Library media specialists to
the rescue!
By Rebecca Nero, Educational Technology Consultant
I read a lot of nonfiction, but most of it is information about software programs and usually turns into fiction when applied. However, I've finally read a nonfiction book that has not generated a "fatal exception." The book is Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning by AASL* and AECT**, supported by ALA***.
Information Power asserts "as the keystone of a student-centered library media program, the library media specialist is poised to work collaboratively with teachers, administrators, and others to facilitate students' entry into the communication age." The library media specialist is in a unique position the specialist understands how to evaluate sources, how to use information and what resources are available.
If you, as a library media specialist, do not feel ready to be a "keystone," Information Power identifies many support resources. Here's a list of a few resources to increase your information and power:
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The Librarian's Guide to Cyberspace for Parents & Kids http://www.ala.org/pio/cyber/cando.html is a free PR-Talk Online Workshop that includes sample public service announcements, sample news releases, sample questions and answers, and multiple additional online information sites.
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ICONnect at http://www.ala.org/ICONN/, developed and updated by AASL, helps library media specialists assume leadership roles (Internet and technology use), includes internal links to courses, publications, KidsConnect and FamilesConnect.
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TAPPED IN at http://www.tappedin.org/ "is the online workplace of an international community of education professionals. K-12 teachers and librarians, professional development staff, teacher education faculty and students, and researchers engage in professional development programs and informal collaborative activities with colleagues." Membership is free.
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Libraries & the Internet Toolkit at http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/internettoolkit.html gives "tips and guidance for managing and communicating about the Internet" in PDF format. This free and copyable document is loaded with information, links, how-to's, links, resources, links. You get the picture!
These sites will keep you busy, even if you are not a beginner. Just in case you need some library facts to strengthen your position as library media specialist, use these from the ALA Library Champions:
- Academic librarians answer 97 million reference questions each year almost three times the attendance at college football games.
- Students visit school library media centers almost 1.5 billion times during the school year about one-and-a-half times the number of visits to state and national parks.
- Research shows the highest achieving students attend schools with good library media centers.
- Americans go to school, public and academic libraries more than twice as often as they go to the movies.
So go ahead, you library media specialists, take center stage as the key to collaboration among students, teachers, parents, administrators and community centers for information power.
*American Association of School Librarians **Association for Educational Communications and Technology ***American Library Association
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