Wednesday, June 27, 2012
A Library in a Day
Thanks to one of my Philadelphia librarian friends for posting this to her facebook! Check it out: the San Fran Library in a Day.
Elementary Librarians Let Go in Upper Darby
Philadelphia isn't the only school district in the region dealing with harsh budget cuts. Upper Darby announced in May that it would have to cut: "elementary art, music, and physical education classes, elementary school
librarians, and middle school language and technology classes."
Faced with criticism, the Upper Darby school board put funding back into the budget for arts and p.e. classes - but not librarians....
"None of the 10 elementary school librarians scheduled to be laid off was recalled. In all, about 25 professional staff positions are to be eliminated."
Check out the article here: Upper Darby restores some school arts cuts...
Faced with criticism, the Upper Darby school board put funding back into the budget for arts and p.e. classes - but not librarians....
"None of the 10 elementary school librarians scheduled to be laid off was recalled. In all, about 25 professional staff positions are to be eliminated."
Check out the article here: Upper Darby restores some school arts cuts...
Monday, June 25, 2012
Houston Elementary Library
I received these pictures today from a woman and her organization in Houston, Texas where the group has been working to receive donated books for the elementary students who have been without a library for years!
It looks awesome!!! Also, Library Build is totally getting cool beanbags like the ones in the bottom picture for Rowen!
Friday, June 22, 2012
Why do we need School Librarians?
This blog post serves as a sort-of follow up to my
recent post, “The Unemployed Librarian.” An important factor leading to the lay-offs of
librarians, both in schools and in public libraries, is the sentiment that
anyone who kind of, sort of, likes books, can be a librarian.
I stumbled across this blog on The Atlantic’s site: What People Don't Get About Working in a Library, illustrating 4 “myths” about library work and the common refrain: “This job requires a Master’s degree for a reason.”
Here they are (though, I’m sure, not inclusive):
The Librarian #1
"We are not mere cart pushers. This job requires a Masters degree for a reason."
"We are not mere cart pushers. This job requires a Masters degree for a reason."
The Librarian #2
"I am an aggregator, a citation machine, a curator, a
specialist."
The Librarian #3
"I am not your doormat. Make your own copies."
The Librarian #4
"I am not a babysitter for teachers' planning periods."
"I am not a babysitter for teachers' planning periods."
The biggest issue that I see, and hear, from school
librarians is #4. School librarians, IF a school has a librarian, are often
seen as indispensable teacher substitutes, asked to cover classes, set up
everyone’s computers when they have no idea how to log in to the network, etc. And,
I’ve said it before: the predicament of
schools having no librarian at all began in the 70’s and 80’s during the first
few rounds of urban school budget cuts – because – “well, teachers can teach
the kids how to read,” “why do we need librarians to just stay in the library?,”
and “the kids can just go to the library and get the books they want without
help.”
If you’ve ever worked in a school, you know those
are stupid things to say.
- They teach students how to conduct research.
- They often
teach students how to use computers.
- They help students find specific books that
will turn them into eager, life-long readers. (I know. My elementary school
librarian told me to read “Zlata’s Diary” and it set me off on a reading frenzy
about diaries and biographies.)
- They monitor the library environment and ensure
student safety.
- They keep track of books checked in, checked out, lost,
missing, ripped, torn, etc.
- They research and purchase new books based on
teacher needs, student wants, and current events.
When there’s no school librarian… these things don’t
get done.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
E-books and Tablets
Sometimes library news is few and far between, but here are some interesting updates for today!:
- Barnes and Noble just posted a loss for its fiscal fourth quarter of this year - and according to the Wall Street Journal, has been suffering from lowered sales on Nooks.
What does that mean for e-readers and books? Are people less interested in expensive e-readers and preferring "real books" again? Or, is the market tapped for people who wanted the e-reader in the first place?
- While B&N sees a drop in Nook sales, Microsoft just announced a competitor to Apple's iPad - the Surface tablet. Which, much like the iPad, I'm sure you'll be able to read and download e-books as well.
Maybe the time of the e-reader is gone, and people are more interested in the tablets and small computers that have more function... or, I'm reading too much into all of this. :)
- Barnes and Noble just posted a loss for its fiscal fourth quarter of this year - and according to the Wall Street Journal, has been suffering from lowered sales on Nooks.
What does that mean for e-readers and books? Are people less interested in expensive e-readers and preferring "real books" again? Or, is the market tapped for people who wanted the e-reader in the first place?
- While B&N sees a drop in Nook sales, Microsoft just announced a competitor to Apple's iPad - the Surface tablet. Which, much like the iPad, I'm sure you'll be able to read and download e-books as well.
Maybe the time of the e-reader is gone, and people are more interested in the tablets and small computers that have more function... or, I'm reading too much into all of this. :)
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
The Unemployed Librarian
The hunt for jobs is brutal right now - for everyone. It's on the nightly news, local news, in the local newspapers, all over CNN and Yahoo - no one can find a job.
And it's all the more infuriating when you have a Masters degree (believe me, I know) and know you have the skills to tackle just about anything, but you still aren't employable.
Now, I'm not a librarian, nor do I have a library science degree, but it seems to be a common theme that I have picked up on from the library community: librarians, certified librarians, can't find jobs.
It's not really surprising to me: Every school in Philadelphia, that's 250+ schools, used to have a librarian. Now only about 50 do. Obviously, grim prospects if you wanted to be a school librarian, and unfortunately, most urban and rural school districts haven't fared any better than Philadelphia.
One article describes the librarian's disheartening state as this:
"Regardless of prior professional experience in another discipline or some type of work experience within libraries or information agencies, the job search was lengthy for the 2010 graduates—even for those who ended up in temporary or part-time positions. Some spent three or four months landing a job only to end up unemployed again after only a couple of months when economics caught up with their employers. Respondents remarked that the job search felt interminable after being dropped back into the job market unexpectedly. Graduates also expressed frustration with potential employers who did not take time to acknowledge the receipt of résumés; the grads found not knowing worse than outright rejection. Some grads decided to delay the job search until 2012 in hopes that the job market would turn around or at least ease. The lucky ones found employment before or upon graduation. Such coups did not, however, guarantee either permanence, stability, or a professional position. "
And even more recently, is this article by a Spring 2012 library science grad who, like so many, can't find a library job.
The big question is: even when the economy turns around, will we see the unemployment rates for librarians decrease? Or will cities and school districts try to avoid hiring librarians by arguing that the internet and iphones and ipads means that librarians are outdated? (Obviously I don't think that, but cutting corners is the new big thing).
I think it's up to librarians, and schools of library science, to let us know what they can offer. Somehow they need to convince everyone else that they are as necessary as teachers in a classroom. A classroom can't run without a teacher, and a library shouldn't run without a librarian.
Let's advocate, librarians.
And it's all the more infuriating when you have a Masters degree (believe me, I know) and know you have the skills to tackle just about anything, but you still aren't employable.
Now, I'm not a librarian, nor do I have a library science degree, but it seems to be a common theme that I have picked up on from the library community: librarians, certified librarians, can't find jobs.
It's not really surprising to me: Every school in Philadelphia, that's 250+ schools, used to have a librarian. Now only about 50 do. Obviously, grim prospects if you wanted to be a school librarian, and unfortunately, most urban and rural school districts haven't fared any better than Philadelphia.
One article describes the librarian's disheartening state as this:
"Regardless of prior professional experience in another discipline or some type of work experience within libraries or information agencies, the job search was lengthy for the 2010 graduates—even for those who ended up in temporary or part-time positions. Some spent three or four months landing a job only to end up unemployed again after only a couple of months when economics caught up with their employers. Respondents remarked that the job search felt interminable after being dropped back into the job market unexpectedly. Graduates also expressed frustration with potential employers who did not take time to acknowledge the receipt of résumés; the grads found not knowing worse than outright rejection. Some grads decided to delay the job search until 2012 in hopes that the job market would turn around or at least ease. The lucky ones found employment before or upon graduation. Such coups did not, however, guarantee either permanence, stability, or a professional position. "
And even more recently, is this article by a Spring 2012 library science grad who, like so many, can't find a library job.
The big question is: even when the economy turns around, will we see the unemployment rates for librarians decrease? Or will cities and school districts try to avoid hiring librarians by arguing that the internet and iphones and ipads means that librarians are outdated? (Obviously I don't think that, but cutting corners is the new big thing).
I think it's up to librarians, and schools of library science, to let us know what they can offer. Somehow they need to convince everyone else that they are as necessary as teachers in a classroom. A classroom can't run without a teacher, and a library shouldn't run without a librarian.
Let's advocate, librarians.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Rowen Work Day!
As promised, here are some pictures of our Saturday work day! I actually forgot my camera in my haste to get out the door, but Kathy and Alicia sent me these photos that they took with their phones so everyone could still get a sense of what we got done!
We had 12 people who sorted, processed, and shelved books, and we had a team of 3 guys who took over the painting of some our last book cases!
We were able to get ALOT done, and we are so thankful to all our volunteers, and especially to the members of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church who came out to help!
We had 12 people who sorted, processed, and shelved books, and we had a team of 3 guys who took over the painting of some our last book cases!
We were able to get ALOT done, and we are so thankful to all our volunteers, and especially to the members of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church who came out to help!
 |
| A few of our college pennants on the wall! |
 |
| Sorting books |
 |
| Our book sorters in action! |
 |
| The process. |
 |
| Clarence and Juanita - too bad we can't see their faces! These two were cracking it up the whole time they shelved books! Thanks for your hard work! |
 | |||
| Books that have been half processed! But check out our awesome colorful circles in decoration! |
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Outdoor Libraries / Libraries as Art
I ran across this blog post by Colossal Art and Design with pictures of an outdoor library - in the middle of a vineyard! Sounds like heaven to me.
Check out the pictures - very cool!
And for those of you who are more practical than the rest of us: it was designed to be art, and local people in Belgium were invited to take the books for a small donation. So everyone won: fun library art, cheap books, and wine.
This got me interested though - there has to be other outdoor libraries in the world. A quick google search revealed these, enjoy!:
Detroit - locals started these outdoor spots after a few public library branches closed:
Paris: It seems its popular in one neighborhood to have outdoor book sellers. I know its not a library, but still fun.
Beijing: Okay, also a book fair, but a good picture!
Any other pictures of outdoor libraries or book fairs?
Happy Tuesday!
Check out the pictures - very cool!
And for those of you who are more practical than the rest of us: it was designed to be art, and local people in Belgium were invited to take the books for a small donation. So everyone won: fun library art, cheap books, and wine.
This got me interested though - there has to be other outdoor libraries in the world. A quick google search revealed these, enjoy!:
Detroit - locals started these outdoor spots after a few public library branches closed:
Paris: It seems its popular in one neighborhood to have outdoor book sellers. I know its not a library, but still fun.
Beijing: Okay, also a book fair, but a good picture!
Any other pictures of outdoor libraries or book fairs?
Happy Tuesday!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)