Final Post

The original intent of this blog was to chronicle a year in the life of an SLS director. Well, a year has passed and the SLS at Capital Region BOCES continues on with the mission – sharing resources. That’s what it’s all about. What started with interlibrary loan and grew into consortia purchasing and staff development has morphed even more broadly. A School Library System is really all about building community.
The schools and the people in our region are as diverse as any can be. Each has different needs and resources. Being part of a system helps each library media specialist learn:
1. that they are not alone.
2. that they have a multitude of resources at their fingertips just for the asking.
3. that everyone, no matter how small or large, has needs to be met and also has something to offer.
4. that they can best meet the needs of their local learning community by participating fully in the network that the SLS can bring to them.

This year we implemented the curriculum, worked with librarians and teachers to delve into inquiry based learning and stayed on top of things with our Tech Camps. 2008 will bring more of the same at a “stepped up” level.

More importantly it has been a joy to watch our library media specialists grow and learn together. Some of our most reliable and consistent librarians moved smoothly into the life of retirement. That allowed us to meet some fresh and energetic new folks with a whole different set of skills and expectations.
We celebrated when one of our own, Joanne Shawhan, was selected for a position at the State Education Department. We wept together when our Micki Nevett passed away abruptly, her work in the world of children’s literature unfinished and her school bereft.
We are a professional community- learning and growing together.
If you wish to consider the role of SLS director as a part of your own career path, you must know and abide by the Commissioner’s Regulations. But you must know more than that. You must know that you are in a leadership role where you can make a difference for students through that most important program – their school library. And the way you do that is by building and fostering community among the librarians, administrators and teachers that you work with.
As with all library work – this position is not about the books or the information. It’s all about the people. Those who figure that out soonest will be the most successful in the profession and the happiest in their jobs.
I love my job – but only because I love the people I work with. It’s that simple and that complicated.
Happy 2008!

Micki Nevett

The sad fact, when you are in the people business, is that people die. And when they go, they leave a hole in your life that cannot be filled.

Yesterday we learned of the passing of the library media specialist at Westmere Elementary School (Guilderland Schools), Micki Nevett. Micki was just so much more than words can describe. I will miss her smarts, her boldness and her wit. I will miss her giggle! I will miss her friendship. So young, so vital, so much to give – Micki’s passing is just not fair. It’s not fair to her family who loved her so, to the students in her school who adored her – nor to the many, many people who called her “friend”. Like me.
Not a good day.

Thanksgiving Thursday

Here are some of the things I am thankful for:
I’m thankful for a day off to spend with family.
I’m thankful for all of the wonderful librarians and teachers that I get to work with.
I’m thankful for my colleagues across the state and in my own organization.
I’m thankful for collaborators like Mary Ratzer and Anne Sayers who work with me to expand the vision.
I’m thankful for my supervisor who supports my work and lets me go at it!
I’m thankful for a supportive husband and family.
I’m thankful for meaningful work. It provides therapy, relationships and just plain joy.
I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Tech Campers October 26

What a group of Tech Campers we had this October!
Rensselaerville Institute is as lovely in the fall as any other time of year. Great friends, great food and great trainers! What a dynamic combination. When we left Tech Camp our heads were spinning with new vocabulary – blogs, wikis, nings and tags! But we had a wonderful time and accomplished a lot!
We even Skyped Suzanne’s daughter in Las Vegas.
And there was ice cream!
THIS is what it’s all about!

SLSA @ NYLA

The School Library Systems Association is an organization made up of all (or at least most) of the SLS directors across the state. It has been my honor to serve the organization this past year as President.

On October 17, I was also happy to pass the gavel to Elizabeth Naylor-Gutierrez, one of the New York City SLS directors as she takes on the role of SLSA president.

Bethlehem Tech Camp

September is a crazy busy time and this year was no exception. So busy that here it is well into October and I’m just getting around to posting this.

Bethlehem Central Schools holds Saturday morning Tech Camps for their teachers. Teachers can come to learn to use a new tool or refine their skills on something they want to know better. I was please to be offered a chance to do some WebMax training on a lovely Saturday in September.
How do you like my hat???

Bog River Falls

Because, sometimes, you just gotta get out of town!
This is Bog River Falls in Tupper Lake, NY.
Beautiful! Relaxing!
And no where close to the office!

Library 2.0 Tech Camp

Library 2.0 Tech Camp at the Renneslaerville Institute was really about two things – helping library media specialists learn to build and manage online learning and communication using the latest online networking tools AND some real face-time networking time in a relaxed and pleasant environment outside the walls of any school.
Those two goals were met in a big way last week as 22 media specialists met in the park-like setting of the Institute for two full days. Our facilitator and instructor, Poly Farrington of PAFA Associates, helped us work through the development and uses of blogs, wikis, tagging and nings.
Now you can see the library 2.0 Tech Camp ning at http://librarytechcamp.ning.com
But you can’t join – not till you’ve completed the “Tech Camp” experience.
Discussions are under way to run another of these sessions where librarians gain important skills AND meet new professional friends!

Library 2.0 Tech Camp Planning Committee

One week to Library 2.0 Tech Camp at the Rensselaerville Institute and things are falling into place. Here, I work with Polly Farrington and Ken Petersen to put the finishing touches on the agenda.

I’m very excited after today’s meeting. These two presenters have so much to offer and offer so much so willingly! I know that the people who participate are going to have some fun and learn important new skills at the same time.

Planning quality, relevant professional growth opportunities for such a great variety of librarians in so many unique situations is a real challenge but a critical role of the SLS.

You really can’t do it without a strong network of people that you can call on the share their expertise.

The Summer 2007 staff development for Capital Region librarians is just beginning!

Happy New Year!

January 1 is just a holiday. In BOCES World, July 1 is New Year’s Day as we roll over the fiscal calendar. So the last week of June and the first weeks of July are busy, busy. Completing end of the year reports, setting up budgets and purchase orders to purchase goods and services in the new fiscal year, completing contracts and finalizing requests from schools.
Here’s a picture of the top of my desk this morning. You can see that it’s all about the paperwork! Nothing like forms in triplicate to remind you that you are just a cog in a vast and ever-moving wheel!
Still, it all needs to be done so that you can go back to concentrating on your program – which is why you took this job in the first place, right?
So it’s all paperwork all the time this week and next.
Happy New Year!