US/ND-2: RE: Welcome to Week Two of the US/ND seminar
RE: Welcome to Week Two of the US/ND seminar
Betty Dawn Hamilton (bhamilt@tenet.edu)
Wed, 4 Sep 1996 06:31:40 -0500 (CDT)
On Tue, 3 Sep 1996, LANA wrote:
> The library is often heralded as the "heart" of the academic institution.
> In reality, librarians, gatekeepers of our information society, are rarely
> included directly into the decision making process. It is a commom
> misconception that school libraries and K-12 classrooms have integrated
> working relationships.
Bravo, Lana! You say you are not a librarian, but being a 16-year veteran
of school libraries, I can see that you understand the dilemma we must
resolve. Our school policy states that the librarian will participate in
the teaching/learning process "at the invitation of the teacher." That
means that even though we school librarians may be aware of all of the
information sources available to our students, we must constantly wage a
public relations battle to be included in department/curricular
planning.
The problem then is if the *teacher* does not know what is available and
if we librarians are not included in the planning/teaching/learning
process so we can *help* teachers to know, then our *students* will not
receive that information either -- except perhaps one-on-one if they come
to the school librarian for help. Of course, I know there are teachers
out there who are as aware of information sources as trained librarians
are, but there are also many who are not.
> in the ultimate design of Universal Service. If the Federal Government's goal
> is for available "access" for every American citizen, then active participation
> by our Nation's librarians must be included in any collaborative initiatives
> between schools and libraries, both K-12 and post-secondary education.
Yes, I *do* get to talk to the freshmen classes for orientation each year
for about 30 minutes or so. The teachers are very gracious in "inviting"
me to do that. In my spiel of trying to *cover* information resources, I
tell them that knowing how to find and use information for their purposes
is one very important aspect of their educations that they will use for
the rest of their lives.
I happen to work with a wonderful group of teachers who are very
supportive of my efforts, but *time* and *accessibility* are factors -- we
just do not have time or ready availability to incorporate everything that
needs incorporating. As we plan an infrastructure for connecting globally,
however it is done, *convenience* must enter into the plan because *time*
often governs how involved in a project teachers will become. Without
ready access, wonderful ideas just won't fly!
.----.
Betty Hamilton, LRS | | 701 Cub Drive
bhamilt@tenet.edu ____|* ~~~~~~. Brownfield TX 79316
Brownfield High School \ | (806) 637-4523
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