Reflection 3.1
3.1 Connection with library community
Candidates demonstrate the potential for establishing connections to other libraries and the larger library community for resource sharing, networking, and developing common policies and procedures. Candidates articulate the role of their professional associations and journals in their own professional growth.
An assignment in ISTC 601 (Library Media Administration) was to look at the various library organizations and decide which we may like to join as media specialists. After looking at the individual websites for the professional organizations ALA, AASL, MLA, AECT, ASCD, I wasn’t convinced of the benefits of joining any of them. One or the other mentioned reasons to join such as: conferences, magazines, newsletters, and even Geico discounts. Truthfully, these webpage introductions didn’t ‘sell’ me. So I then decided to quiz the members of LM_Net….a worldwide email group of librarians connected by a moderator and server at Syracuse University. The general consensus was, at the very least, to join my local librarian organization….ours being the Maryland Library Association. These smaller organizations are generally less expensive, provide conferences, are an excellent way to begin being actively involved, and all the national trend topics and issues will spill over into the library media state organizations.
The other organizations mentioned as worthwhile to join were ALA and AASL….even though costly. Those that attended any of the national conventions were inspired immensely by what they learned, what they were exposed to, and the positive networking opportunities. These, my knowledgeable peers on LM_Net, were believable references to illustrate the benefits that I didn’t comprehend from the websites.
LM_Net has been a valuable resource for me these last few years. Although sometimes the sheer numbers of email are overwhelming, I have found it is still worth my time. I have learned about wonderful books (which I always add to my titlewave wish list), books to use when teaching specific topics (for example, character education, inference, prediction, etc.), latest trends, great technology, and library articles of merit. I joined the CALIB (California librarian email group) recently because I was planning a visit to the state. I was able to network with librarians in both Berkeley and Placerville and to arrange a visit to their schools (which became part of my practicum experience).
The county library bookmobile visits Willards Elementary School every 3 weeks. Our entire school takes part. Each student has their library card on a lariat around their neck and they have the opportunity to not only select books, but DVD’s, videos, and computer games. The ladies who head this mobile unit are wonderful and eager to assist me whenever I ask. Eight years ago when our school was newly opened we had a sparse collection of books. Whenever I would email the library ladies that I was looking for a certain book, if they could, they would put it on the next bookmobile heading to our town (we are 30 miles away). They would also save their old School Library Journals (which our budget couldn’t afford) and send them to me. I thought it was better than nothing at the time. I also provide a recommended book list for the county to use on its website.
It was mentioned in another reflection, our library hosted the Readers are Leaders student athletes from Parkside High School. Our classes were divided into five groups, led by one athlete each, and they read and discussed a paired fiction and nonfiction book about a particular character trait. Our two libraries connected because each librarian had been a part of the Towson Cohort from the Eastern Shore.
As for the leadership expectations of the media specialist, I serve as a member of the WIN team (arts integration), administrate our reading program (Accelerated Reader), lead our Guest Reader Day, and run two book fairs to raise funds for the purchase of library materials.
During ISTC 653 (Organization of Knowledge), our class had a chance to visit the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, it was on a Saturday, and we were not able to actually see the area and the people that do the cataloging. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed with the beautiful artwork throughout the building. One of our assignments after the visit was to do a comparison with the Dewey Decimal System of classification and the Library of Congress’ system. It was during this class, that I was taught how to read the MARC records, how to take them from a site (most often Library of Congress), copy, and paste the information into my Spectrum OPAC system. It made cataloging faster and much easier!
3.1 Connection with library community
Candidates demonstrate the potential for establishing connections to other libraries and the larger library community for resource sharing, networking, and developing common policies and procedures. Candidates articulate the role of their professional associations and journals in their own professional growth.
An assignment in ISTC 601 (Library Media Administration) was to look at the various library organizations and decide which we may like to join as media specialists. After looking at the individual websites for the professional organizations ALA, AASL, MLA, AECT, ASCD, I wasn’t convinced of the benefits of joining any of them. One or the other mentioned reasons to join such as: conferences, magazines, newsletters, and even Geico discounts. Truthfully, these webpage introductions didn’t ‘sell’ me. So I then decided to quiz the members of LM_Net….a worldwide email group of librarians connected by a moderator and server at Syracuse University. The general consensus was, at the very least, to join my local librarian organization….ours being the Maryland Library Association. These smaller organizations are generally less expensive, provide conferences, are an excellent way to begin being actively involved, and all the national trend topics and issues will spill over into the library media state organizations.
The other organizations mentioned as worthwhile to join were ALA and AASL….even though costly. Those that attended any of the national conventions were inspired immensely by what they learned, what they were exposed to, and the positive networking opportunities. These, my knowledgeable peers on LM_Net, were believable references to illustrate the benefits that I didn’t comprehend from the websites.
LM_Net has been a valuable resource for me these last few years. Although sometimes the sheer numbers of email are overwhelming, I have found it is still worth my time. I have learned about wonderful books (which I always add to my titlewave wish list), books to use when teaching specific topics (for example, character education, inference, prediction, etc.), latest trends, great technology, and library articles of merit. I joined the CALIB (California librarian email group) recently because I was planning a visit to the state. I was able to network with librarians in both Berkeley and Placerville and to arrange a visit to their schools (which became part of my practicum experience).
The county library bookmobile visits Willards Elementary School every 3 weeks. Our entire school takes part. Each student has their library card on a lariat around their neck and they have the opportunity to not only select books, but DVD’s, videos, and computer games. The ladies who head this mobile unit are wonderful and eager to assist me whenever I ask. Eight years ago when our school was newly opened we had a sparse collection of books. Whenever I would email the library ladies that I was looking for a certain book, if they could, they would put it on the next bookmobile heading to our town (we are 30 miles away). They would also save their old School Library Journals (which our budget couldn’t afford) and send them to me. I thought it was better than nothing at the time. I also provide a recommended book list for the county to use on its website.
It was mentioned in another reflection, our library hosted the Readers are Leaders student athletes from Parkside High School. Our classes were divided into five groups, led by one athlete each, and they read and discussed a paired fiction and nonfiction book about a particular character trait. Our two libraries connected because each librarian had been a part of the Towson Cohort from the Eastern Shore.
As for the leadership expectations of the media specialist, I serve as a member of the WIN team (arts integration), administrate our reading program (Accelerated Reader), lead our Guest Reader Day, and run two book fairs to raise funds for the purchase of library materials.
During ISTC 653 (Organization of Knowledge), our class had a chance to visit the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, it was on a Saturday, and we were not able to actually see the area and the people that do the cataloging. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed with the beautiful artwork throughout the building. One of our assignments after the visit was to do a comparison with the Dewey Decimal System of classification and the Library of Congress’ system. It was during this class, that I was taught how to read the MARC records, how to take them from a site (most often Library of Congress), copy, and paste the information into my Spectrum OPAC system. It made cataloging faster and much easier!