AASL Interview- "Collaborate"

Collaborate

Anna Webb Riverside High SchoolGreer, SC

Collaborate: Work effectively with others to broaden perspectives and work toward common goals” (AASL, 2018, p. 83).

Ms. Anna Webb is the media specialist at Riverside High School in Greer, SC. I had the opportunity to meet with her and discuss how she collaborates with teachers. I actually witnessed evidence of collaboration when I was in the library talking to her. A senior honors English class spent their whole class time in the library with their English teacher. Ms. Webb told me that she had already collaborated with this teacher on their current project, which was researching British poets. Ms. Webb said that most collaboration occurs with English teachers. She helps students locate and evaluate sources, reminds them of SC DISCUS and how to search on it, as well as general resource help. Mrs. Webb has also collaborated with teachers to plan and lead book tastings. She stated that collaboration can be both formal and informal, and that great collaboration comes from formal meetings, but also in casual passing conversation. I agree that collaboration can take all kinds of forms.  This is why I think it is so important to have great customer service skills.  Many people pass through a library, and this is an excellent opportunity to collaborate with teachers.

The RHS library has resources that stimulate collaboration between teachers and Ms. Webb. Break out kits are highly popular, and these kits include code-breaking tools such as combination locks, invisible ink pens, special flashlights, keys, etc. Many teachers collaborate with Ms. Webb to create group kits that contain clues to solve the mystery. She was working with a social studies teacher on creating Break Out kits for a social studies class. The class was going to do a break out kit lesson on the Seven Wonders of the World, and Ms. Webb prepped the materials and also gave the teacher ideas. I am fascinated with Break Out kits, and I would like to purchase a few at my future library. I like that they can be reused over and over. Kids are also pretty excited about these as well. The RHS library has a great collection of reference books, reference sets for poetry, and books that represent different cultures in the school. SC DISCUS is a great free resource that she often incorporates into lessons.

The biggest challenge is that teachers do not want to give up the time. Also, some teachers don’t understand what her role is as a librarian, and some feel reluctant to ask to collaborate because it may seem that they are doing something wrong or are not knowledgeable enough. She has a goal to collaborate with someone from each department each year. “It only takes one person to have a great experience and to spread the word to colleagues. Then more and more people will want to collaborate” (A. Webb, personal communication, November 19, 2019).

Ms. Webb gave me the following advice: “I think that collaboration is absolutely key in maintaining our positions as librarians. Anyone can be hired to check out books, but schools need a librarian who is qualified to teach ICT skills. There is so much value in what we do. Remember to integrate yourself into the teaching culture of the school. Seek out other librarians to collaborate with as well...you’re not an island by yourself” (A. Webb, personal communication, November 19, 2019). Interviewing her was a great experience, and I now have a better understanding of collaboration.

References

American Association of School Librarians, (2018). National school library standards for
               learners, school librarians, and school libraries. Chicago: American Library Association