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On the librarian: What’s the point . . ? The Twitter conversation
@karlfisch: What’s the point of having a media specialist if they aren’t specialists in the media forms of the day?
I was nearly finished copying and pasting, figuring out how best to post Tuesday’s Twitter conversation, when I discovered that Karl Fisch (@karlfisch), who kinda started it all, already took care of that. (You likely know of Karl’s very popular and provocative videos.)
I am still not sure how best to frame this conversation on the place of the information/media specialist in today’s school.
What is clear is that a lot of smart people–people who are out there teaching, speaking, moving, and shaking–are disappointed in what they see when they see school librarians. Either we have a perception problem or we need to do some serious retooling. I’d say we have to deal with both. In a hurry.
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Being an information (or media) specialist today means being an expert in how information and media flow TODAY! It is about knowing how information and media are created and communicated. How to evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information and media in all their varied forms. It is about being able to communicate knowledge in new ways for new audiences using powerful new information and communication tools.
Forgive me if it hurts.
In my mind, if you are not an expert in new information and communication tools, you are NOT a media specialist for today.
Tuesday’s conversation happened in the open, on Twitter. We need to be aware that these conversations are happening where we cannot hear them–at conferences, at Board and cabinet meetings. We also need to make sure that our voices are heard and that we hear the voices of others in places like Twitter, where so many educational leaders and thinkers are chatting about us and many other things.
I’ve selected the remarks that resonated loudest for me. (I’ve shuffled a bit, but you can visit Karl’s post for details and context.)
What are your reponses to these remarks?
@karlfisch: What’s the point of having a media specialist if they aren’t specialists in the media forms of the day?
@sjciske I too am careful w/business analogies, but the role of media specialist now is different than it was pre-web, let alone Web 2.0
robinellis: @ddraper @karlfisch our librarians need to begin to broaden their thinking outside of books, reference databases many not ready
ddraper: @karlfisch Many of our current media specialists began the profession 25 years ago. What did social media look like in the 80’s?
ddraper: @karlfisch You know as well as I do how difficult it can be to fire someone for not performing a job they never signed up to do.
robinellis: @karlfisch @ddraper those who supervise don’t understand so who knows anyone is missing out or there is something they should so they’re not
karlfisch: @ddraper @robinellis Agree for the most part, and yet . . . why would we continue to employ media specialists that can’t/won’t do this????
ktenkely: @karlfisch Isn’t it all of our jobs as teachers/specialist in our fields to keep current? how else can we be effective as teachers?
@wardjhs Why would the social media specialist need to be the librarian? Perhaps a team (which includes those you want to train)?
karlfisch: @ddraper @robinellis Can a media specialist do their job now if they are not also a social media specialist? I’m not sure.
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About Joyce Valenza
Joyce is an Assistant Professor of Teaching at Rutgers University School of Information and Communication, a technology writer, speaker, blogger and learner. Follow her on Twitter: @joycevalenza
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