Redbridge International School’s Post

https://lnkd.in/gu5uVPYC I started working in libraries in 2002 as a page and Teen Volunteer Coordinator. In 2004, I went to college thinking I'd be a teacher and quickly changed majors to English, and Ancient & Medieval studies. During that time, I worked for the College's Honors program as well as Directing a small museum. I did not consider working in libraries until after college, when I landed a job in Adult Services focusing on programming. Along with event planning for adults, I provided Teen, Childrens, Genealogy, & Passport Services, Coordinated AskUsNow! Chat Services, Grants, Mentoring & Volunteer Programs, served as the Person in Charge and Trainer, became trained in Narcan Administration, plunged tiolets, rescued birds, as well as a myriad of other responsibilities! In order to become a fulltime librarian, I received my Masters in Library and Information Science with a focus on Digital Curation. To gain supervisor experience, I jumped ships to manage both small and large libraries. In this last year, I've returned to my roots in Staff Development, coordinating learning opportunities to help staff grow, to empower them and advocate on their behalf. And yet, at every stage of librarianship, vocational awe has been there. Along with impostor syndrome. Mix in some Generalized Anxiety Disorder and it's extremely difficult to discern how much work is 'enough' and how to set up healthy boundaries. This article explains vocational awe in the land of librarianship.

Monday, 4 September Periodical Pedagogies : Event! Using magazines as resources for teaching Literature in the classroom. Free! 16.45-17.30 What difference does periodical studies make to the ways in which we teach English literature in the classroom? How might we draw on the resources made available by large-scale digitisation projects to enhance our understanding of literature and its historical contexts? To what extent does reading digital magazines provide opportunities for enhancing media literacy? These are the questions we are asking in the AHRC-funded project, Liberating Histories: Women’s Movement Magazines, Media Activism and Periodical Pedagogies. #teaching #teachingenglish #literature #media #pedagogy https://lnkd.in/e9EPBqBG

This blog post has a good summary of evidence for why #studentsneedschoollibraries with qualified teacher librarians.

"Numerous studies find that students achieve improved outcomes at schools with a full time librarian. And school librarians offer the best return-on-investment available in public education. Therefore, a thorough and efficient #education should include a school librarian. Data-driven decisions about schools should include or add, not remove, school librarians." #libraries #literacy

Teaching children how to read often seems like magic. It might be, but it also requires effort and patience. This looks like a sensible starting point!Looking forward to getting a copy!

As an English language arts teacher, I cannot stress enough that words matter. In that regard, I am so disappointed in the Ohio legislature for their failure to define "obscene" while maliciously targeting reading specialists. House Bill 556, proposed by State Representative Adam Mathews, is an attack on a literate culture since the legislation is asking to charge a fifth degree felony for a vaguely defined law. So, what is obscene? Is it obscene to give children literature that involves torture, murder, sex, and illicit affairs? Then a fifth degree felony would be applied for giving out Bibles. That would also lead to a ban of mythology and Shakespeare. How about the use of profanity? Is that what we're calling obscene? Then we'll need to restrict the writing of J.D. Vance, the speeches of D. Trump, and definitely all the works from J. Chaucer to A. Weir. If this bill passes, the cost of the lawsuits that would follow for freedom of speech violations would be ridiculous, to say the least, and people who care about children would be the victims. Is it not the role of school boards and schools to judge what is appropriate? Are taxpayers voting for school funding and participating in PTOs? Community involvement is already present and involved where literature is concerned. Thus, we must ask why this law is even necessary? Why would it ever be justified in the United States of America to limit the freedom of expression when there are already valid checks and balances in place. Is my post obscene? Since "obscene" is not defined in HB 556, it is possible that I could be charged with a 5th degree felony for writing an online post, accessible to the public, against what I view as a limitation of constitutional liberties based upon the government's interpretation... sounds a little like they're channeling King George III? In my view, that is un-American and, perhaps, obscene. Article: Proposed Ohio bill would charge teachers, librarians with felonies for ‘pandering obscenity’ https://lnkd.in/ebFgPiXf

Salary information for library and information management roles in academic libraries, government departments, public libraries, and school libraries. #PublicLibraries #InformationManagement #LIScareers #AcademicLibraries #Salaries #SalaryBenchmarking

How does this statement from a facebook group I am in make you feel? "Why do Librarians not have title protection like other professions? Does your library allow people without a master’s degree in Library Science hold the title of Librarian?" Reading that hit a nerve. I've got my degree in librarianship, I went through library school, and I truly believe in the value of qualifications. I'm proud of my degree, just like my coaching certificate and I wouldn't want a coach who wasn't qualified. But here’s where it gets complicated for me. In my 25 years as a librarian, the truth is, I've hardly used anything from my degree. And yet, I’ve worked alongside incredible librarians who didn’t go the master’s degree route. Why? Some wanted to dodge the debt. Others were pushed by their families into different directions. But their passion, their drive, and their deep understanding of what it means to be a librarian have left a lasting impact. They have engaged with professional development, they have learnt what it means to improve access and they are passionate about removing barriers. This doesn’t take away from the value of academic preparation. Far from it. It’s just that being a librarian is so much more. It's about opening up access to information, fostering a love for learning, building inclusive communities, and sometimes, being that beacon of hope. We talk about qualifications as if they’re the only way to prove yourself. But the path to librarianship is as varied as we are. Those qualifications? They give us great tools and insights, sure. But they're just one way to get here. Our profession thrives on diversity, on the mix of experiences and skills we bring to the table. We need to take away barriers so our teams reflect our communities. As the world and our libraries change, we need to keep our minds open about what being a librarian means. Qualifications matter, of course. But so does how you embody the role, how you live out the values of librarianship every day. You could have all the degrees in the world and still miss the mark on what it means to truly be a librarian. Also my book is called The Kind Librarian, anybody can read it. I don't want anyone to feel they can't because they haven't got a masters and I certainly don't want anyone to think that it is ok to tell someone they can't because they don't have a degree. I’ll say it loud for those at the back: If you work in a library, you’re a librarian. You might be cataloguing, on the frontline, running programs, liaising or coordinating services, but you’re part of what makes the library tick. You're a librarian because of your role, your skills, and your commitment, not just because of a qualification. #Librarianship #BeyondDegrees #LibraryLife #InclusiveLibraries #AccessForAll #DiversityInLibraries #ProfessionalDevelopment #LibraryCommunity #TheKindLibrarian #BarrierFreeLibraries #LibraryInnovation #CommunityService #LoveForLibraries #FutureOfLibraries #ReadersWelcome

Learn how choosing highly engaging texts for students leads to greater motivation, engagement, and overall academic success. https://lnkd.in/er-SgVkM