Objective 2.3: Respect for Diversity
Indicator: Candidates demonstrate the ability to develop a collection of reading and
information materials in print and digital formats that support the
diverse developmental, cultural, social, and linguistic needs of P-12
students and their communities.
As a New Yorker, I was raised to fully appreciate and enjoy the ‘Everything Bagel’. It’s easy to see why this is such a fan favorite, it’s got a little bit of everything in it—something for everyone. Interestingly enough, the traits of my dearest breakfast food aren’t too far off from those I admire in a library. Our schools, students, and classes are diverse, and each is unique in their own way. It therefore seems only natural that the library is a reflection of its surroundings.
Preparing a materials order was a daunting task for me. It was a true challenge in that I had to use selection tools to justify how I was to spend my budget. I poured through reviews, hoping that my titles of interest had been recognized for scholastic or literary merit. In the end, my materials order showcases 91 print and non-print sources that I determined to be of high quality. I made certain that these resources not only supplement a variety of content curricula, but also fill the need of engaging literature for leisure reading. Before this assignment, I had only been exposed to the literary and collaborative aspect of being a librarian. I now know that the selection of library resources is in fact a crucial part of this job. Although one should certainly focus on supporting content curricula with non-fiction resources, I learned that fiction texts also feature many concepts that one could link to curricular units of study. It would be my goal to communicate this to teachers in the hopes that they could incorporate fiction texts (or excerpts) into their classrooms. Not only would this help to strengthen my collaborative relationships with the staff, but it would be another way to ensure that students are reading across the disciplines. Completing a materials order ultimately helped me to see the benefit of selection tools. With a knowledge of the curricula taught throughout the school, as well as positive reviews for purchased materials, the collection will reach its full potential in serving the school community. Aside from striving to buy resources for all content areas, it is important to expose students and teachers to formats other than books. It is crucial to have students using digital resources, such as databases, as it enhances their information literacy skills. By diversifying the types of resources in the collection, I am offering students a chance to experiment and grow comfortable with technology as an information source. These encounters with multi-format resources will help prepare students to face a variety of tasks when they venture into the world outside of school. A library’s collection speaks about the type of librarian you are, and the goals that you have for your school. It is my goal to enhance students’ reading skills and guide them to see that reading is necessary for both scholarly and personal reasons. By establishing a collection that offers ‘something for everyone’, all members of the school community can feel confident in using the library to meet success. |
Artifact:
|