Wednesday 16 May 2012

I have finally found some time to go and look at some other cpd23 blogs and the remarkable thing that strikes me is how often everyone mentions the 'isolation' of the job and the concern that no-one else is going to be interested in what they have to say. Now I realise that often librarians are stereotyped as 'shrinking violets' but I thought we had outgrown that image a long time ago. Is it because, working in a school, we cannot be categorised easily? For most of us, we fall somewhere between Support Staff and Academic Staff (I know some are lucky enough to be fully accepted as teaching staff and I envy you!) and our jobs are rarely understood. At lunch the other day, a member of our Support Staff (of which I am also classed as one) commented how quiet the Library must be now that the public examinations have started!!!
How many times have other members of staff been surprised to hear of your library qualifications?
If there are no pupils in the Library, we must be sitting around reading books as we have nothing else to do.
I fear I should change the name of my blog to 'Rants from a school librarian' but, if nothing else, all these cpd23 blogs are helping us realise we are not alone!

Thursday 10 May 2012

I've been a school librarian for the past seven years. I love the job and the opportunities it provides. I am fortunate in that although I have a lot of support at my school, I am very much left to develop the Library as I see fit. This sometimes leads me into "why did I ever suggest this?" moments but keeping the Library fun and up to date is vital in this environment. This is why I have set off on the 23 Things - I can foresee lots of ways to use these technologies here at school.
I have often thought about starting a blog but was afraid that I wouldn't have enough time or inclination (!) to keep it updated. Hopefully the 23 Things initiative will keep me motivated!