As I have read through each module, reading and forum posts, I am invigorated to start the new year in my role as teacher librarian. There have been many inspiring readings I have come across throughout this unit. Areas that particularly resonated with me was copyright, although, somewhat daunting. The forum activity found everyone asking questions that a relevant, Ryder (2019) really made me think ‘how do well does my school comply with copyright licensing?’.
I was immersed in Assessment 1, it allowed me to realised my own strength in resourcing and it was a practical way to exercise my skills. Assessment 2, was a challenge that I have learnt a great deal and enjoyed. It drew on my new knowledge and consolidated prior knowledge. I mentioned to a friend, policy review is ‘exciting yet exhausting, fun but time consuming.’
Collection Development Policy is a document that plays several roles in the library. Firstly, it is an advocate for the library, it tells the school community that the library is relevant in the digital age and is home to Information Literacy, reading, collections and connections to the outside world. Once the document is endorsed by executive staff the library is validated and a strong part of the vision and growth of the school. Secondly, in my current situation the library I work in facilitates teaching and learning for two schools, we refer to it as a joint facility library. While there is a lot of common ground there is also difference that the library must consider for the best interest for both schools as individuals. A collection development policy would clearly state the rationale, vision and projected future the library has to benefit both schools. The policy would ensure there is equitable and fair practice to take place. As the two schools are two different education departments the policy would need to provide some aspects that cater for the specific criteria belonging to each school. To have a collection document would ensure one school isn’t better or worse off in the planning of the collections and library. My library does not have a collection development policy, we go about our business and make decisions for the joint facility together.
I am often overwhelmed and excited at the vast array of aspects that encompass the role of the teacher librarian, it feels, sometimes like a bowl of risotto. There is more in the bowl than you thought and you cannot imagine how you will be successful in finishing it. So I plan to prioritise the areas I find most tasty and find success in completing them well before I take more from my plate. I am choosing to focus on three priorities based on this unit this year:
- Create a draft Collection Development Policy
- Promote ethical teaching and learning practices with www.smartcopying.edu.au both with my staff and students, by producing more promotional aids such as my Censorship flyer, Talbot (2019)
- Apply my Annotated Bibliography into my collaborative practices with staff, one grade at a time.
My goals but it is worth nothing if I do not share my documents with my Executive team. I have a very supportive Principal, whose understand the importance of their collaboration with teachers and presence in the school. However, I do not believe they fully comprehend the role of the TL. By drafting a collection development plan for my executive team to peruse, I am sure they will have a better understanding of how the library works, outside teaching students. The document itself is formal accountability; a promise to maintain consistency and equity and balance in the development of the collection. To have my principal endorse my policy would highlight the library as more than a place of reading and borrowing but a place of teaching and learning in the Google Age (p1 Oddone 2016).
Information Literacy, Resourcing, technology and social learning are fast expanding the teaching load of the teacher librarian (TL). Herring (2017) discusses managing print collections is second nature to TLs, the focus needs to turn to further developing virtual resources and keeping up with change (p10). TLs need to collaborate in order to be an effective curator of the future, to have that connection to technological advancements involved in the aforementioned areas. Bales (2017) expresses that connection with networks is key to being a contemporary TL (p6).
I will finish with a video that featured in my Lesson Plan Blog (Talbot 2019). This is a step in the right direction to ensure students become ethical lifelong learners through technology and social learning.
https://youtu.be/suMza6Q8J08https://youtu.be/suMza6Q8J08
References
Bales, J. (2017). Collector, Curator or Collaborator? SCIS Connections, Term 1, 100. Retrieved from https://www.scisdata.com/connections/issue-100/collector-curator-or-collaborator/
Commonsense. 2014. Copyright & Fair Use Animation . Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suMza6Q8J08&feature=youtu.be
Herring, Dr. J (2017). The Future Role of the Teacher Librarian. SCIS Connections, Term 1, 100. Retrieved from https://www.scisdata.com/connections/issue-100/the-future-role-of-the-teacher-librarian/
Oddone, K. (2016). The Importance of School Libraries in the Google Age. SCIS Connections, Term 3, 98. Retrieved from https://www.scisdata.com/connections/issue-98/the-importance-of-school-libraries-in-the-google-age
Ryder, L. (2019, January 15). Forum 4.1: Copyright Questions for Teachers and Students.[CSU ETL503 forum post]. Retrieved from https://interact2.csu.edu.au/webapps/discussionboard/do/message?action=list_messages&course_id=_32995_1&nav=discussion_board_entry&conf_id=_59376_1&forum_id=_143736_1&message_id=_2100827_1
Talbot, K. (2019 January 16). Censorship [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/kathytalbot/2019/01/16/censorship/
Talbot, K. (2019 January 13). Creative Commons Lesson Plan[Blog Post]. Retrieved from https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/kathytalbot/2019/01/13/creative-commons-lesson-plan/ https://youtu.be/suMza6Q8J08https://youtu.be/suMza6Q8J08