The School Librarian as a Leader

I enjoy reading my old pal Harry Tuttle’s blog. Harry has a wealth of experience in K-12 learning environments, and he’s a straight shooter. He’s been a classroom teacher, a technology coordinator, a consultant, a NYSCATE president, and now exists as an educator in residence in the academic realm. But more than anything, Harry’s practical.

Harry recently had a post that speaks to me a teacher librarian and represents a major tenet of School Library 2.0.

Tuttle writes….

“I worked with many respected teachers but these teachers did not serve as central expansion into their grade level, team, or school. Although they did fantastic technology-based learning projects with their students, the word never got out. Their brilliant learning lights were hidden behind the doors of their classrooms.

I did work with a few teacher leaders. As soon as they found out about a great technology integration application, they would tell others or bring them in to see it. The other teachers would follow the lead of the teacher.

If you are in a school, identify those teacher leaders and concentrate on them. They can become the biggest advocates for integrating technology. They can create meaningful ripples throughout the building. If you have a respected teacher who is also a teacher leader, then help that person’s light to shine brightly throughout the school.”

This philosophy is critical for the 21st century librarian. Identify the teacher leaders in your building. Create in-roads and work with them. Find creative ways to use all of your available resources and the 2.0 tools Chris Harris is pimping over there on Digital Reshift. Show what’s possible with the services that you have to offer. Like Harry says, it will create meaningful ripples.

The Circ Files- April 07

I’d like to introduce you to a new monthly feature at School Libraryland that connects readers to the most popular book of the month from the K-5 school library at my school. I’m calling it “The Circ Files.” And if you’re one of those that just cringed because the last thing you need in your life is another book review, I promise to make this short and to the point.

The wonderful M3 Report Tool (insert smirk) will assist me in gathering the data from my circulation module.

In April 2007 the most popular book in the library was, (drum roll please….)

The Ultimate Lego Book by Dorling Kindersley

Yes, Lego’s are still extremely popular and no, I’m not b.s.’ing you. This book details some of the most amazing Lego structure’s ever built. It also gives a few pointers and building strategies for kids to try when they are building. Kids love this book because they’ve either seen Lego structures like it at Disney or The Lego Store in NYC, or because they own and still play with Lego’s themselves. This book is a huge hit with boys, too!

Yep, good ole’ plastic Lego’s. Who knew?

Photo borrowed from DK

School Library 2.0

Chris Harris just sole the show with School Library 2.0. It’s day two of SLMS, and Chris Harris was easily the best speaker from the entire conference. His presentation was of great interest to me, and it should be to you too, if you work in a school library. His slides are available online, check ‘em out.

Here are some of his ideas that I’ll keep in the front of my brain when I head back to work on Monday:

>Make your library the “Intel inside.” Start making your activities noticed. If you didn’t tell people you did it, it didn’t get done.

>The Fixed vs. Flex scheduling debate was so 90’s. Library 2.0 treats the school library as a platform. We offer services 24/7 in a digital workspace.

>Create a rich library experience and make your focus happy users.

Chris rocks. ‘Nuff said.

Photo borrowed with permission from http://xkcd.com

Faces in the Crowd

I’m sitting in the Harbour Ballroom at the Doubletree in Syracuse, NY at SLMS. As I look around the room I’m seeing lots of famous faces from the field, a menage of sorts. Sitting to my right is my main man Chris Harris. Chris is on his laptop, blogging I’m sure, to the millions that read Infomancy and Digital Reshift. Welcome to Syracuse, Chris. I see Alice Yucht to my left, and it looks like she’s plugged in as well. I look forward to your presentation at lunch, Alice. Hey look, there are my cronies from library school at Syracuse U. Haven’t seen you ladies in a long time, nice to see you in person rather than on the message boards. And, I see Toni Buzzeo up near the podium about to give the keynote. Better get a new text file open.

More to come….