Week 8- Printing Labels is so much fun!

Last week I manually entered over 50 new titles into the Destiny catalog for the professional library. This week, Dr. Mac showed me how to print labels for each of the titles. I loved doing this! There was something SO relaxing about doing menial task like this. It was a welcome change from the hectic pace of a classroom teacher!

The first thing we did was print bar code labels. Dr. Mac uses address labels in her printer. It almost always aligns perfectly to the PDF automatically created by Destiny. Destiny offers a bar code report. Dr. Mac showed me how to run a bar code report in a variety of ways. You can search by title, date added, by fiction, nonfiction, etc. This is a great tool to have! I did this for each of the 50 + professional titles we added to the collection.

Then she showed me how to use the Dymo label maker. It comes with software that allows you type the label, change the font/size and so much more. Dr. Mac has several presets for the Dymo, including one for call number labels. You can print one at a time, or multiple copies for the same title. This is such a neat little machine!

Then I started taping the bar codes and call numbers to each book. Dr. Mac also uses clear strong book binding tape from Demco to ensure the labels stay. At first it was really tricky getting the labels to be straight and even. On really skinny spines, we had to turn the books sideways, like below. Even then, it is hard to see the author part of the call number. 

Again, while this may not seem like a week-long activity, it is very time-consuming to label all of these titles! I gained very valuable experience completing these inside hours. Processing new titles is a core responsibility of every LMS. And I actually had fun playing with the label maker!

Week 7- Manual Cataloging using Destiny

I wrote two weeks ago about my long-term project of creating a professional library in the collection! I started two weeks ago shelving what had already been cataloged. Unfortunately, there are MANY titles that have to be entered manually as well as given barcodes, call numbers and labels!

My first duty was to manually write bar code numbers in each book. Dr. Mac has a saved Excel document for bar codes not in use for manual entry. There were 50 + titles that each needed a 6 digit barcode number written on the verso page. It went against my every grain as a bibliophile to write in a book! I'm even the kind of person who will not highlight a college textbook. Dr. Mac says it is important to do this in case the bar code label ever gets removed. So even though it looks like I'm happy to do this, inside I was cringing!

Dr. Mac then showed me how to add titles to the Destiny catalog. We first search by title in other databases. Once we find a match, we verify the Dewey decimal, change the collection part to professional, and add a price if there is one listed near the ISBN. Then we manually enter each barcode number I wrote in the book. In the case of multiple copies of the same title, it was extremely easy to duplicate the copy and simply change the bar code for each entry. Here's a few of the titles I completed this week. While it was easy, this task was very time-consuming! It took each of my 4 inside hours this week to complete this task. 

I really liked using the Destiny catalog. In previous classes, I used Library World. I found Destiny to be much more user-friendly as an OPAC. It was easier to add entries that I thought it would be for our purposes. While these entries may not be perfect according to LME 506, I gained a lot of experience creating these entries. Next week, I will be printing and taping labels to the professional library collection!

Snow Days + KYSTE Conference= Dispositions (Week 6)

Two more snow days this week!! This makes a total of 17 for my district. All of these snow days have made it difficult to get all my inside hours. But at least these snow days have allowed me time to reflect on the CEBS dispositions and what I have accomplished and witnessed so far in my Practicum.

Values diversity - Willingly works with others from different ability, race, gender, or ethnic groups. Welcomes feedback and interaction with others. Listens carefully to others and respects the views of those perceived as different from self.

The student population at Zoneton Middle School is diverse in different ways than one might expect. Our school has less than 1% of ethnic diversity. However, I have seen all varieties of student abilities walk in to check out books! I have never seen a student population who love to read as much as they do. While not all kids love to read, even most of the students with reading disabilities have a book from the library by choice! I believe the ZMS library collection has really meets these students needs with a wider variety of graphic novels, magazines, and other high-interest low-Lexile titles. Dr. Mac never criticizes any child's choice of reading material. Even if they check out a magazine on WWE wrestling, at least they are reading! Meeting student interests is the highest form of valuing diversity that I could imagine.

Values collaboration. Actively seeks out and incorporates ideas of others. Takes leadership in working with others to improve the overall environment. Regularly share information and ideas.

Dr. Mac and I have a great working relationship. Already, we completed a collaborative instructional unit (See Week 3 post). We also incorporated the district technology specialist's idea for student websites. Dr. Mac also shares at least one email a day to all the staff with a resource, link, video, or lesson plan. She is a member of the KY librarian listserv and she regularly communicates with the other middle school LMS in our district. Collaboration is key to developing a network of support for the library! I hope to continue her legacy and share with teachers valuable resources in my future LMS position.

Values professionalism: Respect for school rules, policies, and norms Knows school rules and policies. Follows them consistently. Understands the purpose of regulations and respects their intent. Accepts responsibility for personally following them in patterns of dress, behavior, etc. EPSB Code of Ethics

As a current school professional, this disposition seems almost unnecessary for graduate work. There must be some interesting stories behind this requirement! I have been a member of this school for four years now and I also student taught here. Obviously, I have followed the rules and policies or else I wouldn't be here. I completely understand the necessity for professional dress and behavior. Students must recognize adults as the authority in the building. Without having proper dress and behavior, students will not respect a classroom teacher, professional, or librarian! I try my best to look nice in the library as well, even if I'm on my hands and knees shelving items!

Values professionalism: Commitment to self reflection and growth. Recognizes personal limitations and strengths and uses them to best professional advantage. Actively seeks suggestions and constructive criticism. Regularly practices critical thinking. Regularly engages in learning through self-reflection.

Reading this disposition immediately makes me think of PLCs as a current classroom teacher. PLCs are Professional Learning Communities. In this weekly team meeting, we always self-reflect on our practices and effectiveness as teachers. We work together to share tips and suggestions for improvement. Every educational professional's ultimate goal should be the success of every student. How do we know if we are meeting students' needs if we do not self-reflect on our practices? Currently, the LMS does not participate in PLCs but I believe that I should as a future LMS! How better to support the needs of our students without participating in regular professional growth opportunities?

Values professionalism: Professional responsibility. Accepts responsibility for own actions and for helping all students learning and actively seeks self-improvement. Consistently holds high expectations for the success of all students. Consistently looks to explain and remedy student lack of success by factors within the control of self

This disposition seems very similar to the previous one. The librarian at every school should not see themselves separate from the rest of the faculty. It is EVERY faculty member's job to ensure the learning of all students at high levels. In PLCs, we focus on four questions: What is it you want our students to know?  How will you know if they are learning? How will you respond when individual students do not learn?  How will you enrich and extend the learning for students who are proficient? Every teacher is responsible for consistently reflecting on these four questions. Librarians should be no exception. I fully intend on using this practice in my future position to become a truly reflective educator. 

Values professionalism: Professional development and involvement. References and makes use of professional organizations or publications. Willingly participates in professional activities or events that promote professional development.

Many teachers grumble and complain about professional development. I actually love it, no matter the topic! I would much rather be learning and broadening my horizons as an educator than just using the same tired teaching practices. This week, I got the opportunity to attend the pre-conference sessions at KYSTE 2014 at the Galt House. Since I teach, I was only able to attend one day. But that one day was JAM-PACKED with PD opportunities. I loved all the new tricks and tips to incorporating technology into every classroom lesson as well as the library. I attended 4 sessions from 10 am to 4 pm. It was an amazing day!

 

My FAVORITE session was presented by two librarians from Lexington. They work a lot with digital portfolios at the elementary and middle school levels. They shared a variety of apps, Web 2.0 tools, and software students can use for literacy or research projects. It was amazing to see such a variety of student work! We even integrated our own technology during this session using TodayMeet, a real-time presentation chatroom, so to speak. Here's the website with all of the tools they shared with us!

https://www.smore.com/5g67

I left the conference feeling so excited about BYOD and other technology integration initiatives I could start as a future LMS!