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April 1, 1997

From School Librarian to "Information Teachnician"

by Janet Murray

In the "Information Age," the media centers in school libraries play a dynamic and evolving instructional role as students learn to access, evaluate, analyze, and synthesize information from a variety of formats. Discussions of information technology frequently focus on data, hardware, and infrastructure as if these tools alone will automatically reform education and produce competent, lifelong learners. Experienced educators know that we must add an "a" to "tech"; technology in isolation ignores the "a" in "teach." School librarians have the professional training and expertise to guide information-processing learning activities -- so let's call them "information teachnicians."

School Librarians and the New World of Information

Teachers must be given professional development opportunities to learn to use new tools; they must have adequate time to explore these resources in a supportive environment with ongoing feedback and assistance. (See Training is for Dogs.)

Librarians at all levels have been exceptionally quick to recognize the potential of an electronic "library without walls." They also have been particularly proactive in identifying and analyzing issues pertaining to Internet use. The American Library Association adopted "Access to Electronic Information, Services and Networks," an interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights, in January 1996 (see Intellectual Freedom). (Also see the original presentation on which this article is based.)

Peter Milbury's list of school library home pages demonstrates the extent of school librarians' leadership in emerging electronic publication. The Librarians Information Online Network (LION), maintained by the Philadelphia School District, is an exceptional resource for K-12 librarians. ICONnect, a project sponsored by the American Association of School Librarians, offers online courses in Internet applications.

Basic Starting Points

New and novice users frequently complain that finding pertinent and relevant information is like searching for Waldo in the popular children's books! The following resources are good places to start and are broken down below by class level.

Three guides to Internet research designed particularly for K-12 users may be helpful:

1. Searching the 'Net is a series of interlinked, short pages with introductory exercises that can help students improve their electronic searching skills.
2. Info Zone: Research Skills was compiled by the Assiniboine South School Division in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
3. Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators features instructional exercises in addition to a well-organized collection of curriculum resources.

More detailed and comprehensive references for teachers and high school students can be found through:

1. Internet Searching, a compilation of guides to research and a wide variety of search engines
2. Internet Search: Tools for Searchers and Wanderers

Two university-level resources are also quite valuable:

1. Library Research: A Hypertext Guide (Cornell University)
2. Selected Internet Reference (Southern Connecticut State University Library School)

Evaluating Information

Schools' rapidly expanding access to the Internet means that school librarians are ever more important in helping teachers and students evaluate the information they retrieve. In addition to Searching the 'Net and Kathy Schrock's Critical Evaluation Surveys for students, three resources in particular can help guide teachers as they use the Internet in their classrooms:

1. Evaluating Educational Web Sites
2. Thinking Critically about World Wide Web Resources
3. Blue Web'n Learning Applications

School Librarians and Larger Issues

For librarians to redefine themselves successfully as "information teachnicians," they must keep informed about the larger issues related to using the Internet in schools. Andy Carvin's EdWeb is an excellent hypertext online "book" that explores technology and school reform. Child Safety on the Information Highway is another hypertext guide that is suitable for concerned parents.

Defining adequate acceptable use policies requires thoughtful consideration and experienced leadership. Resources to guide the successful implementation of technology in schools abound on the Internet, although, ironically, one already must have Internet access to benefit from them.

And for those librarians who find themselves suddenly on the information superhighway without adequate skills and preparation, the Internet itself can help guide their growth. The map is in the glove compartment!

E-Mail: Janet Murray
Librarian
Wilson High School
Portland, Oregon

This essay was adapted from a workshop presentation at the Texas Computer Education Association's annual conference in February 1997. Many more Internet resources are linked to the workshop page.