Librarians - Are You a Multitasking Information Manager?

[Connie Masson]

I read "The New Librarians" online in The Journal with excitement. Jack Strawn, school librarian at Sandra Day O'Conner High School in Helotes, TX, is using his strengths to "help usher in the technological changes that schools must address". Joyce Valenza, one of our industry's leading library information specialists of Springfield Township High School in Erdenheim, PA, says working with technology engages students and models how the tools can be used in your real life. Are you expanding the way people think about the service that we provide from not only checking out books and reading stories but to also what we are additionally doing today to help kids learn: we are the "portal" for our students to information. As Linda Miller put it, "we're information brokers". And I believe as she does that our kids are "never too young to learn how to do things the right way."

Are we teaching students and teachers about the resources we discover? Are you working with your school technology teachers to infuse technology into the curricula? How can you "not" use technology for technology's sake? What even low tech technology do you have in your school that you can use to help students learn in their core content and electives classes as well as in life? How do you work to meld the classroom and the library?

We have new tools in our tool box, but our job is still to help teachers teach and student's learn. Are you passionate about what you are doing?

Neal Starkman, "The New Librarians," T.H.E. Journal, 8/1/2007, http://www.thejournal.com/articles/21080