Final Class Reflection for LIBE 467
OMG! I want our Library to be there! I am always checking out others' ideas including yours! Things I want to try that I know students would love! I feel claustrophobic and anxious wanting to jump out of the work that must be done! Yet, I must surrender... at least for a while..
The last third of the course taught me about the various types of reference resources. When looking at our library I thought we had very few, until I understood what they are and where they might be found. We had some reference resources set aside like World Book Encyclopedia and World Atlases but I began to realize we had many more as the course went on and as I became more familiar with our collection. I discovered we also had encyclopedias about Dinosaurs, Ancient Times, and Animals as well as Dictionaries, and Thesauri. I just hadn't thought of them as reference resources because they were mixed into the whole collection. Handbooks, Almanacs and Yearbooks, I had't realized either were reference resources and they are some of the most popular material that circulates today, and therefore necessitate evaluation.
Beyond print reference resources, I explored parts of the Deep Web in order to understand what it is, where it is located and how information is accessed from it. I am very grateful for our digital resources and have been using them more regularly with my colleagues and students when doing research activities. By using them, I am becoming aware of shortcomings they may have and so I keep my eyes open for additional alternatives. I would like to compile a number of resources that support our learners, but struggle to find the time. I have a better but still slim understanding of the vastness of the internet and have learned some search skills that help avoid many popular sites that come up with every query. By using Millionshort.com we can avoid many hits from the indexed list of results which contain advertising in order to get at the information we are looking for.
Wikipedia is a useful tool to assist students in the beginning phases of research by offering keywords and related information to a given topic. I would like to explore the use of this more with my students so that I can help them understand it's usefulness, origin, fluid nature and it's unreliability to be used in academic research.
I experience an internal struggle wondering if what we are doing in the library is having an effect on students. At times I feel we are making headway, learning information skills and life lessons. Then suddenly, I swing in another direction and wonder if students are buying into all of this? If they are interested? If the work we are doing is relevant? Then, sometimes, out of the blue, something happens that reassures me. Some of it must be sticking!?!?! I love it when students go out of their way so say "Good Morning" to me and that tells me that they are at least making a connection with me and that's important, but I wonder if others in the same role at times feel similar.
I am glad I have most of these children for a number of years. There are so many wonderful stories that need to be told, and others that are about to be written. There are so many experiences that need to be created and relationships formed as a result. All of these things, need a place for them to happen. A place that is run by someone who is willing to say "yes, let's try it." And that is my favourite part of the job. As a result, everything gets put on hold. Important things, that I can never seem to get to.
While reading Christopher's reflection, I watched the TED talk he had posted about the role of Libraries in the 21st century that hit the nail on the head perfectly for me. “Pursuit of public happiness first, education second”. (Sandian) I really appreciated her position about being the place for trying new things and never knowing how important the space is to certain individuals. Some need it because basic needs are not being met, others find solace interacting with books and others like to socialize and make friends or take part in a club. I can certainly say no two days are the same.
Bibliography
Sandian, Pam: TEDxMileHigh What to Expect From Libraries in the 21st Century
Asselin, M., Branch, J., Oberg, D. Achieving Information Literacy: Standards for School Library Programs in Canada (38 and 47)
million short.com: What haven't you found?
A good final reflection on the last theme and our course overall. Your questions and concerns are a natural part of our role. We need to constantly wonder, as well as measure our effectiveness to make sure we are on the right track. Good connection to other students in the class and highlighting shared interests and passions. Overall, a well done final reflection.
ReplyDeleteYour summary is our primary outlook being willing to say, "Yes, let's try it" is bang on. I'm constantly saying, "Sure, I can roll with that...." Hilarious how much change and variety there is in a given week. Keeps the job fun, though.
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, some, much even, of what you/we do definitely sticks.
As you say, it's good we see the kids over a number of years because that's how we witness the growth.