Kim Hayward - School Library Media Portfolio Reflection 4:1

4:1 Networking with the library community

Candidates demonstrate the ability to establish connections with other libraries and to strengthen
s cooperation among library colleagues for resource sharing, networking, and facilitating access
to information. Candidates participate and collaborate as members of a social and intellectual
network of learners.
Artifacts
ISTC 789 Practicum & Portfolio in School Library Media
The edline webpage that is being designed for Deerfield Elementary School is being designed
with the help of Ms. Minton from Deerfield Elementary and Ms. Gorman from Edgewood
Middle School. In addition, before beginning the design of the webpage, I explored the existing
edline pages of various school libraries in the county for ideas. I drew particular inspiration from
William Paca/Old Post and Abingdon Elementary Schools.
ISTC 789 Practicum & Portfolio in School Library Media
I am involved in a project to coordinate the resources and knowledge of Edgewood Middle
School and the Edgewood branch of Harford County Public Library. The project will include
scavenger hunts to find important information at the public library and Edgewood Middles
library, a beat the librarian game, and information on available services. This project is
designed to strengthen cooperation between the Harford County Public Library and Edgewood
Middle School students and parents.
ISTC 601 Library Media Administration
The field study assignments completed in Library Media Administration involved speaking with
a variety of librarians, both school and public, to discuss their library media programs and how
they contributed to student success both inside and outside of public schools.
Relevance
The artifacts used for this reflection are examples of how school and public librarians share
information, resources, and best practices in order to provide the best quality information for
teachers, parents, and students in the community.
In ISTC 789, the edline page for Deerfield Elementary School aligns with standard 4:1 because it
utilizes cooperation with other librarians to use best practices in designing a school library
webpage. The edline pages that I examined contained a variety of data bases, educational
videos, on-line books, audio books, and links to informative webpages. Ms. Gorman also spoke
to me about how to make sure that the sites on the page were listed in Creative Commons and
also how to create safe video links from YouTube using a website called Safe Share. Ms. Minton
spoke to me about what she would like to see on the page to support parents and teachers in the

community and offered suggestions for databases. The cooperation with other school librarians
enabled me to better design a page that offers resources and access to information.
The Harford County Public Library night that is being planned aligns with standard 4:1 because
it is an example of networking between the public school and the public library. Students will
benefit from this collaboration because the school will bring them and their parents into the
public library through a fun event to discover the helpful resources that can be utilized. In
addition, the event will generate interest in finding out more about the school library and
introducing students to the resources available.
In ISTC 601, School Library Media, the field studies aligned with standard 4:1 because the
librarians were able to share with us the programs that they use to promote student achievement,
such as Black Eyed Susan clubs and student generated book clubs. Teaching skills and providing
resources such as citation generators and instruction on databases and technology skills is part of
every library. The elementary and secondary school librarian jobs are very different. The
secondary librarian is a resource with much more flexibility, while the elementary librarian is a
special area teacher who is responsible for teaching research skills and technology. Although
they are different, both contribute to student success by teaching skills and concepts that will be
useful across content.
Analysis
The artifacts presented in this reflection will be very helpful in informing my position as a school
librarian in either elementary or secondary education. They were practical assignments that
allowed me the opportunity to learn from veteran librarians and build on their practices.
The website building is excellent practice for my own library and will be used as a template for
the library where I teach. It includes basic information for students, parents, and staff, as well as
grade specific curation. If I work in an elementary school in the same county, I will be able to
use the same website, with some adjustments. Teachers will use the library more when it is
marketed to them as a valuable resource.
The school event at the library is a valuable tool for gaining ideas for advocacy of the school
library as well as collaboration with the public library. This is a public event that is being
promoted at the school to interest students in understanding the resources available at both
libraries and encouraging their use. It will also enable me to meet the public librarians in
Edgewood in order to form a collegial relationship.
The field studies that I conducted in ISTC 601 were useful for understanding the different roles
and responsibilities that a librarian can have depending on the school where they work. Each
librarian had a different viewpoint and offered insight and ideas that could be put to use in my
own library. In addition to what was successful, it is also helpful to learn from the mistakes of
others and use them to examine different ways of doing things.