1.25+Project+Philosophy


 * PHILOSOPHICAL BACKGROUND PROJECT - 45 points**


 * GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR WIKI/WEB PAGE:** This is the first project that you will add to your wiki/Web page. All of your future written assignments will be added to this tool and you will give us a link to your finished product on your site on Bb. Make sure that we can see your information. The wiki/Web site will act as a repository for ideas that you have collected throughout this course. If you create your document in something like a word processing or PowerPoint software make sure the information is transferred to the wiki for ease of reading. Do NOT just put a link to the Google doc, for example, on your wiki -- we want to see a nicely presented final product. As I indicated in the COURSE INFORMATION on Bb, errors of spelling, mechanics, etc. will detract from your grade. Visual presentation is important and there is an automatic 5 points added to each project that will reflect this element.

Before looking into the various tools that librarians use to select material for the library, we're going to take a leaf out of Jennifer LeGarde's book (well, really, pick ideas from her blog post) and think about this whole collection development process. As you will learn in your readings, we have moved (are moving?) from a "just-in-case" collection development to a "just-in-time" mentality. Particularly as library budgets have been slashed we have to be very targeted in what we purchase.

READ and view the Pezi that is part of this posting:
 * LeGarde, Jennifer. "Collection Development 2.0." //The Adventures of Library Girl.// 14 April 2013. Web. 11 Jan. 2014. .

Since not everyone is in a library position at this time, we can't follow all of LeGarde's suggestions but we can think about what your philosophy will be when you are in a library position. For this first week, I want you to think about what your vision is for the library program, what do you see as the mission of the library program, and finally, what are the broad goals that would like to set for your library program? As opposed to annual objectives that you would create each year, the vision and mission statements and broad goals will not change rapidly. These philosophical foundations will guide your thinking as you go through this course.

VIEW
 * Koren, Johan. “Vision, Mission, Goals and Objectives for the School Library Media Center: And What’s the Difference?” //SlideShare//. 21 Sept. 2008. Web. 2 April 2013. <[]>.

READ ABOUT WHAT A MISSION STATEMENT LOOKS LIKE
 * Matthews, Steve. “21st Century Library Strategic Plan – Mission Statement.” //21st Century Library Blog//. 8 July 2010. Web. 2 April 2013. <[]>.
 * “School Library Mission Statements.” //Resources for School Librarians.// n.d. Web. 29 March 2013. < [] >.

READ ABOUT WHAT A VISION STATEMENT LOOKS LIKE
 * “10 Things School Libraries Can Learn from the Apple Store!” //NovaNews//. 6 May 2012. Web. <[]>.
 * Pewhairangi, Sally. “1. Inspire Me With Your Vision for Libraries.” //Finding Heroes: Librarians Who Dare to Do Different.”// 19 April 2011. Web. 29 March 2013. [].
 * "Creating Your Library's Vision Statement." //Knowledge Quest//. 30 Nov. 2015. Web. < @http://knowledgequest.aasl.org/creating-librarys-vision-statement/>.

READ ABOUT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
 * “3.4.b Goals and Objectives Worksheet.” //ALA Advocacy University.”// n.d. Web. 29 March 2013. <[]>.
 * “Your Library Media Center’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. //ALA Advocacy University.// n.d. Web. 29 March 2013. <[]>.


 * A CHECKLIST OF WHAT YOUR VISION STATEMENT, MISSION STATEMENT, AND BROAD GOALS STATEMENT SHOULD LOOK LIKE **

Below are some points that you should consider in developing your statements, and goals. There is no minimum or maximum length to this assignment.

A final word – do your best to avoid clichés – “prepare students for the 21st-century” (we’re already there); “students are effective users of information” (so often used that it has lost its potency), etc.

VISION STATEMENT (Generally one sentence)
 * Represents the shared view of the library and building staff
 * Directs the program’s future; where you want to go
 * Does not refer to the status quo
 * Summarizes the media center’s philosophy into a single action statement
 * Provides a student-centered image of a preferred future
 * Provides direction because the statement tells what a successfully implemented program will look like
 * Inspires
 * ASK YOURSELF
 * What is the future of the library program?
 * How will the library program be different?
 * What will teachers and staff being doing differently?
 * What will students be doing differently?
 * Do I believe in my school’s ability to make the vision happen?
 * Is your statement so lacking in vision that it could have been written 5 years ago?

MISSION STATEMENT (Generally one short paragraph).
 * Short, sincere, and simple
 * Tells the purpose of the organization; why you exist
 * What do you hope to accomplish?
 * What is the direction of the library?
 * Establish the importance of the library program in relation to the school’s mission
 * ASK YOURSELF
 * Does the library mission statement support the school district’s mission?
 * Do the statement align to the district’s strategic plan?
 * Does it identify the audience?
 * Does it take into account the winds of change in education?
 * Does it take into account the values of the school and community?
 * How does your mission differ from one that could have been written five years ago?

LONG-TERM GOALS (Limit yourself to 3-5 goals).
 * These are broad statements of purpose
 * ** They are not measurable (how they differ from annual objectives!) **
 * They are realistic
 * The are focused as much as possible on student learning outcomes
 * They are relatively few in number because each goal can generate a number of annual objectives
 * They tell the desired outcomes of the planning process
 * ASK YOURSELF
 * How do my goals encompass the vision of what I want library services to be?
 * Will the goals still be applicable over a three-year or five-year period?
 * Are the goals based on the mission statement?
 * Are they focused on student outcomes?

OBJECTIVES For each of your long-term goals write 1-2 objectives on how you will work towards achieving each long-term goal. In the real world you would write new objectives each school year indicating how the new school year would work further toward achieving your goal.
 * ** These must be measurable quantitatively or qualitatively **
 * You describe how success will be measured
 * They are designed to solve a problem
 * You state the level of achievement anticipated and the length of time expected to achieve the objectives
 * They are an outgrowth of stated needs
 * Not all goals may be reflected in this year’s objectives
 * ASK YOURSELF
 * What student behaviors or demonstrated abilities will be measured?
 * What resources/personnel will be needed to implement your objectives?
 * Are there specific problems that you anticipate and what are the solutions to these problems?
 * How will you measure progress toward your objectives? How will you know when your objectives are met?

GRADING (45 points) Post your project to the DISCUSSION BOARD. Comment on each other's project.

In grading, I will ask the same questions that I have asked you to ask yourself. If I can reasonably see that you have followed the suggestions above then you will receive all points. Points will be deducted for significant omissions, errors of grammar, or poor presentation. I am looking for a document that is thoughtful, looks to the future, and is, above all, practical.

Vision Statement - 10 points Mission Statement - 10 points Long-Term Goals - 10 points Objectives - 10 Presentation - 5 points

Here are some comments I made to the last class about this assignment.

Lots of you listed as part your long-term goals the collaboration of the librarian with the classroom teachers. There certainly is some reason to consider this as worthy of being included in the vision statement. So often librarians want to collaboration with teachers but find it very difficult to do so — for a variety of reasons. It certainly would be a worthwhile vision that sees the librarian integrated with the development of class assignments, a participant in the execution of the assignment as well as a vital part of the evaluation of the assignment. That is a worthwhile goal that could be directly to the vision of what you see the librarian’s role to be.

Regarding the vision statement. Keep in mind this is what you want your facility and program to be. It is not what it is now and so often what you described in your vision statement was exactly what is happening now — at least to some degree. There wasn’t a clear exposition of how your library would be challenged or different should it meet its vision. Too often, your statement was a restatement of what the library program is at the current time. Perhaps it would be helpful to write your vision in the future tense to make it clear that you are looking to the future.

Something else to think about in your goals are the students own ability to produce information. Most of you got the technology part well enough but once the students have the technology skills how do we demonstrate that they can use it effectively? One way is to make sure that we equipment our students with the ability to not only be familiar with technology but they can use it effectively.