Comments on: Hmmm… I wonder if they know there are already librarians in those school libraries … http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2009/01/16/hmmm-i-wonder-if-they-know-there-are-already-librarians-in-those-school-libraries/ by Kristin Fontichiaro Thu, 17 May 2012 16:20:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Diane Chen http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2009/01/16/hmmm-i-wonder-if-they-know-there-are-already-librarians-in-those-school-libraries/#comment-9260 Diane Chen Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:07:30 +0000 http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2009/01/16/hmmm-i-wonder-if-they-know-there-are-already-librarians-in-those-school-libraries/#comment-9260 Glad to see you found my interview with NPL director Donna Nicely. Seems the district and NPL are still holding meetings to explore how the public library can improve school libraries. Their first plan is to re-activate an ILL program we had going ten years ago called project Athena. This shares materials between 10 local colleges, the public library and the schools. Unfortunately each principal must agree to getting one library card that the school librarian maintains, books must be ordered online and go through a laborious process to get to the schools and then the school librarian must find a procedure to make sure the books get to the requestor and back to the owning library on time. I used the program even after many others in the district stopped. Not perfect, but it was a start. They are moving on to examine purchasing with high schools only right now. I think the meetings should be broadcast or streamed so we are kept informed. Too bad the press doesn't attend. Glad to see you found my interview with NPL director Donna Nicely. Seems the district and NPL are still holding meetings to explore how the public library can improve school libraries. Their first plan is to re-activate an ILL program we had going ten years ago called project Athena. This shares materials between 10 local colleges, the public library and the schools. Unfortunately each principal must agree to getting one library card that the school librarian maintains, books must be ordered online and go through a laborious process to get to the schools and then the school librarian must find a procedure to make sure the books get to the requestor and back to the owning library on time. I used the program even after many others in the district stopped. Not perfect, but it was a start.

They are moving on to examine purchasing with high schools only right now. I think the meetings should be broadcast or streamed so we are kept informed. Too bad the press doesn’t attend.

]]> By: Kristin http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2009/01/16/hmmm-i-wonder-if-they-know-there-are-already-librarians-in-those-school-libraries/#comment-8633 Kristin Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:55:13 +0000 http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2009/01/16/hmmm-i-wonder-if-they-know-there-are-already-librarians-in-those-school-libraries/#comment-8633 Beth says it perfectly in her comment -- the role of instruction isn't taken into consideration in this plan. I also forgot to mention that Tennessee has a state law that all schools must have a certified SLMS -- so this is not a situation in which an urban district has aides running all of its schools. Beth says it perfectly in her comment — the role of instruction isn’t taken into consideration in this plan. I also forgot to mention that Tennessee has a state law that all schools must have a certified SLMS — so this is not a situation in which an urban district has aides running all of its schools.

]]> By: Beth http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2009/01/16/hmmm-i-wonder-if-they-know-there-are-already-librarians-in-those-school-libraries/#comment-8632 Beth Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:18:22 +0000 http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2009/01/16/hmmm-i-wonder-if-they-know-there-are-already-librarians-in-those-school-libraries/#comment-8632 Hi Kristin. As much as I would like to tell you that you are reading this wrong, I dont think you are. With all of the "benefits" of combining that this story points out, I think this whole process has really overlooked the instructional role of the school librarian, amongst many other things. So I havent helped, but at least you are not alone in your worries and concerns about it. I think both school and public libraries have a role in programming for adolescents after school - and I think that tighter communication and collaboration between the two would be beneficial in most cases. But to treat this solution like a "no brainer" (as this appears) is almost shocking to me as a school librarian. Another opportunity for education! Hi Kristin.

As much as I would like to tell you that you are reading this wrong, I dont think you are. With all of the “benefits” of combining that this story points out, I think this whole process has really overlooked the instructional role of the school librarian, amongst many other things. So I havent helped, but at least you are not alone in your worries and concerns about it.

I think both school and public libraries have a role in programming for adolescents after school - and I think that tighter communication and collaboration between the two would be beneficial in most cases. But to treat this solution like a “no brainer” (as this appears) is almost shocking to me as a school librarian.

Another opportunity for education!

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