Digital Bookends

As my oldest two children prepare for their upcoming semesters in college (one at Oklahoma State University and one at Texas Tech), I feel that I’ve been moving along with them through their education by mirroring their “levels” through my work in school libraries.   While they were growing up in the K-12 environment, I worked as a K-12 librarian, but now that they are both in college, it seems almost fitting that I’m now working in an academic library once again. 

The most interesting thing that I’m seeing (even though I’ve only been officially at work for one day), is that many of the same issues that K-12 librarians face are also evident at the academic level.  Students don’t know how to do research, teachers / professors believe that their students are smarter and know how to do research because they know how to download and morph photos on their iPhones, and there is just not enough time in the day to get everything done!  However, even with all of these issues, it’s comforting to know that the situations are the same regardless of the level of instruction and that there truly is a level of understanding among professionals, regardless of where they work.

There are some things, though, that are exciting and those are the new opportunities and promises that a new school year brings.  Even though January 1st is the beginning of a new year, I feel that it is always the beginning of a NEW school year that encourages me the most.  It’s the time to make new resolutions, new goals; a time to meet new challenges and to stretch your ideas of what is possible.  The new school year also brings new faces, new materials, new mandates, and new problems…but with those things, it’s a wonderful time to collaborate with those who have the same goals and objectives…the ones who want to make a difference and want to draw upon the strengths and ideas of others to meet the challenges that the new school year brings.

I’m excited about this new “Academic Life” and hope to be able to share some ideas, resources, and thoughts about the transition between the K-12 environment and the academic life. 

Well, to say that it hasn’t been an interesting summer would be an understatement.  To be honest, most of what has happened to me this summer wasn’t something that I went looking for first.  It found me…which is a good thing!

Before moving to Texas in 2001, I was the Assistant Professor / Curriculum Materials Librarian at Oklahoma State University.  And even though things were great for me, it was a bit more difficult for my husband who did not have a full-time teaching position in Stillwater.  Thus the reason for our move to Texas (Fort Worth to be exact)—hey, we had to pay the mortgage and put three kids through college!!  So, even though I knew I would have to give up my position at OSU, it was something that I knew I needed to do in order for my husband to have a teaching position that paid the salary that somewhat resembled what the Occupational Outlook Handbook says teachers should make.

Now, after seven years in Texas, I felt that I had a firm grasp on what my future held.  Then… I was minding my own business one afternoon in May when I received a phone call from Stillwater.  The current Curriculum Materials Librarian was retiring this summer and she was calling to basically tell me to “get back now!”  So, to make a long story (of two months) short, I applied for and was recently hired to be Assistant Professor / Curriculum Materials Librarian at Oklahoma State University beginning this fall— August 1st to be exact!

This will be an exciting transition back into the Academic world after spending the last seven years working at various levels in Texas schools.  While the experience in Texas has been a whirlwind in itself, I can see that I had been given the opportunity to have a sample of various types of instructional environments which can only increase my understanding for what many pre-service teachers (and librarians) that I will be working with at OSU may soon face. 

It’s not often that someone in education has the opportunity to truly participate at many levels and in a wide range of school libraries and programs; however, I have had that opportunity.  From large metropolitan urban school districts where individuals are lost and sometimes never found, to small districts where the Avon lady walks into the library during story time and interrupts you to ask you if you’d like the latest catalog— I’ve been there!  Having the opportunity to work in private, college-prep schools where everyone graduates to later attend an ivy league (or at least a Big 12) university to a public transitional schools for medically fragile and disabled children where parents may never see their children live long enough to even attend high school, I’ve had the opportunity to experience it here.

So what will this do for me at the Academic level?  Well, aside from being able to come back to work with a fantastic group of professionals who understand the importance of a library within the field of education and who support philosophical discussions as an opportunity to learn rather than a reason to “document a dissending idea,” I have the opportunity to truly say that I understand some of the experiences that these pre-service teachers and librarians may soon face once they graduate.  “Being in the trenches” definitely brings credibility to the profession and I understand that some things can never fully be understood unless you’ve had the chance to experience them first-hand.  Granted, I may not have experienced every possible situation, but as far as a “sampler tray of educational opportunities” are concerned, I’ve tasted a little of everything. 

My experiences may only be a sort of  ”career-shadowing” of what others live daily as they continue to work and teach in the same position and at the same school for years and years; however, I know that I spent enough time to invest myself in many of the situations and lives of students that I met.  Do I understand what is necessary in the classroom or in the library?  Yes!  Can I make a difference at the pre-service level?  I hope so!

My work begins on August 1st…and I do hope to write more as time goes by.  Everything old is new again….and it’s beginning to have the same wonderful feeling that I’ve been missing for so long!!  Stay tuned…it’s going to be a wild ride as we cross the bridge between the K-12 environment and the Academic world!

School starts in about a week and our teachers report this week for inservice training, room preparation, and brain re-adjustments after a long, forgetful summer. 

Maybe it’s just me who needs to re-adjust my brain to prepare for school.  It seemed that all summer I worked on little projects to smoothly begin the new school year and then just before school starts, the bottom dropped out and “the best laid plans of mice and men went awry!”

After an awesome introduction to materials from the Suzy Red presentation at the end of July and the Upstart Roadshow with Toni Buzzeo and Pat Miller, I had tons of ideas, plans, projects, etc., to start the new year.  Then my mother called to let me know that my father was in the hospital–the ICU ward, my college-aged son tells me that he needs to move into his apartment that weekend, and my senior 2008-daughter has failed to take care of her summer AP art project, get her yearbook photograph taken, or take her car into the repair service to have a whining belt changed (after reminding her to do these things all summer!!)  After a slow and sultry summer of mindless wanderings, my life turned upside down quickly with everything happening at once and everyone waiting and watching me to “get things going” for them.

I think it must be the “librarian leadership” thing that kicks some us into gear.  Without thinking “emotionally” about any of this (my father critically ill, my oldest son going “away from home” to college, and my daughter –who is a blonde–having a “seriously blonde summer” and forgetting to take care of business), I managed to take care of the things that I could control.

Nate is completely “moved” and loving the apartment at Oklahoma State University; Nachel has her car repaired, her photos taken, and her art project completed; and I visited my father and spoke to the nurses and doctors about his care.  Fortunately, he is doing much better but is still in the hospital.

What does all of this have to do with schools, libraries, and “back to the books?”  Well, I think it puts everything into perspective.  Even though we plan ahead, write lessons, create projects, and compile book lists, the reality is that “the people” around us are really the main reason why we are who we are and do what we do.  Those individuals in our personal lives may drive our thoughts and behaviors at home, but those individuals at school are the ones that we seldom consider when life is going well for us and a new school year begins. 

What are our students, our teachers, our parents, and our administrators facing each day that may be turning their personal lives upside down?  Is anyone there to help, to listen, to understand, or to guide?  Not everyone has a support system in place to take care of those things that twist their lives into pretzels. 

 Sometimes stepping back and watching…listening….and caring can make a difference in how our students and teachers find us and how they see us as both educators and human beings.

Starting a new school year is stressful for everyone. Facing new people, new ideas, and new schedules can easily cause individuals to become emotional, distracted, or isolated.  Being a cornerstone of support for those individuals that you see having problems with their new environments (new teachers, new students) is the first step in building a relationship of trust.  Taking the time to make one thing easier or sharing information and resources to help guide them through this difficult time will certainly remind them who they can count on when they have a problem.

Sometimes it’s great when things go smoothly and everyone is ready to start the new school year.  But not everyone has a smooth start and not everyone has their mind set for learning.  Taking the time to see the person and their problem can help to bridge the gap and bring them back to you.

 Realizing that the people are the most important reason why we do what we do should be our back-to-school lesson.

While the summer started slow and rainy, it’s ending much faster and with a bit more sun (although I’m loving the mild summer after the past few).  With all of this “lazy daze of summer” atmosphere, you’d think I’d be resting and relaxing, but it seems that I’ve managed to schedule several workshops for myself during these last few weeks just before school starts (what was I thinking??) 

Actually, I’m glad I did.  I’ve learned a lot (and I’ve started compiling even more ideas) after attending them.  Last Thursday, I went to the Library Sparks Road Show in Irving.  Toni Buzzeo, Pat Miller, and Rob Reid presented their program ideas for storytelling, music, and library programming for elementary students.  Aside from the entire Upstart /Highsmith (mini) catalog being marked down to unbelieveable prices (which eliminated much of that “heavy change”  from my wallet—and credit card), the resource ideas and suggestions really sparked some creative energy.

Toni shared some resources (and philosophies) for storytelling, Rob shared musical materials and contacts for purchasing some of the unique content that is so often hard to find, and Pat shared some interesting ideas for teaching library content while keeping students engaged in assignments related to the TEKS.  With more to carry home that I intended (and additional materials purchased once I got home….to start creating some of the unique storytelling props), I’m starting to panic that I won’t have enough time to get everything done before school starts for teachers on August 16th!

Tomorrow I’m attending the Suzy Red workshop at Region XI and hope to learn more ideas for sharing books with elementary and middle school students.  I have several of her material already, but it’s always fun to see what’s new and how I can use the state reading book lists in more ways than just a booktalk.

Finally, I have a few additional projects left to complete which will require some investigation, writing, and research.  I know that by the end of August I will be kicking myself for not enjoying the summer more, but the reality is I hate “down-time” that lasts too long.  I’m usually ready to go back to school after two weeks of any type of vacation, so I guess that makes me a work-aholic.  In the meantime, I guess I’ll follow through on my workshops and complete these project ideas to use this year.  There’s only three weeks before school starts…and then the fun really begins!!

Okay, it’s the summer…and things happen.  Things like unexpected visitors camping at your home for weeks….or library conferences…or unending rain….it all combines to make blog writing less important (or at least unable to be remembered during the waking moments when a thought might be considered important to note).

 Regardless, I am certainly guilty of “blog neglect”…although I have a thousand ideas, resources, links, and questions to ponder, I have neglected to compile my thoughts here as I should.  I plan to become much better at this as I continue developing my writing skills (which most bloggers are convinced they acquire as they continue writing on forums like this.)

Although it is late, I do plan to get back to my regular schedule this week and continue blogging the topics that I have allowed to run wild in my head over the past few weeks.  Things like:

 *  flat classroom projects

*  2.0 applications and mashups

* assessments in library instruction / programs

….and so much more. 

 Stay tuned for new links and thoughts.  I have them all saved…somewhere….safely…to share with you.