[Dcmosls] Update from SLS

[Charles O'Bryan]

Good afternoon,

Thanks to all who were able to attend today's CC meeting at BOCES.  The presentations were enjoyable and the "getting to know you" session through biographical information very revealing and appreciated.

We are ordering the book, Librarians as Learning Specialists by Allison Zmuda and Violet Harada for all of you.  Please take the time to read it; it may very well help to save your job.

Resources:

1) We have been defined.

AASL votes to adopt the professional title school librarian
CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) Board of Directors voted at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010, to officially adopt for the profession the title school librarian.
A recent AASL survey indicated confusion, misperceptions, and inconsistencies about various job titles in the school librarian profession. The AASL Affiliate Assembly requested that the AASL Board of Directors choose a title for its professionals that is clear to other educators, administrators, and the public, and that presents a common nomenclature for all publications and advocacy efforts.
AASL leadership reviewed the data and identified the advantages and disadvantages of the various titles. After a focused and extensive discussion, the AASL Board of Directors voted to adopt school librarian as the title which reflects the roles of the 21st-century school library professional as a leader, instructional partner, information specialist, teacher, and program administrator.
As the overarching strategic goal of AASL is to achieve universal recognition of school librarians as indispensable educational leaders, AASL will work to advance and promote the title school librarian, and will open dialog concerning stakeholders’ needs, wants, and preferences; the current realities and evolving dynamics of the professional environment; the capacity and strategic position of the association; and the ethical implications relevant to this decision.

2) Free reference source

Social Explorer Named an Outstanding Reference Source for 2010 by RUSA   by Sydney Beveridge 
http://www.socialexplorer.com/pub/home/home.aspx

The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) named Social Explorer as an Outstanding Reference Source for 2010 this week.  (RUSA is a division of the American Library Association.)

The list is compiled by a committee of RUSA members who are readers’ advisory and reference experts. They review publications and online reference resources released in the previous calendar year and present their selections at the RUSA Book and Media Awards Reception at the ALA Midwinter Meeting.
Social Explorer is the only online-only research tool featured among this year’s awardees.  Click here to read more about the selection process and the other top resources.

All for now,

Chuck



Charles O'Bryan
School Library System, Coordinator
DCMO BOCES
6678 County Road 32
Norwich, NY  13815

Tel: 607.335.1371
Fax: 607.336.6518