Technology and collaboration fuel library initiatives
Full-day school library conference offers fresh ideas
and encouragement for administrators and librarians
 Every
two years, school library media specialists from area schools
come together to share new ideas and encouragement at the HFM
BOCES School Library System’s Administrators’ Breakfast and Best
Practices Fair. On Wednesday, Oct. 20, nearly 50 school leaders
and librarians gathered in HFM’s Conference Center to see and
hear fresh ideas on school activities, collaboration, the use of
technology, and new resources.
New York State Senator Hugh Farley, whose entire career in state
service has been marked by ardent support for library and
literacy programs, delivered the opening remarks. He referred to
libraries as “cathedrals of learning” that often receive little
attention in state budget considerations.
“During this recession and in the past, the pain has not been
shared evenly,” Senator Farley explained. “Libraries have taken
a disproportionate hit. Historically, libraries are the first to
be cut, and the last to be funded.”
He went on to explain the inequities in the state budget
process, and how he and a growing number of legislators that
support libraries have to “fight tooth and nail” to secure any
funding for libraries.
Senator Farley suggested that libraries should be considered as
a part of education funding, noting that if that had been
historically the case, libraries would be in better shape today.
He offered praise for how libraries—“working on a shoestring
budget”—are helping students hungry to prepare for their future.
“The state is facing huge budget problems next year,” Senator
Farley said, “But I pledge to redouble my efforts to support
libraries.”
Can you say “Slimpie?”
 Keynote
speaker John Brock introduced a new rubric—one that addresses
the rapid changes confronting school library systems—by
pronouncing the acronym SLMPE, or School Library Media Program
Evaluation.
Brock is an Associate in School Library Services in Education
design and Technology K-12 of the New York State Department of
Education. The new, research-based rubric he introduced stemmed
from research showing the profound affect school libraries have
on student achievement.
“The Board of Regents says we should have effective
school libraries, staffed by certified librarians, that are an
essential component of the educational program,” Mr. Brock told
the audience. “This new rubric incorporates all these goals,
asking where your library is in relation to a standard and to
other libraries, and providing insight to plan for
improvements.”
The easy-to-use, student focused rubric measures 25 “essential
element” indicators that help frame a conversation about moving
a library program forward. The 25 indicators can be aligned in
three areas: teaching for learning, building a learning
environment and empowering learning through leadership.
“This is a tool that will encourage your administrator say, ‘Now
I know how to support my library,’” Mr. Brock said.
The new rubric can be used for two-way communication, displaying
schools’ best practices and allowing librarians to
collaboratively plan how to move their programs toward
excellence.
A major component of this rubric touches on the virtual
implications of library programs. Mr. Brock talked about ongoing
conversations in and out of school, the availability of e-books
and databases, the integration of student-generated content,
social networking and information flow.
“We live in a 24/7 world,” Mr. Brock said. “We need to think of
the library, not as a place, but a program that is integrated
into the entire school community, across grade levels and
subject areas.”
SLMPE challenges school leaders to make school librarians part
of the instructional team, use the rubric as a tool to improve
the library, and to make the library an integral part of the
school’s improvement plan.
Best Practices Fair displays new ideas and fresh approaches
 The
full-day conference shifted gears as participants roamed from
table to table during the Best Practices Fair. Exhibits
displayed their colleagues’ most successful supporting
activities and materials, online resources, “how-to” strategies
to engage students and foster better collaboration with
teachers, as well as new books. Tables were loaded with
resources available from Fulton-Montgomery Community College,
Mysteries on Main Street bookstore, as well as presentations by
several area school districts.
In addition, the conference included three professional
development presentations. The workshop on Data Mentor, software
designed to provide an effective way of viewing your assessment
data, was very well attended.
Data Mentor helps educators make informed instructional
decisions using easy-to-read charts, trend summaries, videos and
recommended lesson plans, making it simpler to identify areas of
strength and weakness and to improve student learning.
Other presentations included a look at new materials and
technology from Follett, one of the nation's largest supplier of
books, reference materials, and digital resources to schools,
and a explanation of the newly reconfigured NOVEL database (New
York Online Virtual Electronic Library).
“Networking with fellow professionals is always a win-win
situation,” BOCES Library Media specialist Edie Willcox said,
“and it generates so much new enthusiasm for what we do.” |
