Credential Connection
Newsletter
Oct., 2001
Interdisciplinary Studies MA in School Librarianship
Opens Doors
This falllibrary media teacher credential students are now applying for anInterdisciplinary Studies MA in School Librarianship. This option allows credential candidates to earn their master’s degree by completing the requirements for the LMT services credential and taking LI 500 Foundations ofInformation, two research methods courses, and a thesis or directed research and comprehensive examination. The best time to apply for the master’s optionis at the beginning of the program since the interdisciplinary studies programnormally transfers a maximum of nine credits. If interested, contact Dr. Farmerand the Interdisciplinary Studies Program Web site: http://www.csulb.edu/programs/lmt.
The Masterof Arts in Education, Option in School Librarianship, is still being reviewedat the college level. The need for LMTs is great! In California the ratio ofLMTs to students is 1 to 6058 – as compared to the nation average of 1 to 884.Letters of support should be addressed to: Dean Jean Houck, College ofEducation, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach CA 90840-2201.
LI 500 Foundations of Information is the newest
course in the LMT program. It will be offered Fall 2002 for the first time.
Thecourse explores the role of information and information technology inorganizations
and society. Topics include societal needs and demands, sociologyof knowledge
and science, exploration of diffusion of knowledge and technology,information
seeking and use, information and culture, and technology andculture. This
course may be used to satisfy professional growth plans as wellas to broaden
the knowledge base of library and information science.
Studentsare learning cataloging from Betty Vandivier in San Diego and basicreference from Judy Cohn in Northridge so students in these geographicareas to pursue their credentials largely off campus.
Last summer students could chooseto learn about materials and information in secondary grades (AKA YA lit)face-to-face with Joyce Roth or completely online with Dr.Farmer. About the same number took each version, and were satisfied with theresults – and all worked very hard!
The course schedule now alternatescourses between Long Beach and outlying areas as follows:
Spring2002:
LI 570 Technologies Long Beach and San Diego
Feb. 2, 23; Mar. 9; Apr. 6, 20; May 4
An additional section at Long Beach on Feb. 9; Mar. 2, 16;Apr. 13, 27; May 18.
LI 550 Management Northridge
Feb. 9; Mar. 2, 16; Apr. 13, 27; May 18.
Summer2002:
LI 530A Children’s
Literature Long
Beach
June15, 22; July 6, 13, 27; Aug. 3
LI530B Young Adult Literature online
Fall2002:
LI 500 Foundations of Information Long Beach
LI 540 Cataloging Long Beach and Northridge
LI 510 Selection San Diego
Spring2003:
LI 550 Management Long Beach and San Diego
LI 570 Technologies Northridge
Reference Explores Interface
Thisfall’s Basic Reference course (LI 520) is delivered two ways: face-to-face witheither her or Judy Cohn, and online. The “onliners” do the class activities intheir school settings and post their experiences on the online coursediscussion forum so they can share their insights with the rest of the class.Simultaneously, Dr. Farmer is developing a 15-module online version of thecourse to be offered by extension services and potentially other libraryschools. This latter effort is part of a national consortium of library educatorswho are trying to develop courses that reflect best practice and pedagogy.
CSLAconference in Long Beach
Nov. 14-18:
American Association of School Librarians conference in Indianapolis
Dec. 15:
End of semester; sign up for educational leave in spring
Feb. 2:
OCCUE Technology Festival; first day of LI570 Technologies
Feb. 9:
First day of LI 550 Management and LI570 Technologies
Mar. 1:
Deadline for fall acceptance
May 9-11:
CUE Anaheim
June 15:
Start of LI 530A Children’s Literature
Welcometo the newest LMT credential candidates: Vida Bahremand,
Caitlin Casement,Tom Clickner, Renate DeRuiter, James Duke, Dale Futoran-Olson,
KarenGonzales, Sandra Gonzales, Adalgisa Grazziani, Deanna Guzman, Laurie
Keough, EdLevin, Marc McPhee, Terry Tanori, and Erin Wilson.
The biggestLMT group in the program’s history completed their
field experience lastsummer: Maureen Aschoff, Susan Baranish-Grady, Marsha
Davies, ShannonDonnelly Curtis, Darlene Dunn, Linda Guthrie, Jack Hobusch
(continuing witha master’s), Joan Kramer, Molly Mailloux, Beth
Matustik, Roxanna Ross, AliceStasiak, and Linda Zamojski.
LMTand Program Advisory Board member par excellence Dale Buboltz isn’tretired – he’s just onto a new not-yet-determined career. Maybe it’s the three LMT candidatesdoing field experience with Dale last summer that did the trick. One of them, SusanBaranich-Grady, has Dale’s job now. Big feet and heart to fill, butFoshay’s students will continue to be well-served. Hats off to Dale for hiscontinuous model work.
LMT candidate
Sanna Goinswas awarded CSLA’s new Blanchard scholarship.
LMT candidate Suzanne Osman’sclass were the “live” participants in October’s “Reading Club of the Air”discussion on KPCC. They talked with Kitty Felde and Shabuma authorSuzanne Staples. What a treat!
LMT candidate Helen Cox andher school library at Lindbergh Middle School were featured in VOYA’s April2001 issue, showing pro-active library service. Great PR for everyone!
Dr. Farmer Spreads
theWord
In August,Dr. Farmer presented a paper on “Information Literacy
as a Whole School ReformEffort” for the International Federation of
Library Associations conference inBoston. She also keynoted at the Missouri
Association of School Librariansconference, and presented in Ventura County’s
mini-conference for librarystaff. Spreading the word at other conferences,
she presented for CASCD, CRA,
California Virtual Campus conference,Learning Links, and the California Council
on Teacher Education.
Letter reaccounts LMTPro-Action
I graduatedin 1999 and have been working as an elementary LMT since 1994. I am hired bythe Santa Barbara School District, one of the few districts in CA to hirecredentialed LMTs! I do love my job and am glad that I switched from teachingto the library.
We almostlost our jobs this last spring due to declining enrollment in our elementarydistrict. But the LMTs (and my husband) waged an active campaign to keep our library programs going. We gotparents involved, contacted our school board and reminded them of theimportance of school libraries, particularly in Santa Barbara where the majority of our public school children on the elementarylevel are Title 1 students and English language learners. My husband even madea short, 3 minute video of each schools' library to show what goes on in them.
Heather McBride,
Harding Elementary,
1625 RobbinsSt., Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Info Lit: Videos and Web
HallDavidson and his staff at KOCE developed a seven-part series on informationliteracy and technology incorporation. Using the Big Six research process, itincludes an episode on teacher-LMT collaboration. Dr. Farmer helped plan andact in the series, which will be introduced at the November CSLA conference.Copies are available from KOCE by sending a blank VHS videotape to HallDavidson at KOCE, 15751 Gothard Dr., Huntington Beach 92647.
In addition, Dr. Farmer received aCSU grant to develop a Web presence to complement the video series. CSULBlibrarians John D’Amicantonio and Tiffini Travis collaboratedwith Dr. Farmer in this process. TheWeb site may be accessed at: http://www.csulb.edu/~lfarmer/infolitwebstyle.htm.
CSLA’s conference featuresseveral CSULB folks: Advisory
Board members Judy Hughes and SusanLawson co-chairs; recent LMT credential
students and grad presenters RosemarieBernier, Mark Bobrosky, Marsha Davies,
Karen Gonzales, Molly Mailloux;andfaculty presenters Lesley Farmer
and Shirley Weisman.
Reunion time at CSULB: meet at the Aquarium Reception!