Comments on: Houston, We Have a Problem

By: Perusing Past Posts: A meme « “Granny Beads & Grocery Store Feet”

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:40:04 +0000

[...] Rants: This one is pretty easy. It’s my post titled Houston, We Have A Problem! It was one of the first posts I ever wrote that got good, and widespread, reviews. I talked about [...]

By: Becky

Becky — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:05:10 +0000

I loved reading this. It is what I think about on a regular basis. I wish there was a way to get the word out to everyone. Keep up the good work.

By: Cathy Hesselink

Cathy Hesselink — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:58:44 +0000

You should consider doing stand-up at our SCASL convention! Your humor brightened my day:-)
Thanks!

By: AshleyP

AshleyP — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:45:54 +0000

Hey Shannon! Well put. Especially the part about GETTING OVER YOURSELF. As my friend in the restaurant business would say when an order is called back into the kitchen “heard”.
When it comes to copyright I give teachers the handout from SDE and tell them that I am only CYA’ing and that they aren’t my laws. I usually finish with, just don’t ask me to do anything illegal.
I consider my role in my learning community to support teachers and students, and while I am not a doormat or a babysitter, I do my best to participate in and inspire the learning process.
We need to be the change we seek. Thanks for putting that so eloquently.

By: Betsy Long

Betsy Long — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:41:23 +0000

Testify, brother! I really appreciate what you have written and your wonderful way of putting it. While many of us strive to NOT be “that” librarian, I think we all need to be reminded from time to time that it is not our personal space. In truth, our space belongs to everyone and it’s never too late to exercise a little southern hospitality! As my mama always says, treat your guest like family. You better be thankful that people want to come see you!

By: Alice Yucht

Alice Yucht — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 02:08:47 +0000

Bravo! You are the 2008 version of Pogo: ‘we have seen the enemy, and it is us.’
School librarians need to remember that they were hired to be educators, not mausoleum guards.

By: Alice Yucht

Alice Yucht — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 02:05:31 +0000

Thank you for articulating the 2008 version of Pogo: we have seen the enemy, and they is us!
School librarians need to remember that the library needs to be an active and integral part of the teaching process, not merely a mausoleum of “policy-protected publications.

By: Heather Loy

Heather Loy — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:36:31 +0000

Well said. While I frequently call the library “mine,” everything in there is made to be used by the students, teachers, and community. I’d be thrilled if all the materials were utilized and not sit on shelves or in closets gathering dust.

As for not letting students check out books due to fines, I always had “good intentions” of being the proper librarian who denies students who have too many books out or high fines. However, I’m just happy they are reading and/or wanting to check out books that I overlook the fines or book limit. I’ll let the bookkeeper worry about that instead.

I don’t mind students coming to the library to “surf the web,” but I still have to abide by district policies. The IAUP basically state that non-school related activities are not allowed. I “allow” students to search for pretty much anything that interests them – all in the name for self-improvement and knowledge inquiry. Hey, they have to know how to choose the best wireless plan for them and/or find those good deals on Nikes! But I do have to follow the no email, chats, lyrics, games, etc. *sigh*

I will say I try to influence teachers and students to use information ethically (part of our jobs!) which includes copyright use. However, I don’t consider myself the copyright police, instead I recommend alternatives. If students use copyright images/music in projects, I remind them to cite their sources – while inside I’m just happy they actually turned something in! I’m an advocate for modeling the behavior I want our students to pick up. This doesn’t mean that I’m going to have a cow or go on a rampage if they use popular music at the pep rally. And I’ve been guilty of using popular music at our graduation ceremony a time or two (or three!), but that was before we started selling the videos.

The only time I worry about copyright is when it’s going to be viewed by more than just my school. The only time I worry about materials/books/equipment is if I know that Johnny or Mr. Johnny isn’t that trustworthy, but that doesn’t mean I will stop him from checking out what he needs/wants.

I figure it’s all about common sense. Just do what you feel is right for you and your school. I want students (and faculty and the community) to WANT to come to the library, not dread to come to the library.

By: Doug Johnson

Doug Johnson — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:32:40 +0000

Hi GSF,

Been enjoying your lively blog entries, and this was was especially well-done.

I share your concern that LMS are seen as counter-productive when they enforce copyright policies. I’ve promoted an alternative means of approaching this task here:

http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2008/4/11/changing-how-we-teach-copyright-pt-4-and-last.html

Keep up the excellent writing. Fun to read!

Doug

By: Leslie

Leslie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:45:51 +0000

Bravo. Amen, brother! I’m not a media specialist/librarian and our media specialist/librarian (lucky for us) isn’t one like you described, but I have witnessed the very same experiences. Never did understand their thinking. Never understood why they felt like it was their stuff and not the school’s.