Hi Tana,
This is an interesting topic!
1) I would say yes, although the extent to which one reads is flexible.
Familiarity can only really be gained through experience and exposure,
which will affect everything from RA, curriculum support, and collection
development
2) It's funny because I answered 'yes' to the above, but reading while on
duty gives me pause. If it is an essential part of the profession, one
would think it could be done on duty (perhaps for 10-15 mins?). However, I
have a feeling that my admins would not enjoy peeking into the library and
seeing staff reading. Also, there just always seems to be projects and
tasks that would push the reading to the back burner.
3) This seems like the best option. Ultimately, the library should be the
focal point for a culture of reading on campus. Students value
authenticity, and seeing professional staff reading and discussing books
shows them that we believe what we teach. Any staff that comes on could be
expected to engage and support that culture, and I think some level of RA
noted on the job description would be perfectly acceptable. A performance
review or contract renewal might be a good opportunity to introduce/discuss
these expectations.
Cheers,
Christiana
On Tue, Mar 6, 2018 at 8:46 AM, Perotin, Tana <tperotin@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Hello all,
I’m interested in getting your opinions on this topic.
1. Does a school librarian have the professional duty to read the
books his/her students are reading? Obviously not ALL but just keep up with
the books that your students are most interested in? I’m focused
particularly on YA fiction in my case.
1. Is it okay for the librarian to ask paraprofessional staff members
to also read YA fiction either while on duty (during quiet times in the
library) OR outside of the library?
1. Is it okay for the librarian to ask paraprofessional staff members
to at least be aware of top books of the season and read reviews and know
at least the themes, genre and general synopsis of these books?
This is primarily in the context of wishing my staff members were better
able to do reader advisories to our students. So far they show little
interest in picking up any of the YA fiction so I’m the only one that can
engage the boys in pleasure reading conversations. I’m asking your
opinions on how I could be a good manager to them while keeping the
students’ needs first priority. Or do you think RA really should just be
the Librarian’s job?
Note – the former librarian never read YA fiction and this library didn’t
have any YA fiction beyond Harry Potter when I came to work here. So there
is certainly zero expectation among staff members that they “should”
consider reading some YA.
I would appreciate any insights, short or lengthy. Thanks so much!
Tana Perotin
Director of Library and Research Services
Bellarmine College Preparatory
960 W. Hedding St.
<https://maps.google.com/?q=960+W.+Hedding+St.+%0D%0A+San+Jose,+CA+95126&entry=gmail&source=g>
San Jose, CA 95126
<https://maps.google.com/?q=960+W.+Hedding+St.+%0D%0A+San+Jose,+CA+95126&entry=gmail&source=g>
408-537-9257 <(408)%20537-9257>
www.bcp.org
