SLMS Interview

Interviewee: Kelly Fischer, Library Media Specialist at Dixie Magnet Elementary

o How can the library help me to be a better teacher? The library is full of resources that many teachers unfortunately aren't always aware of.  The professional development section is full of resources for different units, and others are available for purchase at your request!  The library is no longer just a place for books!  Books are just the beginning of an inquiry based project.

o   How can you help me teach? The sky is the limit.  I'm excited that we will be moving to a flexible schedule this year.  I am at your disposal.  I would love to plan with you, to look at your goals and see how we can work together to plan, design, teach and assess any lesson!!!

o   What resources can I use in my units this yearWe have over 10,000 books in print and a lab of 30 computers at your disposal!  I can create, or help you create Webquests or other engaging models for your students. 

o   What book sets would you recommend that I use this year? I recommend Literature Circles.  Students need to be placed in homogeneous groups and choose high interest and appropriate literature to read and discuss.  We have over 50 sets of 8-10 books in the AV room.  I can resend a list including the summary, Lexile level, and quantities to you.  I also recommend you look through the electronic ebooks to be used on the ipads/ipods.  I can also order anything you need, if it meets our curriculum standards and budget.  

o   What kinds of collaboration do you suggest we could do this year? Let's begin with the Big3 or Big6 skills.  I would love to start the students off from day 1.  We can take any broad topic or narrow skill and begin implementing the inquiry based model.  

o   Talk to me about the policies and procedures of the library.  Is there a manual?  What do you do when a parent/teacher/principal challenges a book?  Is there a form or a policy to follow? There is a manual and it is adopted by our district, as well as our school.  I can send you a link as it's quite lengthy.  It discusses our selection policy and how I handle the process of selecting high interest and relevant, curriculum supportive materials.  If a book is challenged, I ask (in accordance with the policy) that the concerned party completes the consideration form.  It asks them to read the entire work and comment on specifics as to why there is a concern. The book stays in circulation, although I would recommend a different book for the child.  A committee, comprised of the LMS, the principal, two teachers and a parent is assembled. They would have the opportunity to read the book as well, and weigh the value of the book against the concern. I would present research about the book using my approved selection materials such as Kirkus Review, Horn Book, School Library Journal, etc.  The policy and process is also lengthy.  Policies and procedures are important from checking out certain numbers of books, to length, to when students may come.  

o   What electronic resources do we have?  Are there any that students can check out?  This coming year, students will have new access to Pebble Go Databases and Brain Hive ebooks.  They will have continued access to KYVL and the many databases through it such as Grolier, Searchasaurus and more!  Tumblebooks is also a resource. 

o   How can you help my students when they come in for independent research?  I am hoping our schedule continues to allow me to work with students using the Big6 inquiry method.  I've worked hard over the past few years to do this with 4th and 5th grade, and hope through collaboration to begin even in K this year.  It's my main goal to teach students to be critical and ethical users of information.  I want them to know a variety of reliable resources to use in their search, including both print and non-print.  I also want them to evaluate multiple resources for the reliability and relevance. It doesn't stop at the research.  Once finding the information they need to know what to do with it, how to organize and create a finished product of communication with an intended audience. Sometimes its through a written report, other times it may include technology such as a podcast or online tool.