Today I substitute taught in a local elementary school. I decided to saunter down to the school library because I had recently virtually introduced myself and promised to stop in the next time I was in the building. The meeting, although pleasant, gave me mixed feelings.
This librarian seemed almost defeated and I felt disappointed. (Any discussion from here on out is paraphrased.) She told me that the "pretty picture" they paint for us in library school isn't the real world. School librarians have to fight to be noticed, she never sees or speaks with her administration, teachers are difficult to collaborate with because of state testing constraints, etc. Some teachers don't even understand what a librarian's role entails. In one district, this librarian was basically a study hall monitor and her library skills were severely under utilized. It all comes down to the district, she stated.
Now, I understand that this is no "pretty picture" because school libraries would be mandatory if their importance was recognized, schools would not be cutting librarians to staff the libraries, and libraries would be seen as a hub of not only the school community but society. I know it's not like that. Yet.
That's part of what new librarianship is all about. We have to change things. She mentioned something about teachers needing a class in college to understand the librarian's position in a school and it's true. We were told nothing about how to use the school library or collaborate with the school librarian as educational partners in my undergraduate program. So let's change it. I refuse to believe that I can't make a difference in whichever library I end up in. I decree I will make myself known to teachers and seek out collaborative opportunities, my administrators will know who I am and recognize the hard work students put into learning twenty-first learning skills in my library. I want to make a difference in the lives of my future students and my community; and no one shall stand in my way! (Stepping off the soap box now... it was just really disappointing to hear and this librarian loves her job but to think she feels this way is sad.)
She was right with a lot of things, but I don't think our professors are painting a "pretty picture." In fact most of the time we get advice like, make sure you stay active because you WILL be ignored. We're getting advice on how to make sure we're heard constantly. Will it always work? No, but we should expect that and do what we can. Our professors are doing everything they can to prepare us for negative feedback. They are teaching us the best ways they know to keep or raise a budget and make sure we let the school know how valuable we are.
ReplyDeleteI can see how that seems like a pretty picture. It makes it seem like if we do this than people will listen. But we all know the world isn't like that. We're being given tools and ideas to help the "fight" as best we can. That's all we can ask for, and in the end if we change one thing it's worth it.