Learning+Plan+and+Summary

**THE HAPPY LIBRARIAN'S PORTFOLIO OF SITUATED PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE**

**SUMMARY OF 60 HOURS OF SITUATED PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE:**

 * < SITE ONE (2011) ||< 20 hours ||
 * < SITE TWO (2012) ||< 10 hours ||
 * < SITE THREE (2013) ||< 12 hours ||
 * < SITE ONE (2012-13) ||< 18 hours ||
 * < Total ||< 60 hours ||

**DEMOGRAPHICS OF SITE ONE: **
 Site One is a co-educational, systemic Catholic school located on the Gold Coast, QLD. The school opened in 2005 and currently has approximately 1300 students from Prep to Year 12 and a total of 125 staff. This is an expanding population as the school continues to grow. According to the Brisbane Catholic Education Staffing Schedule, the school is allowed 2.2 Teacher Librarians (TLs). Currently, there are 2 full-time TL's, so the school is operating slightly under the recommended allowance. The school library is also staffed by two full-time Library Assistants and three Information Communication Learning and Technology (ICLT) Staff.


 * BREAKDOWN OF HOURS AT SITE ONE (2011): **

A total of 20 hours was spent at Site One in 2011. This time can be divided into the following activities:

(Tutoring / Meetings / Professional Development / Book Expo / Author Visit and Staff Book Club)
 * Interviews with the TL and Library Support Staff 6 hours
 * Observation of the TL with my classes 4 hours
 * Observation of the TL with other classes 4 hours
 * Observation of TL in the Library for other activities 6 hours

**PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PLAN:**
 * **WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED ** || **WHAT I WANT TO EXPERIENCE ** ||
 * * The TL teaching Information and Digital Literacy Skills to a variety of year levels and subject areas (sometimes a couple of classes at once!)
 * The TL teaching Literature Circle lessons during English classes.
 * The TL's extensive knowledge of current educational pedagogy through my interviews with her.
 * How to use the digital resources such as Overdrive and World Book Online for my own classes.
 * The creation of a Research Booklet that uses guided-inquiry to improve Information Literacy skills.
 * An author visit - sitting in on a session with a Year 3 class.
 * A Book Expo - where sellers come to discuss resources with the TL and other staff.
 * How the TL prepares and maps a library budget.
 * A Library Staff meeting - conducted every morning to look at the day ahead.
 * How to search for information on 'Oliver' (the Collection Management System).
 * The Staff Book Club which is facilitated by the TL.
 * I have become familiar with the school Policies and Procedures Manual and how the school's mission informs these.
 * Collaboration between the TL and teaching staff. As a Subject Coordinator, I have observed her contributions in curriculum meetings and at general staff meetings. || * Overall, I would like to experience more of the librarianship side to the role of a TL. I observed many of these activities but did not physically do them myself. I would like more hands-on experience in areas such as:
 * cataloguing
 * shelving
 * covering books
 * repairing books
 * ordering resources
 * barcoding
 * classifying
 * accessioning
 * creating displays
 * The opportunity to design and implement my own activity to promote reading.
 * As the annual stocktake is held at the end of Term 2, I have missed out on experiencing how this works in time for this Portfolio, but I plan to attend and learn more about it. ||
 * **HOW I CAN FIND THE INFORMATION ** || **WHAT I HAVE LEARNT SO FAR ** ||
 * * By continuing to read professional literature. The TL has also been providing me with readings that are pertinant to the pedagogical practice at Site One.
 * By attending conferences, workshops and becoming a member of professional associations.
 * By continuing my SPP at some other sites, including a local council library.
 * By experimenting with more Web 2.0 tools and attending professional development in this area. || * That TLs face a difficult and ever-changing task in resourcing their libraries to meet the needs of learners effectively.
 * That despite having what is considered a large budget, in a P-12 school, it doesn't stretch far and that spending needs to to 'tracked' methodically.
 * That TLs have to wear many different 'hats' in their daily role, from teacher to manager to accountant and that you need to be able to switch between them quickly or even do them at the same time!
 * That the TL's role is undervalued by some members of staff and that advocacy is a constant concern.
 * That to be a true 'information specialist' in a 21st century school, a TL must be well versed in information technology skills. ||


 * WHERE TO FROM HERE?**


 * I believe that it would be beneficial for me to gain some experience working in a local council library. This would take me out of the school environment and allow me to improve my knowledge and skills in librarianship. I plan to use some time during school holidays to do this, hopefully in the form of full working days instead of in small sections.
 * I will continue to do some further work in my current school library as this is the place that I am most likely to end up working. For example, I plan to spend a day in the library during the stocktake period in a few weeks time.
 * I would like to include some experience at a school library that is not as well resourced and managed so I can see the benefits of what I have already experienced.
 * I also plan to spend some time 'shadowing' the ICLT Coordinator so that I can observe how he and the TL can integrate their services. This is particularly important at my current site.


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">BREAKDOWN OF HOURS AT SITE ONE (2012 - 13): **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Site One became my permanent place of employment as a Teacher Librarian from the start of 2012. It has been used in this Portfolio to analyse another 18 hours of practice during this time. The time selected for this Portfolio can be divided into the following activities:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Planning, conducting and running reading programs such as Literature Circles


 * DEMOGRAPHICS OF SITE TWO (2012): **

Site Two is a branch library located on the Gold Coast, QLD. It is operated by the Gold Coast City Council and opened in August 2008. There are a total of 14 regular staff members who work in the library: 8 full-time librarians, 4 full-time library assistants and 2 part-time assistants. The library services approximately 1000 clients per day, many of whom are visitors.


 * BREAKDOWN OF HOURS AT SITE TWO: **

A total of 10 hours was spent at Site Two. This time can be divided into the following activities:
 * Orientation Tour and Workplace Health and Safety Instruction 1 hour
 * Instruction in the “Operational Guildelines” 1 hour
 * Interviews with Library Staff 1 hour
 * Observation of work in the “Check-in Room” 1 hour
 * Observation of work at the “Information Desk” 1 hour
 * Observation of work at the “Loans Desk” 1 hour
 * Observation of client’s use of library facilities including Reservations and Self Serve Loans Unit 2 hours
 * Participation in library programs such as “Children’s Storytime” and assisting clients with information retrieval 2 hours

DEMOGRAPHICS OF SITE THREE (2013):
====<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Site Three is situated in a P-12 independent school on the southern outskirts of Brisbane. The library that is the focus of this portfolio services the 7-12 campus. This campus has a school population of 905 students, 80 teaching staff, 1 full time Teacher Librarian, 1 full time Library Technician and the equivalent of 1 full time Library assistant. The budget for this library is discretionary, it is negotiated at the beginning of the year, however if expenses, or opportunities to purchase items not budgeted for arise then the TL is able to approach the Senior Leadership Team for permission for additional spending. This is usually approved, depending on the justification provided. The collection consists of about 23, 000 books across fiction and non-fiction. The Site subscribes to 8 digital databases, most of which are only used sporadically. ====


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">BREAKDOWN OF HOURS AT SITE THREE: **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">A total of 12 hours was spent at Site Three. This time can be divided into the following activities:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Two 6 hour school days spent shadowing the permanent, full-time Teacher Librarian.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Observation of all facets of Teacher-Librarianship work.