[CASL-L] Fwd: [aaslforum] Wall Street Journal opinion piece: Let Parent Volunteers Replace School Librarians

[Kathleen Smith]

What about simply a 21st Century definition of librarian with a complete
job description. Too many people associate "Librarian" with shh-ers and
shelvers.

*Kathleen Currie Smith *
Library Media Specialist
Ledyard High School & Ledyard Middle School
ksmith at ledyard.net
860.464.9600 x6154

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On Mon, Jan 9, 2017 at 11:41 AM, Palazzolo Wicks, Katrina <
kwicks at windsorct.org> wrote:

> Great thoughts. What about all of the electronic resources?
>
> On Mon, Jan 9, 2017 at 11:18 AM, BARLOW CHRIS <BARLOWC at stratfordk12.org>
> wrote:
>
>> And that is just looking at one aspect of our job,
>> No only just choosing new titles, but being able to recommend other
>> titles to read?
>> What about teaching how to find books (especially non-fiction)?
>> What about doing research? How to find sources to use and finding
>> information within those sources?
>> The list goes on...
>>
>> Chris Barlow
>> Library Media Specialist
>> Wooster Middle School
>> barlowc at stratfordk12.org
>> 150 Lincoln Street
>> Stratford, CT 06614
>> (203) 385-4275
>>
>> "He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains
>> a fool forever."
>> --Chinese Proverb
>>
>> ________________________________________
>> From: CASL-L [casl-l-bounces at mylist.net] on behalf of Beecher, Louise [
>> lbeecher at bridgeportedu.net]
>> Sent: Monday, January 09, 2017 11:07 AM
>> To: Kathleen Smith; Ava Biffer
>> Cc: CASL GROUP LIST; Hansen, Eric A; Shelley Stedman;
>> shannonmcclintockmiller at gmail.com
>> Subject: Re: [CASL-L] Fwd: [aaslforum] Wall Street Journal opinion piece:
>> Let Parent Volunteers Replace School Librarians
>>
>> We can't just write a letter defending ourselves and our credentials - It
>> will be dismissed as the self-interested defending their interests.
>>
>> I used to be a newspaper reporter and I can tell you from experience that
>> the way to win hearts and minds is not to tell readers that volunteers
>> could not replace librarians, but to lay out the facts that make them
>> conclude "OMG, I couldn't do that job. I did not realize there was so much
>> to it.".
>>
>> Go ahead and write the letter defending the profession, but then arrange
>> to send at least two others.
>>
>> 1. The Chicago mom envisioned school librarianship as checking out and
>> shelving books.
>>
>> Solution: Have an elementary school teacher who have a fixed schedule of
>> classes provide an hour-by-hour schedule of his/her day.
>>
>>
>> 2. Chicago mom thinks volunteers would fill the gap.
>>
>> Write a letter detailing the kinds of responsibilities volunteers would
>> have to take on.
>>
>> Who will set up the schedule and see that it is adhered to - example,
>> will there be anyone to fill in when Mrs. G. calls in to say she will not
>> be in because her daughter Amanda is sick at home? Or just does not who up
>> at all?
>>
>> How do you vet volunteers? Not everyone, however well-meaning, has the
>> temperament to work with students. What happens when Mrs. A tries to
>> discipline the son of Mrs. B? How would volunteers go about trying to get
>> all the books back by the end of the year?
>>
>> How many volunteers have the time and expertise to conduct an end-of-the
>> year inventory?
>>
>> Book collections become old. What volunteer would have the responsibility
>> of constantly keeping up with book reviews and seeing that "must buys" are
>> obtained? Of replacing books that have gone missing (especially important
>> for series - if the first book is gone, the rest is useless.)  Who does
>> weeding?
>>
>> Donated books do not simply put themselves on the shelf. Do any of your
>> volunteers know how to do copy cataloging? Who would order the barcodes?
>> The plastic to cover paperbacks, the book jackets for the hardbacks? Who
>> would print out the Call Numbers? Who would be in charge of teaching the
>> volunteers what a Call Number is?
>>
>> 3. Chicago mom thinks volunteers would fill the gap.
>>
>> Volunteers available during the school day are either stay-at-home moms.
>> Even in middle to upper class communities the stay-at-home-mom is a fast
>> disappearing commodity. They are practically non-existent in lower-income
>> communities.
>>
>> Saying "let volunteers do it" completely ignores this reality.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I would be happy to put together/edit a letter or letters if you wish.
>>
>> Louise Beecher
>> Librarian
>>
>> "A democratic society depends upon an informed and educated citizenry."
>>
>> Thomas Jefferson
>>
>>
>> ________________________________________
>> From: CASL-L [casl-l-bounces at mylist.net] on behalf of Kathleen Smith [
>> ksmith at ledyard.net]
>> Sent: Monday, January 9, 2017 8:52 AM
>> To: Ava Biffer
>> Cc: CASL GROUP LIST; Hansen, Eric A; Shelley Stedman;
>> shannonmcclintockmiller at gmail.com
>> Subject: Re: [CASL-L] Fwd: [aaslforum] Wall Street Journal opinion piece:
>> Let Parent Volunteers Replace School Librarians
>>
>> ​I also saw on FB in the School Librarian Workshop Group.
>> I think a united letter that we all sign might be effective.  What would
>> be the best tool?  A change.org<http://change.org> kind of a site???
>> Ideas?  I would be happy to help with the response....someone want to work
>> with me on a Google Doc??​
>>
>> Kathleen Currie Smith
>> Library Media Specialist
>> Ledyard High School & Ledyard Middle School
>> ksmith at ledyard.net<mailto:ksmith at ledyard.net>
>> 860.464.9600 x6154
>>
>> [https://docs.google.com/a/ledyard.net/uc?id=0B53oS1t7pzmBcF
>> I1RmJRb1lqVERKVkVLbm1OblBBZVVKa2JV&export=download]<https://
>> about.me/kcurriesmith>   [https://docs.google.com/a/le
>> dyard.net/uc?id=0B53oS1t7pzmBTUgxYU84UENxVjBlOTFTMWU0Z2xGTmU
>> 1Zllv&export=download] <https://www.pinterest.com/colonelslibrary/>    [
>> https://docs.google.com/a/ledyard.net/uc?id=0B53oS1t7pzmBSn
>> Bvd3AwN0N5VGV4MzBtcTlzOHdKOWttXzhz&export=download] <
>> http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/32646735-kathleen-currie-smith>
>> _________________________________________
>>
>> [https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B53oS1t7pzmB
>> cEk3dWpqODVtOFE&revid=0B53oS1t7pzmBSVRrQW1Bd0VQYXAyYjBIelpyei9HbjMxTkZBPQ
>> ]<http://lhs.ledyard.libguides.com/home>[https://docs.google.com/a/ledyar
>> d.net/uc?id=0B53oS1t7pzmBSmpkb0hYcnhTQV9BRWVfalRDTGF3OG5iRlB
>> n&export=download]<https://www.instagram.com/colonelslibrary/>  [
>> https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B53oS1t7pzmB
>> UnpkNFp0REhZaE0&revid=0B53oS1t7pzmBdzVSZHRoM3ZRM1VUOG0zc2xYcGtMODVKTVpZPQ]
>> [https://docs.google.com/a/ledyard.net/uc?id=0B53oS1t7pzmBSm
>> pkb0hYcnhTQV9BRWVfalRDTGF3OG5iRlBn&export=download] <
>> https://www.instagram.com/lmslibrary/>
>> _________________________________________
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>> nation/32646735?utm_medium=reading_link&utm_source=email_signature>
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>> ation/32646735?utm_medium=cover&utm_source=email_signature>
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Jan 9, 2017 at 8:47 AM, Ava Biffer <ava.biffer at easthaddamschools.
>> org<mailto:ava.biffer at easthaddamschools.org>> wrote:
>>
>> I think we should also use the power of social media in responding to
>> this.  I've posted this in a facebook discussion on teaching, with a
>> concise statement on the necessity of having credentialed teaching
>> librarians in all school librarians.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Ava M. Biffer
>> Library Media Specialist
>> Nathan Hale-Ray Middle School
>> Moodus, CT 06469
>> Voice: 860.873.5081 x129<tel:(860)%20873-5081>
>> Email: ava.biffer at easthaddamschools.org<mailto:ava.biffer at easthadda
>> mschools.org>
>> "Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself."  John
>> Dewey
>> "Google can bring you back 100,000 answers, a librarian can bring you
>> back the right one." Neil Gaiman
>> ________________________________
>> From: CASL-L <casl-l-bounces at mylist.net<mailto:casl-l-bounces at mylist.net>>
>> on behalf of Hansen, Eric A <Eric.A.Hansen at ct.gov<mailto:E
>> ric.A.Hansen at ct.gov>>
>> Sent: Monday, January 9, 2017 8:34 AM
>> To: 'Shelley Stedman'; CASL GROUP LIST
>> Subject: Re: [CASL-L] Fwd: [aaslforum] Wall Street Journal opinion piece:
>> Let Parent Volunteers Replace School Librarians
>>
>> In Connecticut you can access the full text of the article by way of the
>> Wall Street Journal link in researchIT CT.  For instance:
>>
>> http://researchitct.org/classicschool/
>>
>> …select Wall Street Journal (1984-present)<http://search.p
>> roquest.com/wallstreetjournal?accountid=46995>
>>
>> …search for the article:  “library lockout” (without the quotation marks)
>> is one approach.
>>
>> Eric
>>
>> [cid:image001.jpg at 01D050D6.8BB2D200]
>> Eric Hansen | eGO and researchIT CT Coordinator | Eric.A.Hansen at ct.gov<
>> http://mailto:Eric.A.Hansen@ct.gov> |Office: (860) 704-2224
>> <tel:(860)%20704-2224>
>> Division of Library Development<http://libguides.c
>> tstatelibrary.org/dld/home>
>> www.ctstatelibrary.org<http://www.ctstatelibrary.org/> | 786 South Main
>> Street Middletown CT 06457 | Fax: (860) 704-2228<tel:(860)%20704-2228>
>>
>> From: CASL-L [mailto:casl-l-bounces at mylist.net<mailto:casl-l-bounces at myli
>> st.net>] On Behalf Of Shelley Stedman
>> Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2017 3:49 PM
>> To: CASL GROUP LIST
>> Subject: [CASL-L] FYI: Fwd: [aaslforum] Wall Street Journal opinion
>> piece: Let Parent Volunteers Replace School Librarians
>>
>> Please act if you feel so inclined! WSJ won't let you read the whole
>> article without subscribing - but my PL will have a copy! Jan. 8 commentary.
>> Shelley
>>
>>
>> -------- Original message --------
>> From: Susan Polos <suz.polos at gmail.com<mailto:suz.polos at gmail.com>>
>> Date: 1/7/17 6:57 PM (GMT-05:00)
>> To: aaslforum at lists.ala.org<mailto:aaslforum at lists.ala.org>
>> Subject: [aaslforum] Wall Street Journal opinion piece: Let Parent
>> Volunteers Replace School Librarians
>>
>> I am appalled by the way that so many community members seem to think
>> school librarian cuts can be smoothed over by parent volunteers. Please
>> read and consider responding. Thanks!
>>
>> http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-library-lockout-at-our-eleme
>> ntary-school-1483747233
>>
>> Susan Polos, School Librarian
>> Fox Lane High School
>> Katonah, NY 10536
>> 914 262-4832<tel:(914)%20262-4832>
>> suz.polos at gmail.com<mailto:suz.polos at gmail.com>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> CASL-L at mylist.net<mailto:CASL-L at mylist.net>
>> http://mylist.net/listinfo/casl-l
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
>
> --
> *Katrina Palazzolo Wicks*
> Technology Teacher Leader | Library Media Liaison | Webmaster
> 860-687-2000, x270 <(860)%20687-2000>
> kwicks at windsorct.org
>
>
>

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