Lamenting Chicago

Have you ever made a poor professional decision? I have. In fact, I’ve done it many times. And I can’t help but think that I made a very bad decision by not accepting an invitation to attend School Library Journal’s Leadership Summit in Chicago, IL. I let a golden opportunity slip through my fingertips and I’m pissed.

I’m just starting to read the initial feedback and reaction from the Friday sessions from Chris Harris and David Warlick. This brain trust seems to be right up my alley. So, if you’re reading the libraryland feed and you’re in Chicago at the Drake Hotel, keep the updates coming. I’m living through you guys….and gals.

I’ve also been intrigued by Negroponte’s 2B1 laptop project, so reading about David Cavallo from MIT is an absolute pleasure. I’m aware of some of the criticism this project is facing from some of my fellow librarians. But I must say, as someone who has grown up digital, this project will change the face of libraries and information. The OLPC project will provide the opportunity for increased knowledge sharing and global collaboration. And, anyone who doesn’t see this has blinders on to the world.

I’m looking forward to reading more about the summit and hearing the reflections from my digital colleagues.

 

Image borrowed from Gallagher.

Blogging OCM BOCES SLS Fall 2006 Conference

I spent today at my School Library System’s annual Fall conference. In the short two years that I’ve been attending, I’ve been very impressed. Judi Dzikowski and the fine folks at OCM BOCES do a bang-up job putting this conference together. Above all, the OCM BOCES is always able to secure dynamic and influential keynote speakers and presenters. Last year I was exposed to the likes of data expert Annette Lamb and Boys and Reading expert Michael Sullivan. This year they were able to land Big 6 guru Mike Eisenberg and neighboring GV BOCES SLS leader Chris Harris.

Let’s start with, Mike Eisenberg.   He’s come a long way from his early years when he was a library media specialist in Central New York. He’s now Dean Emeritus of the iSchool at Washington University. And apparently he has connections to Bill Gates, only the richest and most powerful man on the planet.

From Eisenberg’s keynote, I’ll walk away remembering his emphasis on the importance of the teacher-librarian building influence and becoming an essential player in the school. Think, act and make decisions like you are the Chief Information Officer of the school.

I didn’t attend Chris Harris’ afternoon workshop, but I had the opportunity to dialogue with him during our breaks and over lunch. Chris has great big ideas and is plugged in to issues that surround school libraries. He’s radical and even challenged Eisenberg on his blog and in person today.  I’m sure his approach turns some people off, but I’m under the strong opinion that we need more people like him in the profession.  Write his name down, you’ll be hearing a lot from him in the future.

Lastly a bit of news from the rumor mill. My sources have informed me that OCM BOCES could possibly land David Warlick as the keynote speaker for next year’s Fall Conference. This would be a major coup- to land Dave’s talent. If you aren’t familiar with his line of work, then I suggest you check him out. And Mr. Warlick, if you are somehow reading this, please come to Syracuse, NY in the Fall of 2007 and spread the good word to us Central New Yorkers.

Blogging Pam Berger

It was a long month. An unbelievably long month. I was ready for a conference day. Today I got my wish. I spent my day at a BER conference called "21st Strategies for Strengthening Your School Library Program" at the Clarion Riverside in Rochester, NY.

The keynote presenter was Pam Berger. She did an awesome job! The morning portion of the session was particularly good, and I'll try my best to dissect some of it in this post.

Here are three morning anecdotes that stuck in my head: (particularly useful for the first year librarian)

Berger: Depending on the topic, you will most likely be a novice or an expert, and don't be surprised if most times you're a novice.
Ashworth: Realizing it, and coming to terms with it are completely different. It's OK to be a novice about a library related topic, even if you are a certified teacher librarian. You'll never have time to master it all.

Berger: Teachers that won't collaborate aren't your problem, they're the principals problem. Go after the teachers that are open and willing to collaborate. You want to start small fires and have them spread. You want to have teachers talking about what comes out of the library.

Ashworth: THIS WILL HAPPEN!! There will be at least one teacher in your building that won't want to collaborate. Maybe it was a bad experience with your predecessor. Maybe the library doesn't appeal to them. Whatever the case, don't take it personally. Work with those willing to meet you halfway, especially if you're in the first few years of your career. When you work with the willing and do a kick-butt job, they'll be trumpeting the librarian, the facility, etc.. to all the other teachers. The metaphor of a wildfire is perfect, start it in one place and watch it spread.

Berger: In terms of bibliometrics in your school library, don't look at the books that circulate (which in terms of percentages is only about 10-20% of your entire collection), instead look at the books that don't circulate and haven't circulated for years. Get rid of the things that don't circulate. Smaller more targeted collections generally do better than those that are large and topically pervasive. School Libraries are NOT archives.

Ashworth: Right on! Now, run those reports and start putting the junk in the circular file. But, if you're in your first year, wait until at least the summer so you've had a chance to see what circulates in one school year. And also, you don't want to take on another project in your first year. It might kill you if you're not careful.

You can see that she made quite the impression on me, even if I am only a neophyte, first year, know-nothing teacher librarian.

It's important to take conference days every now and again. At the very least, it keeps you honest and makes you aware of successful programs within the field. It's an added bonus when you get to listen to someone like Pam Berger. She's a tremendous advocate for school libraries, an inquiry based junkie, and an information expert. Not a bad combination at all.

Image excerpted from Chapter 3, "Collaboration, Leadership, and Technology," of Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. Copyright © 1998 American Library Association and Association for Educational Communications and Technology. ISBN 0-8389-3470-6. Order by phone at 1-866 SHOP ALA (1-866-746-7252).