Digital Creation

Yesterday in class, we focused a great deal on digital creation. We split our class into small groups to create a video promoting a library program or service. My group created a fun and albeit interesting trailer advertising the Adopt-an-Author program at a fictitious library.
Adopt an Author trailer

Book talks

Swindle by Gordon Korman

Have you ever collected anything like dolls or football cards? Griffin Bing discovers a rare baseball card in an old, abandoned house. When he and his best friend, Ben, bring the card to a local collectibles shop, the owner, S. Wendell Palomino, tells Griffin the card is a fake and worth only $120. They sell the card but wonder why a fake baseball card needs to be immediately locked away in the safe. That night, Palomino turns up on the local news boasting of a valuable Babe Ruth baseball card worth at least $20,000 at auction. Griffin-The Man with the Plan-knows he’s been swindled and must do something-anything- to get the card back. Griffin, Ben, and their team of friends have many obstacles to overcome including a menacing guard dog, high tech security, and a secret hiding place, but they’ll do anything to outsmart the Swindler and get the card back.

Schooled by Gordon Korman

Capricorn “Cap” Anderson lived a peaceful life on his grandmother’s farming commune away from the outside world; but when Rain falls and must endure a couple months of rehab in a local hospital, Cap is thrown into modern day America which includes attending the local middle school. Cap is taken aback by school fights, wedgies, and the PA system. The students are confused of what to think of him too. No one knows how to take Cap, his hemp clothing, long, unkempt hair, and his daily practice of Tai chi. When the students band together to elect Cap eighth grade president, an honor only bestowed upon the biggest nerd in school, Cap must either sink or swim. Will he be the best eighth grade president ever or the laughing stock of the school? Find out by reading Schooled by Gordon Korman. 

To see a video of my partnered booktalk, you can visit this link:
Book talk presentation

Poster Presentation

Yesterday I completed my first poster presentation as a graduate student. The presentation was a part of my IST 511 class and the posters dealt with the many issues libraries and librarians face from sponsorship, censorship, classification systems, and other issues. My group's presentation covered the topic of embedded librarianship. Overall, I believe the presentation went very well. I took part in a great deal of discussions about the various topics. (I am on the far right.)

Embedded Librarian group

Embedded Librarianship poster

Sue Kowalski presentation reflection

So I have been a serious library student for...4 days, and I love it. I am enjoying everything I am learning in my class and I can completely see myself going for world domination through libraries.
Yesterday, in my Introduction to the Library and Information Profession course, Sue Kowalski, a local middle school media specialist, spoke with our class. She strives to be active in all facets of the school community from organizing a flash mob dance to boost faculty morale at the end of another crazy school year to the support she gave for the Talent(less) Show she let the students put on in her space. I like that she makes her library a kid-centered facility. She believes the students can do anything as long as you support them. I agree that you have to put yourself out there and be an active part of the school community. School librarians get such a bad wrap because so many faculty are unaware of what the job of a school librarian entails. It's far from sitting at a circulation desk all day. I will leave this reflection with a point Sue emphasized throughout her presentation: The three most important values for school librarianship are "leadership, initiative, and fun."

(Sue Kowalski, personal communication)

LIS Education

It was admittedly difficult to find only one topic to reflect upon for the Librarians thread but I chose to write about LIS education. Originally, I had planned to attend the University of Albany for grad school; however, after I had to defer my admission, I decided to take a tour of SU and it changed my life. I talked to a current student and met Dave Lankes.  His views of librarianship changed my views on everything I had ever thought about libraries. That's when I decided SU was the place for me.
I never realized the differences between the two programs until I read the section about LIS education in the Atlas. I would have graduated from Albany with a Masters in Information Studies with a concentration in Librarianship and a concentration in School Media. That's a mouthful to say all in itself. Simply, Albany seems to focus on information studies first. As I read earlier in the Atlas, there isn't reason to have a great debate about Library vs. Information Science because a librarian trained in information science can simply participate in conversations with librarians and other information science professionals.
I agree that LIS education needs to be reorganized. I feel there should be a preparatory program for future librarians. I know that most 18 year olds don't graduate high school and say I want to be a librarian, but some might! (I'll admit I didn't at first.) I agree with the proposition of the Bachelor of Information and Instructional Design. It acts a preparatory program for librarians and so much more. There are not many programs that provide students with an extensive pre-existing knowledge for future librarians other than first hand experience working as a clerk or other paraprofessional position in a library. I also agree that we need a doctorate program. All doctorate students may not have a desire to become professors.
As a trained teacher, I understand the importance of continuing education and professional development. I believe this concept also plays an important role in the development of library science professionals. Our field is constantly changing and if we want to apply this (amazing) concept of new librarianship- we need to educate not only the new librarians but the veterans as well.
In summary, the LIS education system needs to be revitalized. I-Schools and library science programs need to teach with a worldview of librarianship and disregard the old practices of thinking of librarianship as an artifact-centric profession. There needs to be educational options for students before and after the Masters program. Professional development for current librarians is also vital.