Advocacy for School Libraries & Education

"When I read about the way in which library funds are being cut and cut, I can only think that American society has found one more way to destroy itself" -Isaac Asimov

We are dangerously close to

being thought of as irrelevant

and out of a job.

"The future of the school library as a relevant and viable institution is largely dependent on us and how quickly we respond to change."

Embrace the new

“remix” culture

Widgets

Integration of new book formats:

—Playaways, ebooks, audiobooks,

interactive web books

Tagging

Critical Evaluation

of Research Results

Creative Commons

Intellectual Property

Attribution

Google

The NEW Authority

"The definition of “authoritative” seems to be undergoing a societal change. Are we helping make this an intelligent transition or just living

in denial?"

The Shifted Product:

"Students need to read, interpret, and create all types of writing and scripting: YouTube video, Tweets, blog posts, digital stories."

Don't cop out - FIGHT the Filter!

"Enough with the “yeah, buts,” opting out of the intellectual freedom battle by saying things like: but my IT people block that, the principal will never approve that, the board has a policy, or the parents will get upset."

We must advocate for ourselves. Having a strong "web presence" is not showing off - it's sharing with the community.

Connect with your students & community:

Wiki's, blogs, webpages, access to online research databases for homework,

online PAC, Twitter, & Facebook.

Basically, any way a kid or a parent might look to find & contact you - YOU should be there.

Start small:

• Wiki (public)
• Library media blog
• Twitter for conferences

Start building a PLN: The best & most effective professional development is in our own hands & on our own time.

"We must be available as a 24/7 learning experience,

a hybrid of virtual practice

that supports our

face-to-face instruction

and services."

Creative Commons Photo by alexkess

Creative Commons Photo By Feggy Art

It's NEVER too Late

& it's EASY to Start!

& thedaringlibrarian.com blog

Resources:

MHMS Tech Wiki: The Daring Librarian's Steam Powered WIKI of Ed Tech Goodness!

The Solution

From the SLJ article: Things That Keep Us Up at Night by Joyce Valenza & Doug Johnson

Creative Commons Photo By Peter Darch

From the SLJ article: Things That Keep Us Up at Night by Joyce Valenza & Doug Johnson

Creative Commons Photo by alexkess

• Economic shifts
• Intellectual property shifts
• The challenge of keeping ahead
• Failing to embrace networked & social media

So What is Keeping Us Up All Night?

From the SLJ article: Things That Keep Us Up at Night

by Joyce Valenza & Doug Johnson

"The library, as we once knew it, may no longer be relevant.

School librarians, as we once knew them, may no longer be relevant.

And, yet, this is undoubtedly the most exciting time in history to be a librarian."

Illustration by Brian Ajhar via SLJ

Google Map

by Shonda Brisco

From the SLJ article: Things That Keep Us Up at Night by Joyce Valenza & Doug Johnson