CCBC-Net Archives
Personal Boundaries/Professional Responsibilities
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Megan Schliesman <schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu>
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:32:38 -0500
For the second half of September on CCBC-Net, we invite you to consider Personal Boundaries/Professional Responsiblities.
Back in 2007, when “The Higher Power of Lucky” won the Newbery Award, the word “scrotum” on the narrative’s first page caused a flutter then a fury when some librarians questioned whether they would include it in their elementary library collections and others spoke out strongly in defense of intellectual freedom. But every librarian is bound to come across books that challenge them personally as they strive to fulfill their professional responsibilities. Raising concerns and asking questions can be a way to work through concerns and fears. And actions—whether or not a book is purchased and made available—ultimately matter most.
How can we help a school or public librarian or teacher struggling with questions about whether the content of a book makes it the right choice for their classroom, school or library? We can offer them support so they feel less alone if they are struggling with choices that they can professionally defend but worry may not be supported by others, perhaps their principal or school district administration, or the director of the library where they work, even colleagues.
We can gently ask hard questions--would you feel you are doing your job and serving your community if you don't provide this book? What do you think might happen? Are you hesitating out of fear, or because you personally object to something about the book?
And we can share our own stories. We can let them know they are not alone by talking about when we have struggled and how we worked our way through our concerns.
So for the rest of September, please share your stories , your thoughts, and your strategies for navigating the terrain where your personal boundaries and professional responsibilities have clashed, whether around a single book, or a broader issue or topic in books for youth.
Megan
-- Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison 600 N. Park Street, Room 4290 Madison, WI 53706
608/262-9503 schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu
www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Tue 21 Sep 2010 10:32:38 AM CDT
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:32:38 -0500
For the second half of September on CCBC-Net, we invite you to consider Personal Boundaries/Professional Responsiblities.
Back in 2007, when “The Higher Power of Lucky” won the Newbery Award, the word “scrotum” on the narrative’s first page caused a flutter then a fury when some librarians questioned whether they would include it in their elementary library collections and others spoke out strongly in defense of intellectual freedom. But every librarian is bound to come across books that challenge them personally as they strive to fulfill their professional responsibilities. Raising concerns and asking questions can be a way to work through concerns and fears. And actions—whether or not a book is purchased and made available—ultimately matter most.
How can we help a school or public librarian or teacher struggling with questions about whether the content of a book makes it the right choice for their classroom, school or library? We can offer them support so they feel less alone if they are struggling with choices that they can professionally defend but worry may not be supported by others, perhaps their principal or school district administration, or the director of the library where they work, even colleagues.
We can gently ask hard questions--would you feel you are doing your job and serving your community if you don't provide this book? What do you think might happen? Are you hesitating out of fear, or because you personally object to something about the book?
And we can share our own stories. We can let them know they are not alone by talking about when we have struggled and how we worked our way through our concerns.
So for the rest of September, please share your stories , your thoughts, and your strategies for navigating the terrain where your personal boundaries and professional responsibilities have clashed, whether around a single book, or a broader issue or topic in books for youth.
Megan
-- Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison 600 N. Park Street, Room 4290 Madison, WI 53706
608/262-9503 schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu
www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Tue 21 Sep 2010 10:32:38 AM CDT
