Comments on: “Huge Discussion” Triage

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:03:49 +0000

I think there is more time wasted about the bottom and top half of the conversation when it is the middle that matters. Even within the middle, you have a spectrum of users. If I was in your shoes trying to win over the middle, the process in my head would look like this:

- Showing how the tool or site works (for the individual user)
- Showing how the tool or site can work for the school library (in the context of education)
- Showing how the tool or site can work for the school library to adminstration and/or faculty (demonstrate a benefit to the school as a whole)
- Implementation (putting it into effect)
- Instruction (teaching the students/faculty/adminstration to use it)

Easier said than done, for certain. But this middle is the current majority in the school librarians and it from there that support for other bigger changes (like relaxation of filtering, greater technology reach, and the new hallowed ‘transliteracy’ education) would materialize from. Right now, there needs to be a series of targets for school librarians in this middle to see as viable goal; and I say series to reflect different levels of comfort and implementation.

Maybe someone with a better idea of what it takes to run a school library can come up with a roadmap for people to get to current.

By: Cathy Nelson

Cathy Nelson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:18:16 +0000

Great addition to this conversation. I love that you have target the audience to those in the middle.

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:11:38 +0000

“Buy-in” is huge. Just like with public libraries, having staff on board to sell a service helps tremendously. You need to demonstrate to staff how something can be useful to them before they can market it towards the public. The same should be true for school administration. (Guessing here.)

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:31:24 +0000

As an online friend and colleague of Buffy and Doug Johnson, I have intermittently followed this conversation through their blogs. I’m not a school library/media specialist (which is the common vernacular around here) but I do think library/media specialists need to be in a close partnership with technology people (like me) to best address the needs of students. After all, it is 2009!

As I’ve shared with Buffy, I think the larger issue has to do with the lack of visionary leadership in out schools. I come to this viewpoint after being a high school science teacher for 13 years and a technology coordinator since 1996 and seeing positions directly associated with libraries being on the chopping block year after year. Despite the profound need to have highly qualified adults to work with teachers and students on matters pertaining to all types of literacy, decision makers seem to think these are not essential positions. My view is also bolstered by my observation that many principals and school leaders don’t really “get it” when it comes to what we need to be doing in schools in the 21st century to prepare students for their futures. Schools are facing monumental challenges and I’m sad to say I don’t think we are doing a very good job developing insightful, talented administrators.

I’m not trying to diminish the value of any of your points. I think they’re valid and worth discussing. I know there are many dedicated and talented educators, in libraries and classrooms, working their tails off, trying to make a difference in the lives of students. We owe it to these champions of education to have exceptional leaders in all of their schools. Without that, we have too many “pockets of excellence” and not nearly enough cultures of learning.