[CALIBK12] "Library" is now "Learning Center" - What do you think?

[Kevin Coots]

No matter what we are called, and the place in which we work is named, most people will still call us "Librarian", and we will still work in the "Library".
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet".
Kevin Coots
Liberty High School,
Bakersfield

________________________________
From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu [mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of mhofwriter at aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 9:35 AM
To: burchm at lompoc.k12.ca.us; jeweliannah at hotmail.com
Cc: calibk12 at listproc.sjsu.edu
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] "Library" is now "Learning Center" - What do you think?

Oh, my!  You make an excellent point.  I'd hate to think changing the name of our libraries would mean easier funding, but that might just be the reality.  Suppose it's a style over substance thing?  Well . . . maybe we can put "aka library" in small letters under the new signs.  Mary Hofmann, Merced


-----Original Message-----
From: burchm at lompoc.k12.ca.us
To: jeweli annah <jeweliannah at hotmail.com>
Cc: calibk12 at listproc.sjsu.edu
Sent: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 8:41 am
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] "Library" is now "Learning Center" - What do you think?

Hello!
I don't know that changing the nane solves all the problems, but it might be helpful.  As a "Learning Center" you may be able to ask for dollars that don't exist for a library.  Supplementary materials like audio books for visually impaired students, a reading program like AR, or more computers may come more easily to the new and improved "Learning Center."  I don't know this (of course) but it may work in your best interest.  I would certainly make sure that all of the things that are required for a "Learning Center" get ordered.
Good luck!
Mary P. Burch LMT/TL
Lompoc High School
-----calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu<mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu> wrote: -----

To: <calibk12 at listproc.sjsu.edu<mailto:calibk12 at listproc.sjsu.edu>>
From: jeweli annah <jeweliannah at hotmail.com<mailto:jeweliannah at hotmail.com>>
Sent by: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu<mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu>
Date: 12/04/2007 11:10PM
Subject: [CALIBK12] "Library" is now "Learning Center" - What do you think?



Hello Colleagues!

Shakespeare said a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, however, that being said, our school has decided to change the name of our "Library" to "Learning Center".  The goal is to reflect the fact that we now host an after-school tutoring program and are working to put a computer lab in our facility.  My tried and true customers (students who have used the library frequently ever since elementary school) are perplexed.  The few adults I have spoken to acknowledge the benefit of distancing ourselves from the connotations of a word that conjures up dusty facilities from days of yore.

I welcome this opportunity to advertise ourselves, yet wonder if we have to kill the "library" in order to showcase our modern usefulness.

As someone very new to the profession (and as the daughter of a Library Media Teacher), I feel that PR work is our most critical area of need as an organization of professionals.  We don't necessarily have the time nor the staff engage in full-blown community outreach or education, and yet, if we don't prioritize PR work we face budget and staff cuts which endanger ourselves and our customers, the next generation of students we are trying so very hard to reach.

Is renaming ourselves and our facilities the answer?  Where should our focus be?  What has worked for you and your community?

I welcome your thoughts, opinions, and musings on the topic!


Julia Hedstrom
Library Media Teacher  a.k.a. Teacher Librarian
Granite Bay High School
Granite Bay, CA 95746
jhedstrom at rjuhsd.us<mailto:jhedstrom at rjuhsd.us>


_________________________________________________________________
Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live.
http://www.windowslive.com/connect.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_Wave2_newways_112007

_______________________________________________
CALIBK12 site list
CALIBK12 at lists.sjsu.edu<mailto:CALIBK12 at lists.sjsu.edu>
http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/calibk12

For information about the Calibk12 listserve, please
visit  http://www.calibk12.net<http://www.calibk12.net/>.


_______________________________________________

CALIBK12 site list

CALIBK12 at lists.sjsu.edu<mailto:CALIBK12 at lists.sjsu.edu>

http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/calibk12



For information about the Calibk12 listserve, please

visit  http://www.calibk12.net.

O

________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail<http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/mailtour/aol/en-us/text.htm?ncid=aolcmp00050000000003>!
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.sjsu.edu/pipermail/calibk12/attachments/20071205/bb693355/attachment.html