Reading Reflections - 6/21

Empowering Learners - Chapter 3

There is a lot that goes into building a learning environment in a library, from staffing to the space to the budget and more! I think that there is definitely a misconception where librarians are concerned. Many people think that all they do is check out books, but there is so much more to it! In the Learning Space section, I expected to read only about how the actual library was set up. I was wrong for making that assumption. The virtual space plays a very important role in the learning environment. I was always (and sometimes still am) the type of student that waited until the last minute to do anything, therefore, I was always scrambling to that research paper, or whatever the assignment may be, done at home the night before it is due. That is why the virtual space is necessary - to make the library available 24/7. Speaking of 24/7, I made note of the "ask a librarian 24/7" that was mentioned in the reading.

The budget is one aspect of library administration that is intimidating to me. I'm not sure why it intimidates me, maybe because that is the part that the administrators pay the most attention to and scrutinize?

I also like the fact that Professional Development is mentioned. Librarians do need to stay current with the trends in education in order to effectively collaborate with the rest of the staff. I am taking in the middle of taking a workshop on the Common Core State Standards and I think something like that would greatly benefit the librarian.

Chapter 6 - Managing the Facilities

This chapter allowed me to think about how I would set up my library, as well as how I think the existing libraries at my school could be changed. Renovating a library is pretty expensive, but it must be done periodically to stay up-to-date. It also made me think about the libraries at all three schools I've been at and think about if they could hold 10% of the student body, like Woolls suggests.

Using the graph paper to plan out the library is a good idea. However, I'm the type of person that needs to move the furniture around to decide if it will work or not. When my friend became the elementary librarian, I remember her and I clearing the shelves and moving them, and moving some more until we found something that she liked! I'm afraid that is what I will be like as well!

Woolls said that the success of the media center depends on the staff and the collection, yet the ambiance of the facility sets the stage. I agree that the media center must be an inviting place for both students and staff.

Chapter 7 - Managing Personnel

In my school district, the only library that has a paraprofessional is the elementary library. I have seen firsthand that managing the library staff can be quite a challenge. It makes is all the more challenging when the librarian is new and the para has been around for several years. Evaluating and correcting the library staff is a vital part of the job though, to ensure that the library runs the way it should in order to be useful.

I agree with Woolls that it will be easier to manage the teachers as long as the librarian puts as few restrictions on the library as possible. It does make for a crabby teaching staff when the library is not available or when many restrictions are put in place.

Managing the students in the library is very similar to managing students in the classroom. Let the students know from the beginning what is expected from them while visiting the library. I loved the quote from the principal on page 122, "Good teaching is hard work, only bad teaching is easy." Such a true statement!