SLJ on AL and a thanks to LM_Net

For those following the discussion engendered by my open letter to the editors of American Libraries, here is the latest commentary from Brian Kenny at School Library Journal. His closing is a gem - "The reality is that by keeping school librarians out of AL, it’s really not the school folks that are losing out. It’s the rest of the library world."

I am really looking forward to the "school" bloggers article that will be forthcoming from American Libraries. I was asked to contribute to it, as were:

• Carolyn Foote 
• Rob Darrow
• Joyce Valenza
• Alice Yucht 
• Sara Kelly Johns
• Frances Harris 
• Chris Harris
• Diane Chen
  

I feel like I am missing somebody, but not sure who. Anyway, I loved the variety of voices.

_____________ 

BTW, it was a message sent to LM_Net by Peter Milbury that put me on to Kenny's SLJ editorial. In all our sound and fury about blogging and Web 2.0, I hope we don't forget the power of the original read/write forum - the listserv.

I cannot think of a single source that has had a more profound effect on my professional career than LM_Net. I often describe it as the a giant organic database than when queried taps into thousands of years of practical experience to provide the answer to questions.

I was a fairly early member of LM_Net, joining in maybe 1993 or 1994? (Earliest posting I could find was March 1994.) Soon after joining, I remember writing about a frustrating experience with the media specialists in our district - just out-and-out blasting the whole damn profession. While I meant to sleep on the message and moderate its tone before sending it out to LM_Net, my new e-mail program (Eudora) sent it automatically -  while the message and I were both still hot. I heard from angry LMS for weeks and weeks afterward.

I looked for this early post but was unable to find in in the LM_Net archives. Phooey.

 Anyway, a huge thanks  to Peter Milbury, Mike Eisenberg, and all the volunteers who keep LM_Net running. There will be a place among the stacks in library heaven for you.

Sometimes "they" actually listen!

This came in this morning's e-mail in response to a letter I sent to the editor of ALA's American Libraries (or more probably because of an eloquent posting by LM_Net's Peter Milbury):

Because you are an active blogger in the school-librarian community, the editors of American Libraries would appreciate adding your voice to the magazine's May story about media specialists who blog.
 
We hope this followup feature will rectify the omission of school-librarian voices from the March 2007 feature "Mattering in the Blogosphere."  
 
As we did in the March feature, American Libraries will compile a cross-section of responses to questions in the May 2007 print edition.  However, because I'm about to invite LM_NET subscribers to suggest questions by Monday, Mar. 26 for which they'd like to read school-librarian bloggers' replies, the actual questions will be sent to you on Tuesday, March 27, with answers to be emailed to bgoldberg@ala.org by Thursday, March 29 at 9 p.m. Central time.  We'll also need a high-resolution color photo of you (at least 300 dpi at 4 inches wide).
 
Looking forward to your help in making American Libraries' coverage of this topic more inclusive.
 
Cordially,
 
Beverly Goldberg
senior editor
American Libraries 1907-2007
Celebrating the First Hundred Years
 
American Library Association
50 E. Huron St.
Chicago, IL 60611
 
voice: 312-280-4217
fax:     312-440-0901
e-mail: bgoldberg@ala.org
 
P.S.  By the way, your letter is appearing in the April 2007 American Libraries.

 Sort of redeems by faith in human nature. So, OK, LMSs - what do you want to know about school library blogs and bloggers?
 

Vote early and often

If you are an ISTE member, you can vote now through April 13th for board members.

While I am very sure there are no bad choices among the candidates, I can personally recommend three of the nominees:

• Helen Padgett is currently on the board and is one of its most conscientious, hard-working members. She makes up for a lot of my slacking off. She is running as an Affiliate rep.
• Gordon K. Dahlby has been an active member of ISTE and all round good guy for as long as I can remember. He is also from Iowa - in and of itself a ringing endorsement. He's running as an At-Large Representative.
  
• I got to know Ferdi Serim when he was the editor of MultiMedia Schools magazine. His interest in and expertise with 21st century learning skills is exceptional (and I think he understands school libraries). He's also running as an At-Large Representative.

Please read every candidate's profile and answers to the guiding questions and VOTE. (You can vote for two at-large reps.) It doesn't take long and if your candidates don't win, you are automatically conferred the right to complain about every action that the ISTE leadership makes that you may not agree with. How great a deal is that!