Initial+philosphy+statment-+Fall+2004

The traditional image of the librarian—hair in a bun and wire-framed glasses—has slowly changed over the years into one in which the librarian is not longer simply a means to check out a book. As advances in education, research, and technology have occurred, the role of a librarian, both in public and private settings, has also advanced. The library media specialist of today is—or should be—a center for which people can go to for information, knowledge, research, and technology. The job a library media specialist and the library media center should be one in which patrons can come to seek knowledge, information, or just pure enjoyment. It is the job of the media specialist to not only create a center in which all people feel comfortable, but also an environment that promotes several characteristics, including knowledge, research, and technology. While this may seem to massive a job, a library media specialist is in fact the center of many programs; therefore, it is imperative the he or she be trained in not only checking out a book, but the various sources in which similar and opposing information to that book may be found. In short, the librarian should be a sort of know-it-all for the patrons, or—at the very least—a helper that knows //where// to find it all. Whether a librarian is in a public or private setting, it is important that he or she knows and is aware of what is going in and around the community that he or she works. In a school setting, this community would involve knowing what curriculum the teachers are teaching so that the librarian can participate and enhance classroom lessons. In a public library the librarians should also be active in the school curriculum so that they may know how to assist students that come in. Public librarians should also be aware of activites that are going on in the city so that they can use their knowledge and sources to assist in any way possible. In an ideal community, the library media specialist would word hand-in-hand (collaboratively) with other members of the community to create the best possible learning environment for all students. Many members of a community may not be aware of what their library media specialist has to offer. It is the job of the library media specialist to make his or her voice heard so that the advancement of education can occur. As a future library media specialist, I believe that it is my job to promote what I have learned by passing my research and technological skills to others. I believe that all library media specialists have the responsibility to not only assist community members in answering their questions, but also to teach them how to discover the answers on their own.