OELMA's Future: Changes that Need YOU!

 

As a child of the sixties and seventies, music was and still is an all-consuming passion of mine.  Now as a 21^st century librarian working with digital natives, I find myself thinking of the David Bowie tune "Changes."  Some of the major themes from this popular song are about the changes young people go through and how time changes us but that we can't change time.   Change- it's everywhere- especially in politics this primary season!  OELMA's future depends on our changing with the times, too!  Through many of the new and on-going initiatives our 2008 board develops, you will see that we have strategic change in mind, and we are in the process of making those "Ch-ch-ch-Changes" to which David Bowie's song refers. 

 

Change #1: Welcome to our first online edition of OELMA News!  By distributing our newsletters electronically this year, we can reduce our carbon footprint and we remain fiscally mindful of our "bottom line," the budget!    Please do let us know your opinion of a paperless newsletter by posting it as a discussion topic on our blog.

 

Change #2:  Blog?  Yes, under the direction of Vice President Marie Sabol, we now have a blog presence! The cyber meeting space for Ohio's school library media specialists can be found at http://oelma.edublogs.org/  OELMA's blog has a fair amount of activity, but it needs YOU to keep it going. It's easy to make a comment on current topics such as AuthorPalooza, Easton as a Conference Location for 2009, Technology Wish Lists for the Classroom and more!  Just find a post that interests you and click on comments. If you'd like to add a topic/post for discussion, just submit your post via email to your regional directors and they will add it to the blog.  Get active with your ideas and opinions because a blog is a perfect conduit for us to communicate with each other!

 

Change #3:  New campaigns are in process as we seek to strengthen membership and leadership. Accent on Management responded to the 2007 board's annual evaluation by helping us create both a recruitment and retention campaign.  As a result, we have 7 new members since the January board meeting! Every new member receives a personal note from Kate Brunswick and I have followed that with a personal email as OELMA's President to say welcome. Remember that OELMA is a team effort, so if you are aware of any potential or "lapsed" members, let us know so we may contact them and make them part of the team. 

 

Change #4:  Me!  As your new President, my philosophy of leadership can be summed up by this quote from Peter Senge, "Team learning is the process of aligning and developing the capacity of a team to create the results its members desire. It builds on the discipline of developing a shared vision. It also builds on personal mastery, for talented teams are made up of talented individuals."  I consider myself a member of a talented team of library professionals. I am your coach and you are the winning team! With all of YOU- your talents, your time, your skills, OELMA can create the capacity to achieve what members want and need.  It is up to all of us to keep OELMA strong and viable in the 21^st century!  Volunteer to help with conference, step up to a new leadership level and become a regional director, or get on a worthwhile committee such as Scholarship and Awards.  Recruit a newly-minted librarian to join OELMA.  Together we become stronger and more effective to create and make meaningful change!

 

Along with change, OELMA's leaders promote continuity to keep important programs moving forward. I continue to promote initiatives begun by our Immediate Past President Vicky Schmarr.  We are still hard at work on completing the state-wide LMS survey.  Again, this survey needs YOUR input.  In order to advocate for all of Ohio's students and OELMA members who continue to lose their positions due to funding issues, we must have a complete picture of the state to make our case to legislators and policy-makers.  In today's world data is the language to which people respond!

 

Change #5: On the horizon, we seek informed change with strategic plans for a stronger, better OELMA by developing a comprehensive, long-range plan that will be revisited and measured for successful implementation.  It will be a blueprint for me and for future OELMA leaders.   By late spring the OELMA Board will have completed an intensive strategic planning weekend with Bob Harris.  At this point in the process, each board member has completed a short survey for Bob's perusal.  Our strategic planning facilitator has studied all of OELMA's important documents and has immersed himself in our history in order to help us craft the best possible plan.

 

Yes, we have undertaken strategic planning several times in the 14 years I have been an OELMA member.  Past President Joanna McNally had us plan at her conference with a professional team.  We have planned in a serendipitous manner at past Midwinter events.  Most recently former board member Pat McCauley headed this committee with great passion and commitment.  What makes this planning session new and different is that it is the sole focus of the board.  We have given it importance by not placing it in the middle of a board meeting or a conference.  So look forward to a road map that will have us heading together toward success in the future!

  

As your new vice president I would like to introduce myself. This is my 29^th year working in a school library. I have been a middle school librarian in Streetsboro and Hudson, and am now the Library Coordinator for the Hudson City Schools. I have also worked in an academic library and a public library. I have seen our profession change from a group that dealt with overhead projectors and typewriters to data projectors and computers. One thing has remained constant- the students! I received my Bachelor's Degree and my MLS from Kent State University.

 

I have two children, Kathryn 25, and Joseph 22. Kate is a librarian, and Joe is working toward being a middle school teacher. Together with my husband, they have supported me with all of my professional activities.

 

I have been an OELMA member for since 1979. I served for two years as an East Region Director. I am also a member of ALA, AASL and Delta Kappa Gamma.  As a presenter of the Evidence Based Practice Workshops, I have had the privilege to meet and interact with our members from many different school districts across the state. This has been a wonderful experience- I truly believe that all members need to participate in the EBP workshops and want to continue to provide that opportunity for our members.

 

I am excited to take on the role of Vice President and look forward to the opportunity of serving on the executive board. I encourage you to take a look at our OELMA blog at http://oelma.edublogs.org - and respond with your comments. Seeing you at our 2008 Conference in Columbus- School Libraries- Transforming Lives!

We need YOU to share your experience with OELMA colleagues! You are the transformational part of the OELMA model. How have you reinvented your library program with an eye toward the future? Show us how you've implemented these themes utilizing the Library Guidelines in your library instructional program. Tell us about instructional collaboration with teachers. Demonstrate how emerging technologies such as Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 are used to improved student learning in your building or district. Share your assessment strategies for informed library practices through your Evidence-based Practice work.  Go to https://www.tandmservices.com/oelma2008/ to submit your proposal today.  The deadline for proposal submissions is April 25. 

 

Useful and informative sessions.  A Luncheon featuring a prominent author. Networking opportunities. Dynamic speakers. Cutting-edgeproducts and services.  Door prizes. Old and new friends. These are all reasons to attend this year's OELMAConference.

 

Conference-planners are working hard to schedule authors, speakers, and information sessions for the 2008 OELMA Conference. The Conference will take place October 22-24, 2008, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio. Conference planning is in full swing, and it's not too soon for you to consider attending- or even presenting at- this year's event.

 

The theme of this year's conference is School Libraries- Transforming Lives. This theme emphasizes the ways we transform our students into life long learners, ourselves into technology gurus, our libraries into learning spaces. This year's Conference sessions will focus on the practical, hands-on implementation of the Ohio Library Standards.

 

We're excited about the plans for OELMA Conference 2008, and when you find out what's in the works, you'll be excited, too.

 

Already confirmed as speakers are Doug Johnson, Rosemary Wells and Angela Johnson. Doug Johnson is the Director of Media and Technology for the Mankato Schools in Minnesota. He is the author of numerous books and articles, and the author of The Blue Skunk Blog (http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com). Doug is a dynamic presenter who will help you to take your library program to the next level. You'll want to attend at least one of his Thursday sessions, or his preconference on Wednesday afternoon.

 

The author luncheon on Friday will be highlighted by the recognition and celebration of the 2008 OELMA awards and scholarship winners. Rosemary Wells will be the speaker at this luncheon.

 

The Exhibit Hall will be open two days, with the ribbon-cutting Thursday morning. We expect a large number of vendors showing-off the latest, cutting-edge products and services. There will be a buffet lunch on Thursday in the Exhibit Hall, so there will be no need to leave the Convention Center. You'll be able to purchase books at the Conference Bookstore. And of course- you'll want to participate in AuthorPalooza- your chance to meet our conference authors, and other authors from around the state!

 

A number of special events are also planned, alumni breakfasts and an early morning gathering for first time conference attendees.

 

The Annual Meeting will take place on Thursday morning, and the Regional Meetings will take place on Thursday afternoon. AuthorPalooza is Thursday evening, with appetizers and plenty of authors to meet.

 

Of course, the most important part of the annual Conference is the information sessions. This is your opportunity to take an active role in this learning experience. Share your ideas for transforming students into life long learners. Show us how you have encouraged your teachers to transform their classrooms into 21^st century learning environments.

 

Conference planners need your ideas. Let us know what topics you'd like to see addressed. What's needed to help you transform your library into a 21^st century library? Please use the OELMA blog to give us your feedback.

 

The OELMA conference- your chance to attend the only conference in Ohio specifically for school library media specialists. Let's not become the film in a digital camera world. It's time to transform!

Cynthia L. DuChane

I've been working with Ohio's K-12 schools since joining INFOhio's staff in 1999.  Over the past several years I have served OELMA in a variety of capacities including two terms as Central Region Director, liaison to the Executive Committee as well as serving on the budget and numerous conference planning committees.  Serving on the budget committee has provided me with a working knowledge of OELMA's financial system, our various expenses and revenue streams.  On behalf of the membership I look forward to serving as your treasurer working with the Board to ensure OELMA's continued financial stability and growth.

First off, let me introduce myself.  My name is Joe Weitz and I am the new library consultant at the Ohio Department of Education (ODE).  I am new to the Office of Curriculum and Instruction but have worked at ODE for almost five years in the superintendent's office.  I have also worked at the State Library of Ohio and the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.  I received my Master's in Library and Information Science from Kent State University where I focused in technology and management.

 

I am very excited about my new post and hope I might serve as a valuable resource to all of the library media specialists of Ohio.  I have a great deal to learn from each of you and have already seen some of the outstanding work being put forth by the excellent library media specialists of our state.  I only hope my work will meet the high standards you have set. 

 

Now, as library media specialists, each of you is continuously developing and creating methods of assisting and collaborating with teachers in the classroom.  This may take place through the selection of materials for lesson planning, providing information literacy assistance, assisting teachers with new technologies being used in the classroom, etc.  The list goes on and on.  Library media specialists must continuously brainstorm methods of collaboration with teachers and with various curriculums and programs.  I want to touch briefly on new program models for schools (in this case high schools) which are being piloted throughout the state, maybe even your own.  Hopefully, each of you will be able to formulate new methods of collaboration within these new program models. 

 

These high school program models were designed to create rich curriculum and engaging instruction in the classroom.  The curriculum and instruction are based on the academic content standards to provide assistance for teachers to reach all students.  Taken into consideration are students' personal interests, academic abilities, individual challenges and career aspirations.  There are different models being used in four different content areas: English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.  The models were selected by focus groups made up of various groups throughout the state, including the business sector and higher education.  The schools receive assistance from Project Coordination Teams (PCTs) assigned to provide technical assistance and oversight to these schools.

 

If you are able to find the time, please follow the link below, review some of the program models, and brainstorm ways school library media specialists might be able to assist teachers and administrators in the implementation of the various models.  The Ohio High School Program Models webpage will provide detail regarding what programs are being implemented, as well as background on the project as a whole.

 

Ohio High School Program Models

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID=308&ContentID=22612&Content=40841

 

I know that school library media specialists have a great deal to offer their districts and schools.  Enriching the curriculum and instruction in the classroom is a service teachers and the community must appreciate and will find valuable.  Thank you for your time and let's keep in touch. 

    

 

OELMA East is looking forward to our upcoming regional, after-school workshops.  Come alone or bring a group, but get registered right away. The cost is $20 per person for OELMA members and $25 per person for non-members. If you are not registered, do so by going to http://www.oelma.org/Professional/EastWorkshops.asp 

 

Here's the lineup: On Wednesday April 9, at Lake Middle School, Hartville, we will hear an update on Internet Safety.  On Monday May 5, we will be treated to a tour of the Marantz collection at Kent State Library, Reinberger Center, Kent.  Dr. Carolyn Brodie will be our guide.

 

Kathy and Jan have been planning for the coming school year.  During September, we will hear from Dave Stout, YA Librarian for Muskingum County Library in Zanesville.  We will also feature a YA librarian in the northeastern portion of our East territory, in November.  Additionally, we will host another Evidence Based Practice Workshop somewhere in our East Region.

 

As a reminder, we want to encourage you to pay dues that you may have forgotten to mail and complete those very important surveys. 

 

If you have any questions, ideas or requests, please email us.  We would love to hear from you.

jwarden@claymont.k12.oh.us         cybulskk@hudson.edu

We want your input!  Go to http://oelma.edublogs.org to comment/read comments about:

 

AuthorPalooza - how can we make this an event relevant to YOU?

 

Conference 2009 - how about Easton as a location?  How about Thursday-Saturday instead of Wednesday-Friday?  What authors do you want to hear?

 

What do Administrators want to know?  What do they NEED to know?

 

Technology wish list for the Classroom - what keeps classrooms effective?

 

We're making real progress in completing the LMS Survey. We've contacted librarians in two-thirds of Ohio's school districts.  That's over 400 school districts!

 

OELMA thanks Ohio library media specialists who have completed the LMS Survey.  According to President Kathy Halsey, "It's gratifying that so many have volunteered to do the survey.  We appreciate Ohio school librarians' willingness to help OELMA gather this timportant information." 

 

Although we're making significant progress, there's more work to do.  We need a completed survey for EACH district in Ohio.  Below is a listing of the 215 school districts where OELMA has not not yet lined-up a contact. 

 

Is YOUR district listed? Is a neighboring district listed?  Here's what YOU can do:

• Volunteer to complete YOUR district's survey.
• Step-up to complete LMS survey for nearby districts.
• Recruit friends & colleagues to complete LMS Survey for their districts.

Send an E-mail to OELMA's Director of Services Kate Brunswick:  kate@assnoffices.com

• Include school district's name in the E-mail, so Kate can send you an LMS survey to complete.

The survey's an easy-to-complete Excel-formatted spreadsheet.  You only have to fill-in one line of school district information and one line for each certified librarian in the district.

 

Statistics generated from the completed survey will help ALLOhio school librarians.  The completed survey will be a powerful analytic tool that will allow OELMA to correlate library programs with District report card rankings and student achievement.  We'll be able to quantify how many students are being underserved in schools without certified librarians.

Questions?  Concerns?  Contact me at this E-mail address:

 

Vicky Schmarr

OELMA Immediate Past President

schmarrv@aol.com

 

The username and password for INFOhio's Core Collection of Electronic Resources will be changing for the 2008-2009 school year. The new username/password will go live on July 1, 2008. Learn more...

The Ohio Educational Library Media Association