Download - The Visible School Library - Bales
The Visible Library
Is your library in the spotlight?
Dr Jennie Bales, Teacher Librarian, Lilydale District School
Visualogist, 2009, Photo beam.
How visible are you?
Time for some naval gazing.
Think about how people see you, where people see you, and what
you are doing when they see you.
This is your public persona.
Part of the team OR
Splendid isolation?
A crowd at the post exchange, 1942-1945, U.S. Army Air Corps Soares, P 2012, Cup of tea, please,
How do others see you?
The Protector.
Top dog.
Payne, C 2011, Documentally cat
Orangeaurochs, 2011, Cat and books Clanger, M 2004, A cat on books
Out of sight, out of mind.
Different Scenarios
• Library Technician
• Library assistant
• Teacher assistant
• Librarian / Teacher / Teacher librarian
In charge
Work alone
Work with others
Supervised from a distance
Part-time. Shared duties on different days
What is your vision?
• Libraries past - libraries future http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K-4ZF0x5ic&feature=related
• Transition - where do school library staff fit and how can they be actively engaged in change processes?
Opportunities with
Students
• Name game - do they know yours, do you know theirs?
• How do students perceive you? The library? The services offered?
Library displays targeting students‟ current curricular needs and personal interests
Signage
Suggestion box / wiki / blog
Is the library on the
parent radar?
• Promote library activities in the school newsletter and follow up with a report.
• Encourage others to use the library (e.g. Parent Association) – take photographs, report in newsletter.
• Library page in the school magazine
• Promote information services, e.g. access to online data bases and encyclopedias
Opportunities with Staff
• Regular communications
• Emails
• Announcements in shared workspace
• Ensure all library staff are „visible‟ – share responsibility and authorship of announcements.
• Quick, simple displays of new resources, change in staff area. Change weekly.
Staff
Communicate
Create shared lists (wish / teaching foci) identifying needs and gaps in the collection
Relevant sales notifications - e.g. Book Week merchandise, short list, standing orders, magazine subscriptions
Displays –
Staffroom & Library
Catalogues / brochures for browsing
New titles
Targeted library displays
Intranet /e email / sharepoint
Staff
Resources to
support staff
meetings, PL events
Provide resources to leadership team
Pass on teacher resource catalogues, e.g. SCIS, ACER
Resourcing for
teaching & learning
“The bulk loan” Top-up students‟ selections
Include several new items „on top‟.
Add reviews, teacher resources, teaching notes etc.
Accessing the
Collection
• Know current curriculum content
• Check subject headings on records
• Modify records
• Use Dewey to customise access
Shelby Designs and Illustrates, 2012, Dewey pictograms
It’s all about access
• Can students and teachers find what they want?
• The Confusing Library - The Two Ronnies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGlN_EaEgPQ&feature=related
Books available from the Department of Veteran Affairs
Accurate Records
• Check bibliographic details when adding items to library system.
• Add further information to facilitate access. • Ask others to assist if required.
• Add notes using key search terms, e.g. persuasive writing, First Steps.
• Provide more detailed subject headings that address curriculum content.
Resource Selection
• Foreshadow future curriculum foci
• Cast curriculum lens over catalogues
• Organise book displays - invite teachers and classes
• Respond to recommendations and selections
• Subscribe to journals and provide to staff to inform purchasing decisions
• Join lists e.g. Allen & Unwin, Penguin, Paper Tiger, Junior
Involve & Inform
Ask teachers to read new resources and provide feedback and suggestions to improve access to titles
Put out alerts through daily news etc
Ask staff to identify topics and teaching foci
Give lessons on using the catalogue using key subject terms – add notes with curriculum terminology
Provide support materials or links to teacher notes on texts
Staffroom resource box - e.g. History resource lists (& post alerts to new additions
Collective Knowledge
Management
• Talk to SEO / IT support / Leadership team about establishing a resource bank
• OR contribute to the one already in place.
Performance Review
Opportunities • Delivering high quality
results and client services
• Judgment, common sense & strategic thinking
• Communication skills
• Leadership & people skills
• Developing own skills
Cummings, P 2010, It's that time...
References
• BBC, 1982, The two Ronnies: the confusing library, online video, July 30 2011, accessed 11
October 2012, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGlN_EaEgPQ&feature=related >.
• Johnson, D 2010, Libraries past : libraries future, online video, March 25 2010, accessed 11
October 2012, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K-4ZF0x5ic>.
• Theunquietlibrarian, 2011, Building the future of libraries now with enchantment and
participatory learning, online video, June 20 2011, accessed 11 October 2012,
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8DNWgdzQmU&feature=related>.
Images in order of
appearance • Visualogist, 2009, Photo beam, photograph, , accessed 20 September 2012,
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/visualogist/3202396970/>, Creative Commons licence:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en
• A crowd at the post exchange, 1942-1945, U.S. Army Air Corps, accessed 23 September 2012,
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/-pee-/6806550379/in/photostream/>, Creative Commons licence:
<http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en>.
• Soares, P 2012, Cup of tea, please, photograph, , accessed 23 September 2012,
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/-pee-/6806550379/>, Creative Commons licence:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en
• Payne, C 2011, Documentally cat, photograph, , accessed 23 September 2012,
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/christianpayne/5481423552/>, Creative Commons licence:
<http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en>.
• Orangeaurochs, 2011, Cat and books, photograph, , accessed 23 September 2012,
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/orangeaurochs/5357301669/>, Creative Commons licence:
<http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en >.
Images continued
• Clanger, M 2004, A cat on books, photograph, , accessed 23 September 2012,
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/major_clanger/943482483/>, Creative Commons licence:
<http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en>.
• Gardner, L 2010, Hedwig w/ more books, photograph, , accessed 23 September 2012,
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/grandgrrl/5065369903/>, Creative Commons licence:
<http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en>.
• Shelby Designs and Illustrates, 2012, Dewey pictograms, poster, accessed 30 September
2012, <http://libraryliteracy.org/staff/differences/index.html>, Creative Commons licence:
<http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/>.
• Cummings, P 2010, It's that time..., illustration, , accessed 11 October 2012,
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/pgcummings/4543441250/sizes/m/in/photostream/>,
Creative Commons licence: <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en>.
Abstract
• Abstract: How visible is the school library to your school community? Do staff, students and parents understand the work that is undertaken in the library and how it can make a positive difference to teaching and learning across the school and at home? This session will focus on the importance of profiling the library and the work undertaken by library staff. Strategies for promoting services and contributing to the educational needs of the school will be examined. Tips and guides for selection of resources will be shared.