4/4 12:52pm
In response to AB:
First of all, as a current library media studies
graduate student I would like to say yes, the school
library should be the hub of the school, and yes, the
school library and public library are two different
entities and function in different ways. However, when
you're talking about the level of instruction
presented to the students particularly at the F/C
Library, please reconsider your post.
The library curriculum at the F/C library aligns the
Massachusetts State Frameworks, local benchmarks and
Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning as
stated in Information Power by the American
Association of School Librarians and the Association
for Educational Communications Technology, and I have
done the best that I can in the short amount of time
that I have been in Norfolk to gradually create and
develop a library program that teaches, demonstrates
and encourages
- information literacy
- independent learning, and
- social responsibility
As far as the partnership between the public library
and school library, I cannot respond on the history of
this agreement, however, the benefits our students
have received through this partnership is enormous
- access to the SAILS catalog, which also allows
students to use Kids Library, electronic databases to
locate additional information, and place holds (these
are all OPAC skills that I teach)
- delivery of materials
Did you know that I also teach web evaluation,
interpreting URLs, bibliographic citations? Did you
know that I collaborate with Mr. Guertin of NCTV on a
media program? I have also collaborated with some of
the other faculty members to focus on specific
teaching needs? For example, I just completed a
folktales unit (Standard 16 of the grade 3 language
strand) with grade 3.
These are just a few examples of what I TEACH in the
library. There is so much more that I had planned for
our students, but I won't have the opportunity to do
so.
As far as your comments on literature, yes, I still
bookshare and do a few read alouds, but my focus in on
student learning, research, and information.
Food for thought:
Ross Todd, in response to this question during an
interview by Debra Lau Whelan in School Library
Journal Feb. 1, 2004, "Do school and public libraries
need to collaborate more closely to get older students
interested in reading?" said
"School and public libraries are functioning as
separate entities and need closer collaboration and
dialogue to provide a much more holistic information
service. Students should use public libraries in
addition to school libraries as part of the
information chain. We didn't work out a solution in
the research. The role of study is not to provide a
solution, but to begin a dialogue to find a solution."
Please, think about the statements you made in your
post. It's hard enough that some of us are not only
feeling the loss of our positions, but it's the loss
of resources that our students will no longer have
access to at all. It doesn't matter if I'm here or
not- the students are going to miss out on so much.
You may find this ridiculous, but this is a grieving
process some of us are going through. Maybe you should
see if they'll hire in the fall if you're looking to
take a stand and be proactive.
- HM
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