Cathy Nelson’s Professional Thoughts

I skypechatted with another BLC attendee–Principal Barbara Berreda, who oversees a K-8 Parochial school in Los Angeles, California (I didn’t catch the name of her school). I had wanted to “virtually” sit through Joyce Valenza’s session, and Barbara was in the keynote skype chat this morning, so we opened our own chat once she was in Valenza’s session. Often I wonder if principals truly understand the role (or the potential of the role) of a school library media specialist. I can tell that Barabara has this vision. She said she came to learn what a good library program can look like. She confessed that her concern was that her school would not get a great instructional partner for the library because they could not pay as much–they won’t be competitive salary-wise. But I assured her there are school librarians out there who would come just for the vision alone, if she truly wants her media specialist to be a catalyst for change and integration. Barbara has already demonstrated she has a solid start in having an effective library program. Her K-8 school does NOT use the library as part of the planning rotation so teachers can collaborate in a common planning time. Read what she said recently about what she wants in her library here. She said she did not want her librarian to be considered a babysitter–her words NOT mine (although many of you know I cannot stand the thought of being a babysitter in a school! It is why I have decided to change jobs this fall!) Barabara Barreda blogs at Dare to Dream: Technology Classrom. I’m adding her to my bloglines today. I’m making a new folder in bloglines too, for administrators with vision. Thanks Barbara for letting me be a virtual participant today!