Joyce Valenza responded to the conversation with some very perceptive comments, as usual. She said:

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 evalute, synthesize, and ethically use information and media in all their varied forms.  It is about being able to communicate knowlege in new ways for new audiences using powerful new information and communication tools.

In my mind, if you are not an expert in new information and communication tools, you are NOT a media specialist for today.

Joyce also pointed out that the Twitter conversation took place out in the open where anyone could follow it. If these are the kinds of things people are saying in public, what are they saying in private?

What are people saying about the librarians in our district? Initiatives like 23 Things and other staff development sessions that we offer are designed to help our folks be the kind of information specialists that are required in the 21st century.

Is it making enough of a difference? How would teachers and administrators in our district answer the central question of this week’s Twitter conversation: What’s the point of having a media specialist if they aren’t specialists in the media forms of the day?

This morning’s session is called Feed, Tag, Research: Remixing for Library 2.5. I’m going to try and blog this live, so please excuse errors in spelling or awkward wording.

Before we start, I’m wondering: We’ve just started making our libraries 2.0 – what in the world is library 2.5?

Presenters for this session are:
Joyce Valenza, Cathy Nelson, Anita Beaman, Carolyn Foote, Diane Cordell, Kim Cofino (joining virtually), Judy O’Connell

There is also a wiki for this session.

Joyce:

What does School Library 2.5 look like?

The 2.5 librarian is…

the Chief Information Officers of the school who leads from the center.

has a space on everyone’s online learning space.

provides widget and gadget for databases that students cann pull into their iGoogle learning spaces.

includes information products that students create in the library collection

Builds equity by offering students access to free open source or web-based tools.

Makes students aware of creative commons and new copyright.

Leads the district in creating a web 2.0 poicy.

Cathy:

The 2.5 librarian…

Models being a 21st century learner – we’re all on the same footing now

presents information at every opportunity about the 21st century library – to parent groups, teachers, and various conferences

Carolyn:

The 2.5 librarian considers how services are marketed and gets feedback from the clients served.
The 2.5 librarian is a change agent in the school who advocates for students first because that is everyone’s mission.
The 2.5 librarian shares information with the principal all the time, but do it web 2.0 style. Find out how your principal learns and communicate in that way (podcasts, videos, blog posts, etc.) Work as a partner, not a judge. Share success stories. Think of yourself as a corporate librarian, serving the CEO of the school. Read what your principal reads. Focus on the big picture, not just the library. Create a shared vision, create action steps for yourself. Start “leaderless” groups. Make the library the center of innovation.

Diane:

The 2.5 librarian…

is an apostle of small change who opens the door to new technologies in a way that is non-threatening.

uses skills as a facilitator and co-learner to help people become comfortable with technology.

talks to teachers to find out their needs and introduces new tools at the point of need.

uses language that the learners can identify with – online journal, instead of blog for example.

only introduces a new tool when it makes the work more convenient.

should be willing to “go on the road” to work with teachers.

celebrates others’ success.

Anita:

The 2.5 librarian…

remembers that reading is important and uses technology to promote it.

helps students continue their reading journey outside of the actual book by providing web sites, blogs, myspace groups, discussion boards, etc. that have to do with a book. Put some of these sites on a sticker in the back of the book.

has links to web sites, discussion groups, etc. related to books and reading on the school library web page.

has a del.icio.us account with links to more web sites about books and authors tagged with various subjects.

provides electronic reading devices, points students to collaborative writing opportunities.

More ideas

Judy:

The 2.5 librarian…

works effectively with all kinds of information sources and literacy.

uses inanimatealice

helps students think differently about information and how to use it.

understands that people are talking to each other on the web all over the world

embraces multi-modal learning.

recognizes that technology is no longer a tool, but a part of our lives.

helps students deal with information overload

Wow – great presentation! Great ideas to think about more.