cards are kept. I understand this is a significant way to get funds and books back to the library, however, if there were other things going home as well, maybe these letters or phone calls wouldn’t sting as bad. Think from a teacher’s stand point- you always want parent-teacher conferences to go REALLY good, because their at the beginning of the year and you’re just starting your relationship with those people (students as well as parents). It also ensures if later on you have to make a ‘not so happy’ phone call home, parents will be a lot more understanding. The same applies for the library. If there are continuous positive experiences in the media center, those late notices don’t seem like such a big deal. However, I believe the last line of the chapter really sums it all up, “…the media specialist’s easiest marketing techniques is to greet everyone who comes in the door with a smile and eagerness to help.”
Chapter 14:
Chapter 14 is really about getting everyone involved. By everyone, that’s exactly what I mean, the parents, the students, teachers, and even a child the same age half way across the world that might have information to help a student on a presentation about the crops in South America. I love the idea of expanding the borders of education (or really blowing them to smithereens) by use of technology. Something the chapter did hit on that I have concerns about as well; safety and cyber-bullying. Already I’ve had to deal with the cyber bullying issue and I try to avoid it like the plague because it gets sticky and nasty. Another challenge that’s brought up is teaching students to develop effective search strategies. As a librarian I think it’s a great idea, as a teacher I think another thing to teach?!? Later in the same paragraph there’s a line that I just don’t agree with, and honestly made me a little irritated, “Once the student graduates (high school), it is too late to create a lifelong information-literate user”. I believe this is a very closed minded statement, after all haven’t older generations adapted to the internet. I know lots have already bypassed the point where I’m at as far as technology is concerned! In general this chapter is about getting information out to the ‘consumers’ in any way, shape, or form possible. It just so happens that in today’s day and age, the best form happens to be through technology.