Information Services and Resources: Role of a Librarian

The Debate

An ongoing debate within school systems is whether or not school library media specialist are needed due to vast amount of information available on the internet.  

In our society today, technology has a major impact on our daily lives. We use it to communicate with one another no matter how far away or close we are, we create music and films for entertainment, use social media, and we use it to promote academics for our students, as well as a long list for other things. With the endless amount of technology at our fingertips, we have become depended on such a resource that we are bound to fail sooner or later. 

Within the classroom, technology has become an important resource in teaching our students. They can submit assignments online, research answers in class, find videos online to assist them in class, as well as, formulate and present research and projects.

Technology has become a tool to assist its user. With technology becoming more and more involved with today’s academics, students are losing the face-to-face interactions with their teachers and surrounding staff. They are losing those traditional skills that are valuable to them in learning how to do certain things, such as, how to conduct research. This is where it is important for a school library media specialist to be apart of a student’s academic career. They can provide that face-to-face interactions by providing the appropriate sites and resources for students to view and use as a tool to assist them in their task. 

With a brief overview (listed below) of what a library media specialist does throughout the school year, the concern is whether or not to keep them employed. Although technology is a crucial ascpect to academics today, the idea of it taking over is not ideal for our children's education. 

Your school library media specialist is responsible for so much more than guiding and teaching the user about the resources available. If individuals knew what was involved being a library media specialist, they may have a better understanding what a resourceful individual they are and what a valuable assett they can be to the children. The information mentioned within this post is just the tip of the iceberg in what they do.They are trained individuals who know what is needed to teach the users and how to implement such technology and resources. Attached is a link that provides such information. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsaACY1NM-k.The information within this post has been provided by K. Cassell's and U. Hiremath's book, References and Information Services: An Introduction, 3rd edition (2013).

So, what does a school library media specialist really do anyway?

Many users do not take into account what all the library media specialist goes through when assisting them. Typically, a specialist is viewed as checking in and out books and other materials, what used to be called a librarian. They do not grasp what goes on in the background or what is included in the position.

There is a process that specialists go through when assisting a user. This is called a reference interview. This process allows the specialist to consult with the user about what information the user is seeking.This can be done in many ways, not just in person. Other options include instant messages, email, chat, or video. Specialists interpret, recommend, and evaluate information and resources for users (p. 5). When doing this, there is a three step process; “establishing contact with the user, finding out the users’ need, and confirming that the answer provided is actually what was needed” (p. 15). This involves the specialist to asking open ended questions and allowing the user a moment to respond accordingly. Library media specialist are also constantly creating ways to help with user’s questions and assist them in finding information independently, such as, websites and links for “frequently asked questions” (p. 5). Again, this can be done in different formats of communication. When answering the user’s questions, the specialist categorizes the questions into three categories; reference questions, research questions, and bibliography questions. Below is a breakdown of the three categories. Reference questions typically deal with the “who,” “what,” “when,” and “where” (p. 6). Even though these questions are easily answered, this is where a specialist can take the opportunity and make a teachable moment in taking the next step(p. 6). Research questions are more detailed and have a longer answer which usually requires more resources. With more resources needed, sometimes the user’s questions become more complex. This is a moment that guidance from the specialist is critical. As the specialist investigates by asking additional questions, they are able to assist and guide the user effectively (p. 6). Bibliography questions refer to verifying the resources and information the user has already obtained and asking the appropriate questions to make sure their facts are correct (p. 6). These types of questions allow the specialist to assist the user better and more efficiently. It promotes for further investigation and the specialist explaining why certain questions are being asked and explain the process that individual user may need to go through. Although this process can be lengthy, specialist try to fulfill the user's requests in a timely manner, respecting what time they have.  

What do user's look for when seeking help from a library media specialist?

At times users do not consult with a library media specialist, thinking they can figure it out for themselves. Another reason for a reference interview is because user’s typically think when asking a question, a short answers is enough for them to continue on their own, when in fact it can lead to confusion and discouraged users (p. 15).These examples are what initiates the specialist to greet the user and complete a reference interview. 

It is not always easy for a user to approach a specialist. Marie Radford (1998) identified in her article, Library Trends, five factors that users consider when approaching a library media specialist for assistance. They include;

·         Initiation

o   Library media specialist begin the interaction by providing nonverbal communication, such as, eye contact, or verbal enforcement of asking if the user needs help.

·         Availability

o   By moving towards the user, making the contact, the specialist is letting the user know that they are available to help.

·         Proximity

o   This is when users decide who they will approach and when due to physical distance.

·         Familiarity

o   The user has been helped in the past by a specific specialist.

·         Gender

o   Users were more comfortable asking for assistance from a female library media specialist. 

Taking into account these factors and reasoning for not consulting a specialist are all the more reason for specialist to be involved within the library. 

What else?

Not only do school library media specialist assist the users in identifying and guiding them through their search, they also demonstrate skills that are necessary to 

continue through the user's research. This is referred to as information literacy or formally known as user instruction. Skills range from using the school online catalog, using print or electronic resources, conducting research within the classroom or library, and most importantly, “demonstrating how, when and why to use various reference sources in an integrated way” (p. 8). 

Evaluation of Materials and Resources

You school library media specialist is also responsible for selecting and evaluating the literature, as well as, other materials that are offered within your child’s school. This includes both print and electronic resources. Depending on how your specialist views the purpose of the library, what scope that has set for it, depends on what selections them make. When evaluating a resource, specialist have a list of things to consider; “scope, quality of content, appropriateness for the audience, format, arrangement, authority, currency, accuracy, ease of use, unique coverage, and cost” (p. 9). Specialist refer to several reference materials as well when making considerations for the library. These include professional magazines and journals, such as, Booklist’s, Library Journal, and Choice (p. 9). 

Guidance and Resources

Part of guiding users through and understanding the library is to promote the resources and materials within the school. This can be done though the school website, a school blog, newsletters, meetings with the staff, teachers, and most importantly, parents. If parents are aware of what is available for their child, what resources their child has access to, guidance to assist their child, they will be on board knowing their child is receiving face to face instruction. 

Wrapping it up

With a better understanding of what a school library media specialist does, hopefully the debate of having them within our schools will be reconsidered. Taking away a position because "it's on the internet" is not a good enough reason. Support you school, teachers, and most importantly, your child by keeping you school library media specialist aboard. They provide the guidance and teach some of the crucial skills our children need, such as problem solving, when entering the professional real world. With our children having the guidance and skills to begin an entry level position, we are supporting them and giving them a step forward into their future. Why would you want to take that away? 

Work Cited

Cassell, K., & Hiremath, U. (2013). Reference and information services: An introduction. (3rd ed., pp. 3-53). Chicago: AmericanLibrary Association