technology is scary

Oops I have two more video posts. These are from Sara, teacher of English, and Tracey, who is a TL but also administers a Junior School library.

Sara, like Lamb & Johnson, recognises that today's TL must be a Technologist.

THE TL IS A TECHNOLOGY LEADER

Sara is truly inspiring when it comes to technology and always seems to have great ideas which, intimidatingly, seem to materialise from cyberland onto her computer screen within a few quick taps of the keyboard. Truth be told, she's a groovy kind of geek, and I say that with a great deal of admiration. Anyway, I'm not surprised that she recognises that the TL must remain at the FOREFRONT of the technological revolution, rather than be a follower of it. She recognises that the TL must be ahead of the pack, LEADING teachers and students with their technological expertise.

The Print and the Digital

I think many prospective TL's  are a little intimidated by technology, and I include myself here. I've glanced over some of my colleagues' blogs and many of them express a love of books and all things bookish. I also love books, and part of the appeal of this course has to be the prospect of working in an environment where we are PAID to be surrounded by books ALL DAY LONG. A booklovers paradise! But I also know that this is not an entirely accurate picture of the future of libraries. The digital age is here, now. We already live alongside a generation who have never known life without the internet. To them, the idea of consulting an encylopaedia is hilarious. The immediacy and convenience of online resources has rendered more traditional forms resources outdated and archaic. Sadly, my family's Very Expensive Complete Cannon of World Book Encyclopaedias has been relegated to the dusty shelves of the holiday house along with the old furniture nobody wants. They have been superseded. And whilst we can be sentimental about them, their practical value is greatly diminished in the face of the digital giant of the online resource. Even the daily newspapers are struggling with a 24 hour new cycle. TL's need to become Digital Dynamos.

And finally, on to Tracey.

DISCOVER A PASSION FOR READING

AND A PASSION FOR FINDING INFORMATION

Tracey's role is truly multifaceted. She must manage the Junior School's collection as well as organise events and activities that promote reading and literacy in young children. The young person's library is very different to the research centre. Her role corresponds nicely to Herring's diagram entitled 'The Multi-Faceted role of the Teacher Librarian', where 11 different definition bubbles stem from the teacher Librarian bubble at the centre. Tracey seems to just about tick all the boxes.

OK, next post HAS to be more closely linked to my Academic Reading. However I hope you have enjoyed interacting with my Human Resources, and more importantly, learned something. I have. I have learned to create a blog. I have learned that slabs of text on a page can bore people silly but sites that stimulate more than one sense can be a little more engaging. They are also more fun to create. And of course I have learned HEAPS about the role of the multifaceted, multi-talented, forward thinking and inspirational, Technologist/ Information Specialist/ Media Guru otherwise known as the very humble, Teacher Librarian.

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