Week Two Reading

Zmuda, A. (2007). Hitch your wagon to a mission statement. School library media activities monthly 24(1).

This article provides an excellent argument for the defense of school media centers;)

I agree with Zmuda that a clear and effective mission statement "creates strong internal accountability" and guides teachers in providing students with a "sustained focus on a handful of improvement efforts".

Is there an external push for schools to provide the means to prepare students for college and the workplace demands that students be active learners in new technology and information literacy within an inquiry based framework? Where does this external pressure come from? Do teachers, administrators, parents, colleges and/or employees demand it?

I like the idea of the library doing "the school's work" and that media specialists should consider what they do (as guided by the school's mission statement) the "heart of the school's purpose". I wonder how many media specialists feel this way? I get the feeling that many "old school" librarians are somewhat isolated and limited in their approaches to student learning simply highlighting the "autonomous practices that live in the building" and the practices that have "lived" in their libraries. I need to get out and visit some school libraries. I don't want to run and work in a library that is isolated from the work that goes on in the rest of the school. That would just be babysitting. I look forward to being the nicest person in the school and collaborate with all the teachers in my building to "engage students in work relevant to established information goals".

What media specialists wish "things were different" and what things do they wish were different? What "brutal facts" of the environment are being considered? I imagine it might budget cuts and threats to our existence- you know- little things;)

Again, it sounds like open collaboration with teachers is the key to maintain a successful (and needed) program. The media specialist as “coach” is an interesting concept. It would seem that the media specialist would be taking on a greater role in the building than has been previously typical. As principals move to more time-consuming management roles, is the media specialist the ideal choice to fill the void? It must depend on the individuals and the politics of the building. I can’t believe that every school would accept the media specialist in this role, unless instead of being a “replacement leader” the media specialist is seen as a conduit for sharing information between teachers to help guide student learning. Does not just the school, but the media center need a mission statement. A quantitative description of how the media center will help the school achieve its mission? With a clear mission and exacting this mission through collaborative efforts, the media center can be a center for learning and not just a location for “parallel play”.

Lublin, N. (2009), How to write a mission statement that isn’t dumb. Fast company.

I have been involved in a few meetings with non-profits where the intention is to create a mission statement. By saying "involved", I mean that I keep my mouth shut and wait for the meeting to be over. I would agree that most mission statements are useless and un- and any organization's mission statement could be applied to another organization.

How many employees refer to their company's mission statement for daily inspiration and direction. Mission statements (to me) are like those posters of lighthouses and sunrises espousing teamwork and cooperation- they look nice and people read them, but not many people intentionally work towards their stated goals.

Lublin's contention that most mission statements are qualitative and not quantitative resulting in lofty, ambiguous and ineffectual statements that don't directly guide the work of the organization seems accurate to me. "Concrete goals" and the BHAG seem like a great method to guide and inspire employees and volunteers in the direction an organization wants to go to meet the quantitative goals of their mission statement and make a difference.

School Libraries: What's Now, What's Next, What's Yet to Come

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/96705

Essays I'm considering:

Show, Don't Tell

Librarians are the world's coolest people