Stellman the Librarian

Each week it seems as though a shiny new tech toy hits the Internet. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and under-qualified to address these technologies and use them competently. Afterall, technology is becoming smaller and faster. We started out with computers the size of rooms, and now we have smartphones in our pockets. Someday we might even use injectables or software in our fingertips contact lenses...while Google Glass was a failure, there is always another newer and smaller technology waiting in the wings (Reynolds). In a way, addressing technology is similar to traveling to a friend’s home. Whether you use verbal instructions, a printed road map, an out-of-date Garmin, or Waze, the basics are the same: while you might take a different route each time, the location of your friend’s home remains constant.  Quite simply,  the landscape has not changed.  What has changed is your means of arriving at your destination. I believe that if you cultivate problem-solvi...

Two resources in this section particularly spoke to me and enhanced my concept of a Future Ready Librarian. The graphic “ FUTURE READY LIBRARIAN SUPPORT STUDENT-CENTERED LEARNING  (Links to an external site.) ” is exciting. Words like “data,” “strategic,” and “digital” jump out — these aren’t describing your stereotypical librarians portrayed in pop culture.  (The words that come to mind when I picture the school libraries of my past include “staid,” “quiet,” and “unwelcoming.”)  And then, during Mark Ray’s TEDx Talk , he pointed out that librarians need to “meet the needs of students and teachers today.” I hadn’t seen or heard it put quite so bluntly before. Do you want to be the person who is leading the pack? Or the person who everyone is looking back at forlornly as they push on without you? Do you want to be an active contributor or a dead weight in your school community? The answer is pretty obvious. But one problem is that these concepts are hard to plan f...

This week kicked off LBS 730: Managing & Evaluating School Library Programs. As far as I can tell, this course does not require blog entries. However, it looks like we'll have a ton of discussion posts/essays, and I'll post those here. The question this essay addresses: How much have the issues surrounding school libraries changed? Librarian at the card files at a senior high school in New Ulm, Minnesota, October 1974 Plus ça change... I explored with great interest the articles in Module Two that cover the history of school libraries. And while I read the articles expecting to learn about the halcyonic days of school librarianship, where school librarians were recognized and lauded for their role in schools…”plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.” For example, in “School Library: A Historical Perspective,” the following is written: “Although certification requirements were written, in many states, school districts often ignored them simply by not creati...

We've reached the end of LBS 850! I enjoyed the class, diving deep into technologies for schools, and dabbling in cataloging...I do think the class experience is highly dependent upon who someone has as an instructor. Luckily, thankfully, Barb Fecteau at Salem State is an excellent, patient, and knowledgeable teacher, and she created a wonderful experience with an atmosphere conducive to learning and exploration. Here's a reminder of what the class was, so here's the course description for future me: LBS 850 - Emerging Technologies for Libraries 3   Credit(s)  This course presents tools and procedures that school library personnel implement to manage the ever-evolving organizational landscape. Course topics include basic strategies for dealing with, organizing and managing change professionally, new computer and internet-based methods of cataloging physical materials and web based applications that address libraries’ systemic needs. I started off the course feelin...

In this week's assignment, we were to interview a librarian about their OPAC. My librarian buddy told me that she uses OPALS i n her school library. Her school is a small parochial elementary school with a collection of more than 6,000 books and e-books, online databases, 20 Chromebooks and 20 iPads. As is the case with many parish schools, the library has an extremely small budget. As such, OPALS is the best option, since it costs $500/annually. She said that it's very basic, and provides information only. It does have a z-import function, however, which the librarian frequently uses. In addition, it's web-based. She said it "does the job," which isn't exactly a ringing endorsment! My Librarian Friend has used OPALS for the last five or six years. Before OPALS, she had Companion’s Alexandria. She liked that software, as she could do more reports. When I asked what she dislikes about OPALS, her response was two-pronged: she dislikes that it is not...

Way back when, I posted my Top 10 Technology Tips for Teachers . Our assignment this week was to take another look at those tips and see what we'd change, if anything. My additions are in italics. In several cases, I combined prior facts into one point, or added more information to existing facts. I did strike-through a few tips to make space... 1. These technologies are tools to supplement your instruction, not replace it. Much as a great saucepan does not replace the need for a chef, an online solution doesn't take away the need for you — an excellent teacher. 2. If you’re new to technology, take a shallow dive into the pool. For example, lurk on twitter educational chats to see what it's like. Did you learn anything? Would you like to participate 3. Assistive technology is IMPORTANT and it EXISTS! Also, it’s not just for students who need it in an IEP sort of way. It can be helpful for all students. And, many assistive technologies come built in with Androids...

If OPAC had a flag, this definitely would not be it. These past few weeks have taught me that I had not spent ANY time prior to this experience thinking about cataloging, but that librarians spend a TON of time thinking about it, and also how to bend the Dewey Decimal System to their will. For example, in this week's discussion, several of my classmates discussed the intricacies of where fairytales should go, and if fractured fairytales should go in the same spot. As a future librarian, I totally get it. During my days at a publishing house, my colleagues and I would deeply discuss the use of hyphens, come to a conclusion, and then CONTINUE to DISCUSS HYPHENS at happy hour. We all knew that readers wouldn't give a darn about the hyphen, but it was important to us. But as a library patron...? Eh. No. Perhaps I am of a minority, but I find books by looking up the title or author's name, write down the call number (because my mind is like a darn sieve) and then...