Service Learning Journal: Entry 6

Service Learning Journal: Entry 6

11/15/2012

Here I am at the end of my Service Learning experience, and I have to admit that, even though the assignments were sometimes difficult, the knowledge I have gained from this experience is vital and incomparable to just reading the material in a textbook.  Since my last journal entry, I have completed the selection tools process, which led up to a more tedious assignment that required us to use selection tools to identify 10 resources that replace weeded materials or fills a gap in the collection.  This assignment was time consuming to say the least, and quite challenging at first.  I had difficulties locating two credible reviews for a lot of the materials I wanted to replace.  I eventually came to the conclusion that I should search the databases by topic or subject matter instead of searching a particular title.  While this required me to be a little more open-minded, I found it much easier to locate quality material with several reviews that was more than likely a better a choice for my library.  I did have a little trouble locating reviews for media resources, but feel the two I selected were good solid choices. 

I feel like all of the assignments supported each other, and the order in which they were presented was important and enabled me to be successful.  This project allowed us to get our first look into a “librarian’s world.”  It’s amazing to see all the responsibilities the library demands.  I feel like one of my concerns about librarianship is similar to my student teaching experience- not getting enough hands on experience in the actual library setting.  This assignment, however, allowed me to experience processes that I will be responsible for as a librarian, and I hope the remainder of my two years are filled with these sort of learning opportunities.

Service Learning Journal: Entry 5

Service Learning Journal: Entry 5

10/10/12

This past week we listened to the banned books speech given by Chris Crutcher and Lauren Myracle.  These authors had some amazing points, and gave me a new perspective on intellectual freedom!  I had never really questioned banned books before this speech; I just kind of accepted the fact that they were banned.  Chris and Lauren gave me a new perspective, however, and that is that intellectual freedom is our right. I do, however, feel like it is a parent’s responsibility to, not necessarily censor the information a child receives, but to help them make sense of what they have read, and provide a moral compass for them to follow.

This week I also researched some selection tools.  My SL librarian pointed me in the direction I should be looking, and I was able to find a slew of online sites, journals, and reviews.  A couple of the sites I looked through did not seem very reputable.  One site particularly stood out because I noticed that it only promoted books that were published by certain companies.  I showed the site in question to my SL librarian, and she advised me to find another source.   This week I was also able to help my SL librarian barcode new materials that had arrived.  I was completely unaware that the school had to purchase the barcodes.  I was also shocked to find out that the small set of barcodes in front of me cost the library fifty dollars!  I felt like I was watching the budget dwindle with each sticker I placed on a book.  Being in the library this semester has really helped me see the responsibilities that a librarian is accountable for, and I am sure that there are plenty of other responsibilities that I do not see.  I am eager to complete some observations in the public library and compare the two.   

Service Learning Journal: Entry 4

Service Learning Journal: Entry 4

09/26/12

I didn’t seem my SL librarian this week due to the fact that I was out of town.   I did however speak with her on the phone this past week.  She asked me if I could come in and help out with the book fair, and I told her that I would be more than happy to help.  I asked her if I could help with the actual set up of the book fair as well.  I am curious to see how the books come in and how the entire process works.  This is my first book fair, and I can’t wait to see all the details as I know that a large portion of my budget will come from sales.   I also spoke with Mrs. Whaley about the selection tools assignment.  I asked her if there were any particular websites or print materials that she strongly recommends or uses herself.   She told me a few things that I should consider when using selection tools are:  making sure the information is current and up to date, consider what information is covered by the selection tool, and is the author reliable.  She told me that she most often uses School Library Journal.  She did name a few other web based sites as well.  This assignment will carry over into next week, and I will let you know more about what I find and how the assignment is going!  This assignment also relates to another assignment I had to complete for Dr. Nita.  The assignment was finding resource criteria for a particular book we had suggested to enhance a lesson plan.  This assignment is similar in the fact that we are still searching for accreditation and reviews, except we are doing it on a much larger scheme and without a specific book in mind.

Service Learning Journal: Entry 3

Service Learning Journal: Entry 3

09/19/12

This week, working with my service learning librarian, I deselected books from the 600-630 Dewey area. The librarian specifically asked me to focus on this area due to the fact that she had weeded most of the library over the summer, but this section had not been gone through. She told me to pay particular attention to the health sciences area, as she was certain most of these books would be significantly out of date. She asked me to physically remove the books I felt should be discarded, and she would check over them before we recycled. She also asked me to suggest areas that needed more resources and a suggestion of which books should be replaced. In addition to this area, I was asked to keep on an eye on books that were returned for check-in that were exceedingly worn and needed to be replaced.

 

During this assignment I faced several challenges. I had previously spoken to my SL librarian about this assignment, and she had informed me that she could run a report though Destiny, the county’s online library program, that would give me detailed information about each book. The report was to include the title, author, date published, call number, and how often the book had circulated in the past five years, but due to a software conversion, my SL librarian was unable to the run the report.  Before beginning the actual process she discussed a few tips for deselection and I re-read the “Weeding” section in the Lowe textbook. Mrs. Whaley, my SL librarian, also gave me a circulation report to use as I was discarding books. As I began to look through the books, I became overly anxious about tossing out someone else’s books. I second my decisions a lot. I decided to pick three random books from the shelf, view them and develop my opinion as to whether they should be kept or discarded, and then show them to my SL librarian and ask her for her opinion. After listening to what she had to say about each book, I realized that I was on the right track and felt more comfortable with my decisions. In total, I recycled 77 books leaving the shelves looking somewhat bare.  

 

I think assignment went well.  I truly enjoyed the assignment, and felt like I was learning the entire time.  There were a few hesitations, as mentioned above, but Mrs. Whaley was very patient and very considerate of my “beginner’s nature” when it came to throwing the books away.  I think the part that sucks the most about weeding is having to remove all the books from the computer, then go through each book with a marker and mark out all identifying information and barcodes, related to the school.  Mrs. Whaley did help me a lot through this process, but she gave me my distance to let me do my own thing, and I really appreciated that from her!  When someone is watching my every move, it makes me more nervous and hard for me to focus on the task at hand.  I also began to notice how the collection development policy would be such an important aspect of the deselection process.  The past assignments are starting to make more sense to me, and I am beginning to realize how they all fit together. 

Service Learning Journal: Entry 2

Service Learning Journal: Entry 2

09/12/12

This week was a busy week trying to locate the school’s collection development policy.  I spoke with Mrs. Whaley about this project, and she told me that she did have a policy, but it was not on file with the county.  She stated the policy was unofficial, and was something that she had created while she held a high school librarian position.  She did tell me that it would need some updating, and I agreed to read the policy and try to offer suggestions and help her update the policy.  Mrs. Whaley told me that she would locate the policy and email it to me so that I could begin looking over the procedures.  I did not receive an email or hear from her so two days later I decided to contact her once again regarding the CD policy.  She stated that she was unable to find the policy and offered me some suggestions on how to create a CD policy for the school.  After hanging up the phone, I immediately began searching for examples of elementary school CD policies.  I found two examples that I thought were thorough and easy to comprehend:

Barnhill, T. (2012, August 09). Westwood elementary school library collection development               
        policy. Retrieved from http://www.wcs.edu/wes/Media/collection.htm

Baltimore county public schools selection criteria for school library media center collections.        

       (2012, September 12). Retrieved from http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/office/admin/selection

 

These sites offered great insights regarding topic and content.  I used these two sites, my notes, and input from Mrs. Whaley to create a rough draft, or starting point, of a CD policy for Richlands Elementary School Library. 

 

            I feel like the assignment went okay.  At first, I had a difficult time trying to decide what needed to be in a CD policy for the school.  I compared the two CD examples, and looked for common ground.  I also consulted Mrs. Whaley, asking her what she preferred to be included.  I did use some of the information regarding library policies from the Community Analysis assignment.  If I had to do this assignment again, I would prefer to sit down with my SL and ask her to collaborate with me and work together to create the policy.  At times, I felt lost.  I think that an experienced librarian helping to create such an important document would greatly benefit the student’s learning and mentality. 

Service learning journal: entry 1

Service learning journal: Entry 1
09/05/12

The first few weeks have class have been very busy.  I am still trying to figure out how to use the OpenQwak system, and have had a few problems with compatibility.  With that being said, I am very excited about the service learning portion of this class.  I have contacted the school librarian where I taught last year, Richlands Elementary.  I knew Mrs. Whaley, the MC, would be more than happy to help to me, and I correct in that assumption.   Due to a conflict in schedules, we were not able to meet after our initial conference.  I spoke with her about the Community Analysis assignment, and she pointed me in the right direction.  I also contacted her several times to ask her questions about the library and her policies.  I was able to go into the library, although she was there, and browse around and take a few pictures.  I glanced through the collection and made it a point to look through the reference room.   After I had gathered about nine pages worth of notes, I felt that I was ready to begin writing the community analysis.  I was worried about getting 5-7 pages out of my disorderly notes, but was shocked when I realized I was fast approaching the maximum number of pages allowed.   As I was writing the paper, I felt I had received more knowledge about the library in the few phone conversations and meetings than I had known after a year of working at the school. I was amazed at the size of the collection, and amazed at the lack of teacher resources.  Mrs. Whaley is a great librarian working hard to build the teacher resource room as well as update her collection.  She is fairly new, less than 5 years, to the library, but she has fresh ideas and a passion for learning that is unmistakable!  I feel that I will learn a great deal by working with Mrs. Whaley this semester.   J