There are a ton of self-help/how to be successful books published yearly. In the United States the self-help industry rakes in about $10 billion per year. That's a lot of folks looking for advice on how to live a successful life. One would think that adding another title to the bookshelf would make for a very crowded shelf. Michigan State Attorney General Bill Schuette's book Big Lessons From A Small Town is worthy making room for on the bookshelf.
In a down-to-earth style, that can be compared to sitting down with a friend over a cup of coffee, Mr. Schuette shares with his readers his views on life, success and family. Don't be fooled into believing that this book is all about politics and campaigns due to the author's current position in the State of Michigan. Schuette effectively weaves in anecdotes from sports, his hometown of Midland, and family. It is a quick read with just enough of a"jolt of encouragement" that readers of all walks of life can relate to and learn from. There is no doubt about the author's pride in his home state, Michigan and his hometown. Michigan may not be in the title of the book, but it is front and center in each chapter. The readers, whether native Michiganders or not, are introduced to the warmth of the Midland community and the uniqueness of this beautiful state.
Normally speaking about the price of a book is not a consideration on whether to read or not read a book. Checking out books for a library will definitely save a few dollars rather then purchasing. However, in this case, the cover price is $ 17.95, and is well worth the individual investment to own a personal copy. This book is not a "one-time" read. Schuette's lessons are timeless and will offer a jolt of encouragement anytime it is read or re-read. At the very least, it is definitely a book to share with friends over a cup of coffee.
Showing posts with label Michigan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michigan. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Monday, September 8, 2014
Does Common Core Help Boost The Importance of School Libraries?
The topic of Common Core stirs up a whole hosts of reactions from positively for it to positively against it. When common core was first rolled out as the plan of choice to fix everything that No Child Left Behind did not do there were many who jumped on board and ran with it. As time progressed, there were still too many questions, too many problems and it seemed as if it began to complicate education more than before. School Library Journal conducted a webinar series that specifically aimed to help school librarians understand common core and demonstrated how this could help the library become the focal point of the school curriculum. One problem, the ideas that they shared in the webinar have been in place.
This may be harsh words but facts are facts, Common core does little to nothing to boost the library's presence. In the first webinar on Common Core, SLJ insisted that part of the beauty of the new vision of education is that reading nonfiction was more of a focus. Wonderful. That is good news, however they went further to say that school librarians, as well as the public librarians, really did not know the nonfiction section as well as fiction. Wait a minute! A librarian in today's library, be it a school or public library, is wearing many hats. Not only are they responsible for manning the reference desk, but also collection development, programming, grant writing and bibliographic instruction. In other words, the entire collection of the library is pretty much familiar to the librarian who is going through the shelves day in and day out to assist students, teachers and patrons. That was the first glaring misstep from the webinar series.
Based on the idea that librarians needed to be keenly aware of the nonfiction sections, the webinar series began to take the path down to information literacy. They stressed how the school librarian can become the gatekeeper to the information in the sense of challenging students to question the information they found on the Internet. The webinar suggested that students should be asked questions such as : Who wrote the article? Did they document their resources? Were they biased? Goodness, Information literacy has been around longer than Common Core! When the Internet became the main tool for gathering information, it became paramount to teach both students and adults to be skeptical of what they found on the Internet. Hasn't the joke been around so long that everyone now sarcastically says "I found it on the Internet, so it must be true." ? It is disappointing, to say the least, that those who are touting the benefits of Common Core would have librarians believe that they had never dared thought of instructing students to verify the information. Second glaring misstep from the webinar series.
Finally, what quite possibly can be described as the nail in the coffin, is the notion that reading a loud to children at every age is an important activity. Agreed. Students can benefit from having to be trained to listen carefully. It also empowers them to use their imagination. In the webinar they actually suggest that the reader of the book should read for a stretch , stop ask questions of the students to see if they picked up key parts of the plot, and reread the same pages over again. Why? This will reinforce the story in the students mind. Disagree. This can only bore the audience and quite frankly the reader as well. Third glaring misstep form the webinar series.
Due to the three glaring missteps it becomes apparent that SLJ does not have a clue on how Common Core will connect with the library. Good school librarians understand the curriculum, speak with teachers and administrators to see how the bolster the library's collection to meet the students need and know how to teach students to be active library users. Is all of this covered in Common Core? No, it's not. What Common Core advocates have to realize sooner or later, community control over the school district is much more practical than a National standard. Parents, administrators and educators can all agree that the best outcome is for the student to be prepared a productive member of society. How each community gets to that point is up to them. What is scary is that children are now guinea pigs in the laboratory of education. Leave it to the bureaucrats in Washington have found a way to make NCLB look good. Hasn't anyone figured out yet that testing does not prove that a hold has completed a solid education?
What is even more disturbing is that many school districts are opting to place school librarians in the classrooms along side the teachers. (Examples in Michigan are Fraser Public School and Romeo School Districts) Apparently SLJ and the Common Core lobbyist didn't foresee this move to make School Librarians over educated teacher assistants. Then again, it must be a shock to all librarians to see another step backwards in the profession.
Having said all this, is Common Core boosting the library usage in school and public libraries? Not more than usual. Could it at some point help? No. Common sense in the education of students would be a much better approach. Just think back to the days when students were required to learn the basics and once they mastered them, they could go off to explore all that the world had to teach them. Could it be that the homeschoolers had it right all along?
This may be harsh words but facts are facts, Common core does little to nothing to boost the library's presence. In the first webinar on Common Core, SLJ insisted that part of the beauty of the new vision of education is that reading nonfiction was more of a focus. Wonderful. That is good news, however they went further to say that school librarians, as well as the public librarians, really did not know the nonfiction section as well as fiction. Wait a minute! A librarian in today's library, be it a school or public library, is wearing many hats. Not only are they responsible for manning the reference desk, but also collection development, programming, grant writing and bibliographic instruction. In other words, the entire collection of the library is pretty much familiar to the librarian who is going through the shelves day in and day out to assist students, teachers and patrons. That was the first glaring misstep from the webinar series.
Based on the idea that librarians needed to be keenly aware of the nonfiction sections, the webinar series began to take the path down to information literacy. They stressed how the school librarian can become the gatekeeper to the information in the sense of challenging students to question the information they found on the Internet. The webinar suggested that students should be asked questions such as : Who wrote the article? Did they document their resources? Were they biased? Goodness, Information literacy has been around longer than Common Core! When the Internet became the main tool for gathering information, it became paramount to teach both students and adults to be skeptical of what they found on the Internet. Hasn't the joke been around so long that everyone now sarcastically says "I found it on the Internet, so it must be true." ? It is disappointing, to say the least, that those who are touting the benefits of Common Core would have librarians believe that they had never dared thought of instructing students to verify the information. Second glaring misstep from the webinar series.
Finally, what quite possibly can be described as the nail in the coffin, is the notion that reading a loud to children at every age is an important activity. Agreed. Students can benefit from having to be trained to listen carefully. It also empowers them to use their imagination. In the webinar they actually suggest that the reader of the book should read for a stretch , stop ask questions of the students to see if they picked up key parts of the plot, and reread the same pages over again. Why? This will reinforce the story in the students mind. Disagree. This can only bore the audience and quite frankly the reader as well. Third glaring misstep form the webinar series.
Due to the three glaring missteps it becomes apparent that SLJ does not have a clue on how Common Core will connect with the library. Good school librarians understand the curriculum, speak with teachers and administrators to see how the bolster the library's collection to meet the students need and know how to teach students to be active library users. Is all of this covered in Common Core? No, it's not. What Common Core advocates have to realize sooner or later, community control over the school district is much more practical than a National standard. Parents, administrators and educators can all agree that the best outcome is for the student to be prepared a productive member of society. How each community gets to that point is up to them. What is scary is that children are now guinea pigs in the laboratory of education. Leave it to the bureaucrats in Washington have found a way to make NCLB look good. Hasn't anyone figured out yet that testing does not prove that a hold has completed a solid education?
What is even more disturbing is that many school districts are opting to place school librarians in the classrooms along side the teachers. (Examples in Michigan are Fraser Public School and Romeo School Districts) Apparently SLJ and the Common Core lobbyist didn't foresee this move to make School Librarians over educated teacher assistants. Then again, it must be a shock to all librarians to see another step backwards in the profession.
Having said all this, is Common Core boosting the library usage in school and public libraries? Not more than usual. Could it at some point help? No. Common sense in the education of students would be a much better approach. Just think back to the days when students were required to learn the basics and once they mastered them, they could go off to explore all that the world had to teach them. Could it be that the homeschoolers had it right all along?
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Royal Wedding, Cinderella and Happy Endings
It seems that everyone loves a true-to-life Cinderella story. William and Catherine will be married on April 29th in England with many millions eyes from around the world watching this historic wedding. It seems that it was only yesterday, the world watched Lady Diana's Cinderella story on television. Times have changed but Royal weddings still catch the attention and imagination of millions around the world.
The Royal Wedding excitement is making it's way into classrooms and libraries. As a current event issue, students are discussing the Royal wedding with their teachers and friends. Some of the teens that frequently come into the library where I work will be doing extra credit assignments by watching the wedding live and "reporting" what they witnessed. Libraries also have caught the William and Kate fever. In Muskegon, Michigan which is not too far from where I am writing this blog, Friends of the Hackley Library will host a Royal Wedding Breakfast fundraiser at the Muskegon Athletic Club. The proceeds to be donated to the library’s children’s department which is in need of repair. With all the chatter about the royal wedding, it seemed appropriate to look at other culture's version of Cinderella. There are several children's authors who retell the story very well.
Shirley Climo has written several Cinderella stories from other cultures. One of her best works is The Korean Cinderella (1993) Pear is beautiful and is the daughter of an elderly couple. The father remarries when Pear's mother dies, her father remarries a woman with a daughter the same age as Pear. Just like the American version, the stepmother is jealous of her stepdaughter's beauty and requires her to perform many impossible chores, while her own daughter, Peony watches. Pear completes a set a chores with the aid of magical creatures such as a frog, sparrow, and black oxen. This allow Pear to go to the festival, where she loses one of her shoes and catches the eye of the Magistrate. What happens next? Well of course the Magistrate returns the shoe and falls in love with Pear. In The Egyptian Cinderella (1992) Climo again spins a wonderful tale that resonates closely to the traditional Cinderella story that most children know. This is Rhodopis's Cinderella story. She is a Greek slave girl in ancient Egypt, who has a rosy complexion and fair hair. As one might expect this is a rarity in Egypt and Rhodopia is often teased by the Egyptian servant girls. Rhodopia's fate changes when a great falcon deposits one of Rhodopis' rosy-gold slippers in the lap of the Pharaoh. He decides that this is a signal from the gods to marry the maiden whose foot it fits. Climo introduces young readers to Prusia and the Arabian Nights story in The Persian Cinderella (1999) In this story, kind-hearted Settareh gives money to a beggar and foolishly spends the rest of her money on a cracked jug instead of purchasing fabric for a new dress to wear to the prince's celebrations. To her great surprise the jug is inhabited by a pari that is able to grant her every wish. Now she is able to attend the festival and catches the attention of the prince. Settareh leaves behind a diamond ankle bracelet which is found by the queen. In an unwise move on Settareh part, she tells her stepsisters that the jug contains a pari. What else would jealous stepsisters do but steal it and instruct it to get rid of the the sweet Settereh. Their wish is granted and the jug leaves six jeweled hairpins that are placed in Settareh's hair, which then turns her into a turtledove. The prince befriends the bird and removes the hairpins, revealing that the bird is Settareh.
Several versions of the Cinderella story can be found in Native American folklore. A fine example of one of these version is Penny Pollock's The turkey girl (1996). This version focuses more on keeping one's promise than on finding one's true soul mate.
A poor orphan girl's kindness is repaid when a tribe's turkeys dress her in a fine doeskin robe so she will be able to attend the Dance of the Sacred Bird. There is one catch. She must promise to return to the turkeys before dawn. She is so enthralled with the dancing that she breaks her promise and loses her friends forever. From the Algonquin folklore, Rafe Martin presents The Rough-face Girl (1998) This story begins with two domineering sisters who are determined to marry the Invisible Being, who is everything a girl could want. Rich, powerful and supposedly handsome. They must prove that they can see him. They failed, but their mistreated younger sister. Rough-Face Girl, can see his sweet and awesome face all around her. He then reveals himself, and the Rough-face girl's true beauty is shown and the two marry.
Robert D. San Souci's work on the Cinderella stories takes his readers to the Caribbean. . Cendrillon (1998) is told from the godmother's point of view, this story is about a poor washerwoman whose mother leaves a magic wand behind. The godmother figures out how to use the wand and is able to help her beloved goddaughter. With one wave, A fruit a pain is transformed into the coach; six agoutis become the horses; and the slippers are bright pink with roses embroidered on them. San Souci's next effort Little gold star: A Spanish American Cinderella tale. (2000) is about Teresa who lives peacefully with her father, Tom in the hills of New Mexico, until he remarries. When Tom returns On a rare visit home, he gives his daughter a lamb. Killing the beloved animal, stepmother sends the brokenhearted girl to wash its fleece in the river. When the fleece is snatched by a fish, a beautiful woman wearing blue appears and promises to get it back if she will tend to the old man and the baby in a hut on the hill. Teresa agrees readily to do this but is unaware that the woman is the Virgin Mary and the old man and the baby is Joseph and Jesus. Teresa's reward is a gold star, planted on her forehead. When she returns home, the stepmother is again enraged, and sends her daughters to do the same as Teresa. However, their results are the opposite of Teresa's. After this episode, the story ends in the traditional way.
There are so many Cinderella-like stories around the world. These stories are a wonderful way to celebrate the "true life" princess story that will be televised around the world on April 29. Whether attending a fundraiser in Muskegon, watching the Royal wedding for pure enjoyment or missing the event all together, the Cinderella stories from around the world can provide the fairytale ending that everyone seeks. It will make for a great story time on the 29th or for the library's Summer Reading Program, One Story, One World.
For an extended bibliography of Cinderella Around the World please email, lvnlibrarian@gmail.com
The Royal Wedding excitement is making it's way into classrooms and libraries. As a current event issue, students are discussing the Royal wedding with their teachers and friends. Some of the teens that frequently come into the library where I work will be doing extra credit assignments by watching the wedding live and "reporting" what they witnessed. Libraries also have caught the William and Kate fever. In Muskegon, Michigan which is not too far from where I am writing this blog, Friends of the Hackley Library will host a Royal Wedding Breakfast fundraiser at the Muskegon Athletic Club. The proceeds to be donated to the library’s children’s department which is in need of repair. With all the chatter about the royal wedding, it seemed appropriate to look at other culture's version of Cinderella. There are several children's authors who retell the story very well.
Shirley Climo has written several Cinderella stories from other cultures. One of her best works is The Korean Cinderella (1993) Pear is beautiful and is the daughter of an elderly couple. The father remarries when Pear's mother dies, her father remarries a woman with a daughter the same age as Pear. Just like the American version, the stepmother is jealous of her stepdaughter's beauty and requires her to perform many impossible chores, while her own daughter, Peony watches. Pear completes a set a chores with the aid of magical creatures such as a frog, sparrow, and black oxen. This allow Pear to go to the festival, where she loses one of her shoes and catches the eye of the Magistrate. What happens next? Well of course the Magistrate returns the shoe and falls in love with Pear. In The Egyptian Cinderella (1992) Climo again spins a wonderful tale that resonates closely to the traditional Cinderella story that most children know. This is Rhodopis's Cinderella story. She is a Greek slave girl in ancient Egypt, who has a rosy complexion and fair hair. As one might expect this is a rarity in Egypt and Rhodopia is often teased by the Egyptian servant girls. Rhodopia's fate changes when a great falcon deposits one of Rhodopis' rosy-gold slippers in the lap of the Pharaoh. He decides that this is a signal from the gods to marry the maiden whose foot it fits. Climo introduces young readers to Prusia and the Arabian Nights story in The Persian Cinderella (1999) In this story, kind-hearted Settareh gives money to a beggar and foolishly spends the rest of her money on a cracked jug instead of purchasing fabric for a new dress to wear to the prince's celebrations. To her great surprise the jug is inhabited by a pari that is able to grant her every wish. Now she is able to attend the festival and catches the attention of the prince. Settareh leaves behind a diamond ankle bracelet which is found by the queen. In an unwise move on Settareh part, she tells her stepsisters that the jug contains a pari. What else would jealous stepsisters do but steal it and instruct it to get rid of the the sweet Settereh. Their wish is granted and the jug leaves six jeweled hairpins that are placed in Settareh's hair, which then turns her into a turtledove. The prince befriends the bird and removes the hairpins, revealing that the bird is Settareh.
Several versions of the Cinderella story can be found in Native American folklore. A fine example of one of these version is Penny Pollock's The turkey girl (1996). This version focuses more on keeping one's promise than on finding one's true soul mate.
A poor orphan girl's kindness is repaid when a tribe's turkeys dress her in a fine doeskin robe so she will be able to attend the Dance of the Sacred Bird. There is one catch. She must promise to return to the turkeys before dawn. She is so enthralled with the dancing that she breaks her promise and loses her friends forever. From the Algonquin folklore, Rafe Martin presents The Rough-face Girl (1998) This story begins with two domineering sisters who are determined to marry the Invisible Being, who is everything a girl could want. Rich, powerful and supposedly handsome. They must prove that they can see him. They failed, but their mistreated younger sister. Rough-Face Girl, can see his sweet and awesome face all around her. He then reveals himself, and the Rough-face girl's true beauty is shown and the two marry.
Robert D. San Souci's work on the Cinderella stories takes his readers to the Caribbean. . Cendrillon (1998) is told from the godmother's point of view, this story is about a poor washerwoman whose mother leaves a magic wand behind. The godmother figures out how to use the wand and is able to help her beloved goddaughter. With one wave, A fruit a pain is transformed into the coach; six agoutis become the horses; and the slippers are bright pink with roses embroidered on them. San Souci's next effort Little gold star: A Spanish American Cinderella tale. (2000) is about Teresa who lives peacefully with her father, Tom in the hills of New Mexico, until he remarries. When Tom returns On a rare visit home, he gives his daughter a lamb. Killing the beloved animal, stepmother sends the brokenhearted girl to wash its fleece in the river. When the fleece is snatched by a fish, a beautiful woman wearing blue appears and promises to get it back if she will tend to the old man and the baby in a hut on the hill. Teresa agrees readily to do this but is unaware that the woman is the Virgin Mary and the old man and the baby is Joseph and Jesus. Teresa's reward is a gold star, planted on her forehead. When she returns home, the stepmother is again enraged, and sends her daughters to do the same as Teresa. However, their results are the opposite of Teresa's. After this episode, the story ends in the traditional way.
There are so many Cinderella-like stories around the world. These stories are a wonderful way to celebrate the "true life" princess story that will be televised around the world on April 29. Whether attending a fundraiser in Muskegon, watching the Royal wedding for pure enjoyment or missing the event all together, the Cinderella stories from around the world can provide the fairytale ending that everyone seeks. It will make for a great story time on the 29th or for the library's Summer Reading Program, One Story, One World.
For an extended bibliography of Cinderella Around the World please email, lvnlibrarian@gmail.com
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Library Naysayers: Don't Know, Don't Care, Don't Come
Recently I wrote a letter to the editor of my local newspaper (Macomb Daily February 10, 2011). In the letter, I urged the new governor of Michigan, Rick Snyder not to cut state funds for libraries. The comments that were posted, were to say the least, disheartening. It is amazing to see in my own community there are citizens who don't know, don't care and don't come to their local library. My first response was to be hurt. Time to lick the wounds, again. How many times have I heard the arguments against libraries? They are always the same and eventually it always comes down to calling libraries and librarians "dinosaurs". Next came the anger. Again, the blood starts to boil and the terms, "useful idiots" come to mind. What else could they be? People who don't think for themselves and go along with the popular "idea" that the Internet has EVERYTHING. It is too bad that they buy that line, because they are missing out on so much more that the library has to offer. Last, the idea came to mind, if at first you can't convince them, educate them. It's time to educate the Don't Know, Don't Care and Don't Come crowd.
Let's begin with the basics of helping them find their library. In our virtual world it is easy to get directions from home to anywhere in the world. However, with this crowd, they don't think they need a library, let alone want to ask for directions on how to find the local library. What is a savvy librarian going to do to draw this tough crowd into our world? Go where they hang out. Internet cafes, bars, bowling alleys, or where ever. Get to know them so they can get to know what the library has to offer. Show them how easy it is to access databases, ebook downloads and in some cases homework help for children. That can be done all at the cafe, the bowling alley and even from home. It's a safe bet that this crowd does not even realize the resources that are available.
The next step is to invite or if need be, challenge them to come to the library to discover what they have been missing. Host an Open House, where everyone in the community is invited to meet the library staff and tour the building. This is a good time for librarians to remember that libraries are not just about books, they are about people. This message needs to be repeated loud and often. Libraries are places where people of all ages can come to educated themselves on any topic they wish. Not only are there books, movies, and periodicals. There are fantastic library programs that are not available anywhere else within the community. Programs range from, story times for children to planting spring gardens to Estate planning. Invite this tough crowd of library naysayers to explore everything that the library has to offer. Afterward, ask them if they still believe that their libraries are obsolete.
Finally, as professional we have to educate the naysayers that The internet is not a replacement for librarians. The best way to demonstrate how librarians are necessary is to show how technology has affected other fields. For example, the other day, a program about modern medical technology caught my attention. It was astonishing to learn how robotic arms were now performing some of the more delicate procedures that years before were the responsibility of surgeons. This piece of technology helps to reduce error during an operation. It does not completely remove the need for a doctor. Ask yourself, would you feel comfortable if your surgery were to be done by a programmed robot and not a capable surgeon? Of course not! Any sane person would want the doctor, and the robotic arm would be an extra but not a necessity. The same is true in the case of the Internet and librarians. The Internet is wonderful for some tasks, such as looking up stock prices or finding the latest news headlines, however it is not a replacement for what librarians do on a day to day basis. When complex research or homework questions can not be answered with a quick click of a mouse, a librarian is able to direct patrons to the sources that contain the precise answers patrons need and want. The internet is just a tool, nothing more.
Going about educating the library naysayers may seem like it will be daunting. However, I'm convinced, that if everyone who loves libraries would help reach out to this crowd in a grassroots efforts to save libraries, mountains of misinformation can be moved! Libraries could and can be saved.
Let's begin with the basics of helping them find their library. In our virtual world it is easy to get directions from home to anywhere in the world. However, with this crowd, they don't think they need a library, let alone want to ask for directions on how to find the local library. What is a savvy librarian going to do to draw this tough crowd into our world? Go where they hang out. Internet cafes, bars, bowling alleys, or where ever. Get to know them so they can get to know what the library has to offer. Show them how easy it is to access databases, ebook downloads and in some cases homework help for children. That can be done all at the cafe, the bowling alley and even from home. It's a safe bet that this crowd does not even realize the resources that are available.
The next step is to invite or if need be, challenge them to come to the library to discover what they have been missing. Host an Open House, where everyone in the community is invited to meet the library staff and tour the building. This is a good time for librarians to remember that libraries are not just about books, they are about people. This message needs to be repeated loud and often. Libraries are places where people of all ages can come to educated themselves on any topic they wish. Not only are there books, movies, and periodicals. There are fantastic library programs that are not available anywhere else within the community. Programs range from, story times for children to planting spring gardens to Estate planning. Invite this tough crowd of library naysayers to explore everything that the library has to offer. Afterward, ask them if they still believe that their libraries are obsolete.
Finally, as professional we have to educate the naysayers that The internet is not a replacement for librarians. The best way to demonstrate how librarians are necessary is to show how technology has affected other fields. For example, the other day, a program about modern medical technology caught my attention. It was astonishing to learn how robotic arms were now performing some of the more delicate procedures that years before were the responsibility of surgeons. This piece of technology helps to reduce error during an operation. It does not completely remove the need for a doctor. Ask yourself, would you feel comfortable if your surgery were to be done by a programmed robot and not a capable surgeon? Of course not! Any sane person would want the doctor, and the robotic arm would be an extra but not a necessity. The same is true in the case of the Internet and librarians. The Internet is wonderful for some tasks, such as looking up stock prices or finding the latest news headlines, however it is not a replacement for what librarians do on a day to day basis. When complex research or homework questions can not be answered with a quick click of a mouse, a librarian is able to direct patrons to the sources that contain the precise answers patrons need and want. The internet is just a tool, nothing more.
Going about educating the library naysayers may seem like it will be daunting. However, I'm convinced, that if everyone who loves libraries would help reach out to this crowd in a grassroots efforts to save libraries, mountains of misinformation can be moved! Libraries could and can be saved.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The Case for Librarians
This is either going to get me into hot water or create the opportunity of further discussions within the library world. It is my hope that it is the later. For too long now, the profession of librarians has suffered an inferiority complex. Librarians struggle with the image of what it is to be a professional in today's libraries. That struggle has impacted the image of the library as a whole. Some library associations have gone so far as to a publish a calendar photographing librarians' on the wild side with tattoos. This is not the image we need to be concerned about. The image as a professional is more important.
As professionals, librarians will select materials, answer reference questions, plan programs and balance budgets. It is amazing to see all the programs that libraries host on a day to day basis. Literally, the library has tried to become a place for everyone. From genealogy to gaming, and computers to crafts, with everything in between. In any given day in a library will have visitors coming in for all types of services. Is it any wonder that no one knows exactly what librarians do? Is it any wonder that patrons have come to expect additional non-library services? In a nutshell, Librarians entertain and educate patrons using a variety of tools that will aid the patrons in gathering information. Unfortunately, this does not get translated well to patrons or in financial crunches to government representatives.
The State of Michigan is experiencing a economic crisis that has been going on for almost eight years. To say that budget is tight is an understatement. Currently, Governor Jennifer Granholm has issued an Executive Order to eliminate the Histories, Arts and Libraries from the state budgets. Needless to say, this has caused a firestorm in the library community. However, in order to look at the problem realistically, it is easy to see that every sector of the government is going to promote itself and asked not to be cut. Someone has to make the tough decisions and somethings have to be cut. Libraries and their professional associations have dropped the ball when it comes to giving good solid reasons to invest in libraries. These reasons should have been promoted before the money started to run dry. Let me explain.
First of all, by trying to be everything to everyone, we fail to define ourselves. In the mistaken quest to be like bookstores, video stores, arcades, and computer labs, Libraries have lost their souls. It is not enough for libraries to excel in research and reading, instead excuses are made for why tax dollars should be spent on library programs that will get people into the building. It's almost as if we are conceding that libraries are not worth going to unless we have a gimmick. Any library worth it's salt can bring patrons in with quality materials and good customer service. The definition of a librarian is not they have tattoos, or dress cool or even have green hair. The definition of a librarian is someone who aids in the quest for information and learning. If we entertain during the quest, well that's just icing on the cake.
Secondly, the associations have been preoccupied with other agendas in the library world that are not important. Censorship issues is an example. While it can be agreed that it is important for children and adults get to read the materials they want, it is not a crucial issue in America. In case I have missed it, if one school board bans a book does that mean the title in question is not available for purchase through a bookstore? Or at another library? The books will still be available to the reader at other sources without library associations claiming injustice. If the freedom to read is important, then take up the cause of the blind and physically handicapped who will have their freedom to read restricted when the materials they need to help them read will no longer be available to them.
Third, the trend over the last ten years by library administrators in staffing their libraries with part-time employees is frightening and an admission that the profession is not a necessity in the community. For a profession that is barely able to define itself, this is committing suicide. How are libraries going to attract the next generation of librarians working for a Master's Degree if there is only part-time work available? Becoming a librarian is a profession not a hobby. With this dangerous trend, we are risking losing the bright stars of the future, as well as burning out the stars currently working the field. One has to wonder if this is the beginning of the end of a profession. The Library Journal must believe this is true when they are promoting other job routes for librarians.
Public libraries may become a luxury of the past. If we want to see libraries thrive and grow, then we must take a fresh look at funding, staffing and promoting our cause. Libraries should no longer claim that they are "free". In monetary terms, free is similar to saying no value, no investment. Patrons should know how much it takes to run a library and how it benefits the community. Is now the time that the library would should be considering privately funded or managed libraries? Are there other alternatives in staffing that should get a new look? It seems that a new approach to defining and funding our mission is an important step to take at this time. We need to take a step to secure our future. Taking no actions may result in the profession and libraries suffering a slow a painful death.
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