Reflection 4.2
4.2 Managing program resources: Human, financial, physical
Candidates develop and evaluate policies and procedures that support the mission of the school and address specific needs of the library media program, such as collection development and maintenance, challenged materials and acceptable use policies. Candidates apply accepted management principles and practices that relate to personnel, financial and operational issues. Candidates plan adequate space for individuals, small groups and whole classes.
The Facilities Design Project in ISTC 601 (Library Media Administration) exposed our group with design details, as well as policies, on how to best plan a school library. Within the project, we proposed an ideal budget, for an ideal library construction. Our ideas included professional development materials, reference, audio formats, journals, with the bulk appropriated to books.
In the real world at my job as librarian of Willards Elementary, I am given a budget for books, one for technology, and one for library materials. These, of course, never seem to be as much as I would like, but when hearing of other counties and state’s cutting all budgets, I am not complaining. I supplement my budget with two book fairs a year, a business fund raiser every other year, and I have attempted a few grants. Picturing America was a successful grant and also dovetailed with our arts integration plan. My loyalties are somewhat divided (as a member of our WIN team) as grants are also needed to fund our arts immersion programs.
In ISTC 615 (Collection Development) I looked at several other collection policies in order to develop one for my own school. I looked at recommendations from the American Library Association, Baltimore County Public Schools, Wicomico County Schools, various other states that had an online presence, and these equipped me to identify, evaluate, and create a well planned document for Willards Elementary School. I created our own Mission Statement, accessed needs of our particular school population, procedures for challenged materials, and an acceptable use policy.
I was able to redesign and apply principals learned during our Facilities Design Project when a Smart Board was added to our library causing a significant shifting of shelving and space. A moving company was hired to both move shelves and help us make sure we were in compliance with ADA specifications on wheelchair aisle width. We now have three main areas in our library: an instruction area utilizing the Smart Board, a personal reading space with 7 kid-sized bean bag chairs, and an area with 6 adult sized tables and chairs. This seating group is arranged around a jungle carpet theme and has the ability to use a document camera, ceiling LCD projector, desktop computer, and a huge screen mounted from the ceiling. I think we make the best use of our space. Surrounding the book shelves on one side of the library are nine computers for student use and several pockets of areas dedicated to learning centers for small groups.
To be a successful librarian, one must continually increase in knowledge through classes, professional organizations (LM_Net, MASL), and reading recent journals. Being a program administrator is one of my favorite jobs as a librarian. I love deciding what needs are the most important, appropriating my budget, and creating book orders.
4.2 Managing program resources: Human, financial, physical
Candidates develop and evaluate policies and procedures that support the mission of the school and address specific needs of the library media program, such as collection development and maintenance, challenged materials and acceptable use policies. Candidates apply accepted management principles and practices that relate to personnel, financial and operational issues. Candidates plan adequate space for individuals, small groups and whole classes.
The Facilities Design Project in ISTC 601 (Library Media Administration) exposed our group with design details, as well as policies, on how to best plan a school library. Within the project, we proposed an ideal budget, for an ideal library construction. Our ideas included professional development materials, reference, audio formats, journals, with the bulk appropriated to books.
In the real world at my job as librarian of Willards Elementary, I am given a budget for books, one for technology, and one for library materials. These, of course, never seem to be as much as I would like, but when hearing of other counties and state’s cutting all budgets, I am not complaining. I supplement my budget with two book fairs a year, a business fund raiser every other year, and I have attempted a few grants. Picturing America was a successful grant and also dovetailed with our arts integration plan. My loyalties are somewhat divided (as a member of our WIN team) as grants are also needed to fund our arts immersion programs.
In ISTC 615 (Collection Development) I looked at several other collection policies in order to develop one for my own school. I looked at recommendations from the American Library Association, Baltimore County Public Schools, Wicomico County Schools, various other states that had an online presence, and these equipped me to identify, evaluate, and create a well planned document for Willards Elementary School. I created our own Mission Statement, accessed needs of our particular school population, procedures for challenged materials, and an acceptable use policy.
I was able to redesign and apply principals learned during our Facilities Design Project when a Smart Board was added to our library causing a significant shifting of shelving and space. A moving company was hired to both move shelves and help us make sure we were in compliance with ADA specifications on wheelchair aisle width. We now have three main areas in our library: an instruction area utilizing the Smart Board, a personal reading space with 7 kid-sized bean bag chairs, and an area with 6 adult sized tables and chairs. This seating group is arranged around a jungle carpet theme and has the ability to use a document camera, ceiling LCD projector, desktop computer, and a huge screen mounted from the ceiling. I think we make the best use of our space. Surrounding the book shelves on one side of the library are nine computers for student use and several pockets of areas dedicated to learning centers for small groups.
To be a successful librarian, one must continually increase in knowledge through classes, professional organizations (LM_Net, MASL), and reading recent journals. Being a program administrator is one of my favorite jobs as a librarian. I love deciding what needs are the most important, appropriating my budget, and creating book orders.