Philosophy

I believe it is the responsibility of library media specialists to help teachers stay current with today's technologies and the methods for utilizing them in the classroom. Therefore, the integration of technology into the curriculum is an important service I provide to teachers. I strongly believe the best resource in the classroom is a knowledgeable and dedicated teacher. That type of teacher can inspire her students with a little piece of chalk and a dirty blackboard - sometimes, even those resources are not needed. However, today's students will enter a workforce dependent upon current technologies such as computers, digital cameras, email, and voice mail. Not preparing them for this technological world would be a great injustice. 

I believe it is important to belong to a professional group of library media specialists so that we may grow by sharing ideas. This may be accomplished at the system level or at the national level by joining professional organizations and attending conferences. Listservs offer yet another means whereby media specialists may connect with one another.

I also believe professional development is vital to a library media specialist. Therefore, I stay current by reading journals and periodicals. I offer workshops and training materials for faculty members. I also get involved in the classroom; I stay informed of what the students are learning.   I believe a professional educator should be a role model for others. I co-teach lessons with classroom teachers and am available to teach model lessons that integrate technology.  I believe that while a school library media specialist need not have all the answers, he or she can help others locate, evaluate, and use information.

In order to serve the students and staff of my school, I provide a variety of services. I believe collaboration is one of the most important services I will provide. Much can be learned just by listening to the teachers. Furthermore, having a good working knowledge of the Courses of Study aids in collaboration. Collaboration should not only happen within the four walls of the school, however. As a library media specialist, I should be in somewhat of a constant state of collaboration with teachers and media specialists alike. I will collaborate with fellow media specialists in my district as well as those in professional organizations.

If a school media center is to be truly successful, I believe it should reach far beyond the room that houses the books and equipment. Every aspect of the school day can be enhanced by the services available through the library media center. Teachers should find professional development materials to aid in classroom instruction; students should find books to read for their own enjoyment as well as for instruction. For example, when it's time for the science fair, teachers may ask the library media specialist for help in locating ideas for class projects and for rubrics to score the student projects. Students may check out books of science project ideas or use the Internet to find ideas. The media center may also be the location for showcasing the winning entries. It is important that the media center be seen as an integral part of the school and not as a separate facility.

Finally, as the needs of our society change, I believe it is important that the library media center and specialist adapt with the learning environment around us. This may mean discarding the old opaque projector and purchasing a document camera. It may mean creating a media website or relying on email to communicate with parents, teachers and administrators. "Because it's always been done that way" should not be the motto of the library media center. A better maxim would be, "Let's at least try it and see if it works." 

I believe children benefit from a library media program that functions successfully in providing access to information, collaboration with teachers, and instruction in information literacy. Media specialists should always remember our mission: to help students become effective users of ideas and information. No matter what particular service we provide, the overall goal is to meet the literacy needs of children.