Copyright, It's All About MEA!

Copyright is literally a dirty word in some school settings. It is a commonly held belief that as long as one is not making a profit by copying intellectual property, it is not infringing on copyright or fair use laws. The fact of the matter is that ignorance is bliss. I’m not saying that the responsibility is to police or lecture school staff on the rights and wrongs of copyright infringement, but I’m also NOT saying that we should turn a blind eye.

Bishop (2007) states that “your [library] manual should include a statement noting that media center personnel uphold the U.S. copyright laws and fair use guidelines” (p. 15) but she goes on to state that media specialists should not be “copyright cops”(p. 15). Bishop also suggests that media specialists “include how copyright information is provided to users (p. 15) and ensure that any license agreement that they negotiate follow copyright law (p. 209).

I would like to suggest an acronym/slogan for teacher librarians. Copyright, it’s all about MEA.

M odel, by following copyright laws.

E ducate, maybe it’s a “fun” (ha-ha) copyright fact of the week in the staff newsletter. However you do it, slip it in like zucchini in chocolate chip muffins; good for you but subtle!

A dvocate, for adequate resources and fair-dealing rights to works so colleagues aren’t forced to disobey copyright law to provide the best possible resources for their student’s needs.

For additional information and resources (not just my blah, blah, blah opinion) check out Cynthia Peterson's blog, post titled, "Copyright or Copywrong?"

Works Cited

Bishop, K. (2007). The collection program in schools. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

Peterson, C. (2011) Copyright or copywrong? Retrieved from http://cjpeterso.edublogs.org/2010/03/06/copyright/

My New Role

A few of you may already know that I am taking a half year hiatus from my studies and library to stay at home with my daughter Piper. Born July 16, 2010, she couldn't be sweeter! So, in saying that you won't mind if I shamelessly use this blog to share some of what seems to have overtaken my life at this moment. For instance, I have been using cloth diapers recently and am always on the hunt for a deal or a giveaway if you are interested in either, check out this website!

iPods for Classrooms and School Libraries

Technology has dramatically changed the needs of today’s learners and the landscape of today’s libraries. Many libraries, such as mine, now have an online presence allowing students to access services remotely and on a 24/7 basis. So what changes are next? I believe that libraries still need to maintain a strong print collection, but I also believe that libraries need to stay on the cutting edge of technologies that support learning and achievement.

IPods made their début in October of 2001 and have been steadily increasing their uses and functionality. iPods have a strong presence in the classroom whether teachers like it or not. Why not use this technology to engage our learners?

Classrooms around North America have begun using iPods to make adaptations for learners with special needs. Teachers are also using iPods for podcasting in all subject areas increasing oral fluency and student engagement.

As more educators begin to use iPods, the resources available expand exponentially. Not only does Apple provide useful applications for K-12 educators (many for free!) but teachers are constantly finding new and exciting uses for this tool.

This tool also has exciting implications for school libraries. The iPod allows libraries to expand their collections to audiobooks. Audiobooks increase student’s access to books that may be above their reading level, books that are so popular that they can’t stay on the shelf, and librarians from the chronic overdue chase! Audiobooks automatically get returned to the library circulation server when the lending period expires. iLearn, a technology edublog, states,

“Online Audio Stories will help increase student vocabulary and improve listening comprehension skills. Students may not choose to pick up these classics in the library, but they will enjoy listening to the stories online. This is great exposure to the classics! If you have computers in your classroom, set them up as a reading/listening center that students can visit during silent reading time. Because the Online Audio Stories are free to download, these are also perfect for downloading to an iPod or MP3 player.”

A fellow blogger, Ojeda-Zapata, commented on how iPods in an elementary classroom renewed student interest in Math and Spelling activities.

Patty Blome noted in her blog that iPods are invaluable tools for providing podcasts of classroom lessons for absent students.

For further exploration of what iPods can do for your classroom or library, check out these following links:

Five ideas for using your iPod in the Classroom

iPods in the Classroom

iPod Usage in Classrooms

Rethinking Reading- Teacher Tube Video

Final Project!

This iMovie was created for my final project for EDES 545. The topic of this final project was my vision of the future of school libraries. Please be kind. It was my first attempt with iMovie!


This video was inspired by so much of my professional readings this term but none can compare to the fire that Joyce Valenza lit under me with her Manifesto For The 21st Century Librarian.
In her manifesto, she marries best practices of the 20th century with the new pedagogy of teaching in our ever-changing landscape of Web 2.0. In my time as a TL I have met other TLs that have been weighed down with ever-increasing workloads and shrinking library time and budgets. There was even a time when I (the ever-effervescent optimist) wondered if I was getting into a dying profession. Joyce's Manifesto gave me a focus, a goal to concentrate on and I will ever be in her debt. I knew that I had to pay homage to Joyce's Manifesto in my final project for this course.

Another great visionary that inspired this movie was Rolf Erikson. Rolf has 30 years experience being a media-specialist for students in k-12 and has been working as a library design consultant for the past 15 years. Like Joyce, his view of the school library is not shrinking but expanding to encompass what libraries need to be for 21st century learners. He sees libraries as "much more than a book repository; it should be the school’s information hub, an environment that supports multiple learning activities for 100 per cent of the school’s population". His focus in on using book collections and digital collections to supplement one another and having teacher-librarians as the teachers of information fluency, no matter what the medium may be.

Both Joyce and Rolf focus on the needs of the learners, one of which is the need to socialize, collaborate, and access cutting edge and quality resources while being guided by professionals equipped to teach information synthesis, analysis, and critical thinking. Both also view TLs as the "bringers" of quality information, information fluency, and 21st century pedagogy to their teachers and students.

I understand that many of you may be thinking that I am avoiding or downright ignoring the challenges that face todays education system. Believe me when I say that I am all too aware of the gap between my vision and reality in many of todays schools; but, also believe me when I say that I believe that great vision, optimism, and a squeaky wheel (that's me!) get things moving in the right direction. It's truly amazing what one LOUD (and passionate) voice can do...........