Multimedia Presentation Presentation Handouts Flyer for Parents
We've passed through the Digital Revolution and are now in the Information Age. An astonishing amount of information is available in many forms from many sources. Our options for communicating are growing rapidly. Competence with information and technology is quickly becoming essential.
The world has become a global marketplace. People all around the world compete for the same jobs. As consumers, we use goods and services from all around the world. As producers, we also compete globally.
We are in a global economic crisis. Decision-makers are faced with difficult choices. One of the recent trends is to cut funding to education. However, this approach is short-sighted. Strong communities need strong schools. Today's children are tomorrow's leaders, and we need them well-prepared to face tomorrow's challenges.
This is not the time to abandon education. In today's world, education is survival. Our children will be competing for jobs with people from all over the world.
Senator Christine Milne of Australia speaks for many concerned people around the world:
"Now is not a time to be underinvesting in the human capital."
One endangered resource near you is your school library.
School libraries significantly improve student achievement. More that 60 studies over 3 decades have shown that students perform better on tests, get better grades, and learn more in schools with well-stocked, professionally staffed school libraries.
The library media specialist is a bridge between traditional classroom learning and the complex world of the Information Age.
Don't let this valuable resource slip away.
"The library media centers are truly the 'hub' of the school. It is the one place in school where all students go at some time and the welcome mat is always out."
—Dr. Steve Wisely, Medford Oregon
From the Ontario Ministry of Education, about libraries:
"Students need the opportunity to select their own reading material at least as often as they read material selected by the teacher, and they need access to a wide variety of accessible materials. These are critical factors in ongoing reading achievement."
School libraries used to be a treasurehouse of books for pleasure and information.
The school librarian taught students how to find that perfect book.
Later, school libraries added audiovisual resources. The new media provided information and enjoyment through sound and images. Libraries began to include tapes, videotapes, and CDs.
The librarian became an expert with media as well as books.
The school librarian's job also changed. The librarian began teaching students to how to use their books, and how to choose the right resource for a student's purpose.
In the Information Age, the school library is now the school library media center. Libraries may contain many sources of print and non-print information that can be produced and accessed in many ways.
The librarian is now the library media teacher, who guides students through the complex world of media as well as books.
The Library Media Specialist is a bridge between traditional classroom learning and the Information Age.
Some of the many things students learn are computer skills, the safe use of the Internet, evaluation of the best sources of information, and different forms of communication and presentation.
The Library Media Program has expanded and now provides extensive instruction to students. Students learn to
The Library Media Teacher also supports and expands classroom learning as an instructional partner for teachers.
The Library Media Teacher is
The librarian's expertise with books and technology opens up exciting learning opportunities in the classroom as well as in the library. The Library Media Teacher is also a leader in the use of educational technology for staff and students.
Library activities focus on information literacy, but also often double up with language arts, social studies, and science standards as well.
One week of teaching might include the following lessons:
We can view examples of student work:
The school library and librarian offer a wide range of services to students, staff, and parents.
A powerful new resource is Destiny, the library management software.
Explore your school library
It is a strong foundation for literacy and for success in school.
Your school librarian is here to help.
In the current world crisis, education is survival. Our children will be competing for jobs with people from all over the world.
Here are handouts of library lessons I did this week.
These are examples of valuable instruction that HUSD students cannot afford to lose.
TK