Hooray for school librarians!

I was very happy and excited today to hear from a school librarian from EMS. What an inspiration! I may very well be asking to do an internship with her. She discussed weeding school collections, where it has not been done in many years. As I do my project work for IST612 on my home district, I have been thinking quite a lot about how to step into a district that has fallen behind the times, as it looks like my district has. I have wondered how to and what it would take to get the collection up to snuff. And she was able to answer many of my questions, even as I thought them.
Although that was the guest speaker that I most closely connected with, today's other speakers were also inspirational and well-spoken (always a bonus when the guest speaker is vivacious on top of interesting!). The public librarian that spoke was also very inspirational, and in another example of how library careers seem to often meander, much to the pleasure of the "owner" of said career.
One last exciting thing happened- our group has by and large finished the poster project! We decided to do stacks of books , with open books interspersed throughout, with our information on the open books. We are exploring the issue of best use of space in libraries- amore traditional, academic feel, or a service, community feel. Overall, I feel we did well, although, given more time, I would like to make changes. Some of the changes we can perhaps sneak in come morning, but for now, I think it is time for me to retire and get some rest for the last day of bootcamp. Wonder if we will the trip to the ALA symposium......

Working hard on IST 511

This morning, our lecture and guest speakers were all about systems in the library. I take this to be the IT side of things. I realized just how far I need to go in my education, though, for much of what was said I was not able to fully comprehend. It did strike me, however, that many of the guest speakers have enjoyed a meandering career path, different in every single case, and very specific to the interests and/or needs of the librarians. This is a added bonus to the field, that there are such a variety of places to take this degree.
Today we got a tour of the rare book collection/archives area. What a beautiful thing a rare book is. It appears that creating books and buildings have something in common. In the past, they were created as works of art that were also functioning. Somehow, I think most of the time, that art combined with functionality has been lost. We have been talking about and seeing pictures of the new Seattle Library, and although impressive, to my eye, just does not have the beauty of many buildings I have seen in Europe that are centuries old. This holds true for books also. Don't get me wrong, I could not be more thankful to Guggenheim, but I also think in gaining one thing, we have lost another. Some of those books took my breath away. When I become independently wealthy, I shall become a rare book collector!
In the evening, the group got together for more posterboard project work. We are getting there, although I wish we were a little further along. But of course there is always tomorrow night!
In conclusion, I have to say that although I am sure of becoming a school librarian, I can see myself moving into other areas later in my career- just for the fun of it!

Poster Contest

In our bootcamp class of IST511, the professors have challenged us with creating posters to potentially be shown at ALA conference, or at least to our own cohorts on Friday! My group had decided to look at the disagreement between librarians about social commons in public libraries. It appears that this has become more socially accepted than previously anticipated. Most of the articles I find are quite in favor. However, I did find one article that shows, given the choice, children (more so boys) will choose not to do educational work in the library. I think we may switch to school libraries- I think that is more controversial than the public libraries. School libraries are still seen to be more traditional learning environment.
We also had the opportunity to hear from a couple of academic librarians today. They were both very interesting and vivacious. Although I do not want to go into academia, I found myself still eager to hear more of their work. Great speakers!
One last thing covered in IST511 today was the search assignments given before semester and yesterday. In this area, I am a slow learner. I do not feel I have come close yet to grasping the search skill. This is a difficult area to learn, as it seems one must really just "play around" in the databases to see what they do. The scientist in me would love a standard operating procedure! But I continue to embrace change!

Bootcamp

Just finishing my first day of IST511 (or rather starting my second day as it is now after midnite) and I am only beginning to find out why they call it bootcamp! We have covered so much ground today!
Prof. N. and Prof. C. started filling us up early in the morning reviewing the text work. Then we had great guest speakers on public libraries. We started our poster information and we were assigned a search project due tomorrow. Not to mention the advisement session.
Overall, things are going well. Maybe it is the scientist in me, but I think I would learn better froma a more structured lesson plan. The information is great and really interesting, but I know that without reviewing the power point, I will be missing a lot. Or maybe I am just tired!
i would like to be more inciteful, but all this information has to boil down a bit before I can make more sense of it- we will see tomorrow night!

One more step

About three years ago, I began to dream about becoming a librarian. There always seemed to be something in my way. I thought it was one thing, then I thought that it was another. I finally realized I was in my own way. I overcame my fears, and set a date to take the GRE's. And I surprised myself by doing well! So then I took the next step, and sent in my application to Syracuse University. Lo and behold, I was accepted!
The next step in my journey began this weekend as I attended my first graduate level course- IST601- Information and Information Environments. Yes, it was tough- I have been working really hard for the last several weeks, preparing for the 7 credits I will be taking over the next two weeks. I received my first graduate level grades- and again, surprise, I did OK! As I was walking to my car, tired but proud, I began to look a little further into my journey. Up until now, I have only been looking at the very next tree, too afraid of being overwhelmed by the forest. Today I lifted my eyes just a little, and I could see that when the professors talked about going out into the world, making our degrees obselete, and being instruments of change, they were talking to me! And better yet, I knew that I was up to the challenge.
At the end of the day today, we were asked to write down our Take Home thoughts. In class, I wrote down a couple that sprang to mind. One was just how important collaboration is. We had a group project due less than 24 hours after meeting one another, and not only did we have to quickly assess the strengths of our partners, but we also had to quickly utilize those strengths literally overnight. I was thankful for a fantastic group that was willing to really go the extra mile, and it showed, but I do realize that won't be the case every time. In a school library setting, I must learn to assess the strengths of both faculty and students, and help to bring out their best. I have already begun to realize that excelling in collaboration is absolutely necessary for a school librarian.
The second Take Home that I wrote down is related to the first, in that it deals with interacting with others. As Professor Heckman noted, in order to get people on board with your changes, you must be able to read them and "know what makes them tick." We must figure what motivates them- what flavor of carrot, so to speak. I actually spent a lot of time reflecting on that within the context of my current position, where the organizational culture has felt so rigid to me in the past. I have, after this weekend, realized that change is not something I need to do alone. I need to colloborate with my peers, and we need to present these changes to management in ways that are meaningful to these managers.
My last Take Home involved a deeper, more personal reflection, was not written down and did not come to immediate fruition. But as my evening has progressed, and I am settling into these new thoughts racing around my head, I have come to realize it is maybe the most important one for me personally. Not only can I do graduate level coursework at SU, but I really can be an instrument of change, and a source of positive energy wherever my future may lead me. Perhaps this is over simplified, but the fact remains that it is genuinely life- altering for me. Not only can I make a difference, but I will!

Reader's Response

In the article, Rethinking Collaboration: Transforming Web 2.0 Thinking into Real-Time Behavior, Sheila Cooper-Simon (2008) explores moving from a Web 1.0 to a Web 2.0 world, within the school library. She compares the use of Web 2.0 at the elementary level to the college level, as well as discussing various definitions of Web 2.0 and how they affect libraries and their relationship to knowledge. She also gives examples of how school librarians can transform existing problems into Web 2.0 solutions.Cooper-Simon begins by describing a project she developed with her fifth graders. In this project, there were elements of Web 1.0 (publishing), where the work should stand alone. There also needed to be areas to “construct knowledge through social networking processes.” In effect, a blend of Web 1.0 and Web 2.0. Cooper-Simon then goes on to describe the work of Dr. Michael Wesch, directing the readers to his YouTube videos. The author compares the projects of Wesch's students to her own, and finds them different only in the level of sophistication. She also feels a correlation of both her and Wesch's ideas of using Web 2.0 tools such as Wikis, discussion boards, and blogs in education. Cooper-Simon then confesses her surprise at the correlation between the disconnect of college students in a didactic, large university lecture and the fractured discontinuity of school librarians attempting to work with so many students. However different the problems, the surprise solution, according to the author, is using a Web 2.0 frame of mind.Next, Cooper-Simon explores the various definitions of Web 2.0 and the idea that although some of these definitions appear contradictory, they all have common basic elements: Web 2.0 is social and open, it is a releasing of your data, and a mixing of local and global data. The author then goes on to explore how the traditional role of libraries being the “keepers” of knowledge is changing and evolving into a more fluid accountability to “reflect” knowledge. She says that the core of this process of change is collaboration. The library/librarian must move outside it's physical boundaries. “The library should be a physically viable place that represents a learning commons among many in and beyond the building. This is the shift from Web 1.0 thinking to Web 2.0 thinking.”In the next section, the author begins to explore specific ways to utilize Web 2.0 thinking. She discusses the frustration many librarians feel at their lack of time and resources, and claims that while these are legitimate concerns, librarians need to focus on the positive. Cooper-Simon challenges the school librarian to look at their use of time in a different way and to think of eliminating outdated activities. She describes goals such as “thinking globally and acting locally,” “seeing the forest through the trees,” and focusing on the “big picture.” Using a “spiraling curriculum,” is one way of achieving these goals. This involves being able to place focus where it is needed at the time, and to always keep the over-all complete curriculum in mind. There needs to be strong communication and collaboration with staff to keep everyone focused on the same goals. There needs to be a strong underlying basic grid that guides the instruction and assessment. Cooper-Simon also gives two brief examples of Web 2.0 thinking solutions in the school library. One is addressing the complaint that the librarian is no longer reading to the students. Two Web 2.0 solutions suggested by the author are developing an on-line book club and/or collaborating with staff to have someone else read books to the children. The second issue is the upkeep of a traditional Web 1.0 website with lists referencing good websites. A Web 2.0 solution, according to the author, is creating a learning commons where a group of students ultimately maintain the site and the librarian acts as managing editor.Sheila Cooper-Simon really explores the many facets of developing a school library into a Web 2.0 way of thinking. She discusses Web 2.0 definitions, different projects, gives specific “problems” with Web 2.0 solutions, and explores the modern libraries relationship with knowledge. She concludes that it is the librarians “delight and responsibility to listen carefully to how it unfolds.” Cooper-Simon (and Wesch) feel that we are in a “creating” culture , and the use of Web 2.0 is an integral part of this culture. Cooper-Simon, S. (2008). Rethinking Collaboration: Transforming Web 2.0 Thinking into Real-time Behavior. Teacher Librarian 36(1), 34-8.