What’s It All About, RIEMA?
…with apologies to all Michael Caine and Burt Bacharach fans out there.
Update Feb. 10, 2009: Those who prefer to email their comments may do so by sending an email to riemablog@gmail.com. Please type “RIEMA Mission” in the subject line. I will then compile any emailed comments and add them to the discussion thread. Please email or post your comments by Feb. 17, 2009. Thank you!
The RIEMA Board has undertaken a big project — one for which we need the input and assistance of all of our members.
Over the next several months, the RIEMA Constitution / By-Laws Task Force will be examining all facets of the organization’s guiding documents. We will start with the current Mission statement; after all, our mission drives our goals, and our goals determine what we do, how we serve our students and colleagues, and where we are headed.
Here is the current RIEMA Mission (available at http://www.riema.info/mission.php):
The mission of the Rhode Island Educational Media Association is to provide leadership and support for school library media professionals and support staff in the development, promotion, improvement, and evaluation of school library media, computer, and instructional technology programs in ALL Rhode Island schools.
How can you help with this process? Between now and February 17, please reflect upon the current Mission (above) and tell us, using the comment feature of the blog, what you think. What would you add to, remove from, or leave in the Mission? There are many crucial aspects of current (and future) school library and educational media services. Which ones should have the most influence on shaping RIEMA’s Mission?
Of course, any proposed changes to the Mission or to any other guiding documents will be presented to the full membership for a vote at some point in the not-too-distant future.
If you have never commented on the blog before, now is a great time to start. We very much want as much input from RIEMA members as we can get — and it is helpful to have it all in one place for easy reference.
For more information, feel free to click on the “How to Comment” link at the top of the page, or send questions to riemablog@gmail.com and we will answer them as soon as we can.
Thanks for reading and commenting, and in the meantime, get out there and circulate.
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I would change “School Library Media Professionals” to “Educational Media Professionals”. I Think the rest of the statement is fine.
February 4, 2009
Our mission is still on target, but we need to
add an advocacy component. I feel that RIEMA
must act as the principal advocate for school
library media programs and also to defend these
programs from the budget cuts that target
libraries.
February 4, 2009
As an additional comment, I am opposed to removing
the word “library” from our mission, and I would
not support such a change.
February 4, 2009
Not only would I insist on the word library, but I’d throw in a half sentence about encouraging tomorrow’s adults toward reading and learning for enjoyment. We need to push our knowledge and love of literature/reading, too. I feel we too often talk about how we help test scores – well, yeah! But we do it in large part by having kids read and learn from exposure to the world via novels(and other formats).
February 4, 2009
I too do not want to see the word “librarian” deleted from this. My school’s urban student population still calls it the library. They don’t have any association to the word being outdated, since it is one of the only places they access any type of materials, print or electronic. They see the words “library” and “librarian” as relevant, current terms.
February 9, 2009
I’m thinking the mission statement should include education as a purpose, along with leadership and support.
February 10, 2009
I think the mission statement is fine, but since
teaching is now such a big part of what we do, perhaps
a word or two describing the teaching component s
should be added. Also, is computer and technoology
instruction the same thing?
February 10, 2009
I agree with Peter’s comment about advocacy. I believe a part of the job has become proving our worth and anyone within the organization’s success in teaching students information literacy helps us all. I also agree with Sarah’s comment about the literature piece. I think the job for many of us has become heavily focused on technology but really, the heart of any library program, I think, should still be instilling a love of reading and literature.
February 13, 2009
I like it and do not want to lose “library” from our mission statement. I am curious about the last line that line that seems to have the word “ALL” in capitals. Is there a reason we are emphasizing that word?
February 17, 2009
Should we put in something about highly qualified school library professionals at all levels and in all schools?
February 18, 2009
I agree with everything that has been said. I didn’t see where anyone was challenging the term “librarian” – am I nuts? (don’t answer that!).
I also agree with Peter that we probably should create an advocacy group, but what would it be? A lobbying group? A group that would show up at school committee meetings around the state?
I think that what we need is not a tweaking of our mission but providing more professional development since our technology changes so rapidly. And what I would like is some real learning. Case in point: I just read a blog piece by Will Richardson in the December 2008 District Administrator where he asks “How do you find out who owns a particular domain address or website.” “What steps would you take to decide whether information you found on a blog is worthy of inclusion in a presentation you are creating?” And does he answer this – tell you how? No! I am so tired of people telling us what we should do without telling us how to do it! I would like to see demonstrations, not hear lectures about what LMSs should do – show me, like I show my kids. Do it. Show me the steps.
Lastly – you know what? RIEMA does a fabulous job, between our listserv, our prof. development opportunities, our conferences – I mean, I think we do a great, great job supporting each other, sharing, helping, educating – let’s celebrate what we do and step back and say, hey, job well done.
February 20, 2009
[Part One of a comment posted on behalf of Jamie Greene]
The ideas of advocacy, leadership, teaching/education, reading, and technology have been articulated.
The mission should include the purpose:
Advocacy can be a purpose. We can’t advocate for school libraries, though. I’m not sure about focusing on student achievement (the way MSLA does). Maybe student access or life-learning development? Another purpose would be to provide leadership in the area of best teaching practices.
The mission should include how we’ll do this:(http://www.tgci.com/magazine/How%20to%20Write%20a%20Mission%20Statement.pdf)
through communication with the board of regents/ride, public relations, professional development activities, networking opportunities, standard/curriculum development?
Lastly, the mission should include our values:
Life long learners who find and evaluate information, read and use info., collaboratively share info…?
March 2, 2009
[Part Two of a comment posted on behalf of Jamie Greene]
Some neighboring states mission statements:
Mission of MSLA
MSLA advocates for school library programs that have a significant and measurable impact on student achievement. It supports licensed, highly qualified library teachers at all levels and endorses school library programs that have strong leadership, resources, and instructional components. MSLA provides its members with growth opportunities, research, publications, and public relations activities.
Mission Statement:
CASL is committed to excellence in education by ensuring that students are active readers and effective users of ideas and information to become lifelong learners. The Association provides leadership, professional development, publicity, networking and support to the Connecticut school library community. CASL supports licensed, highly qualified library media specialists and fully funded library programs in all K-12 schools. CASL promotes collaboration between classroom teachers, library media specialists, administrators, and curriculum specialists for the benefit of student achievement especially in information literacy and technology literacy. CASL serves as a cooperative agency bringing together the profession, the State Department of Education, regional associations, national associations, and the general public.
NHEMA’S mission is to ensure that all members of the New Hampshire school community become effective users of ideas and information, and school library media programs are an integral part of the teaching/learning process in every New Hampshire school.
March 2, 2009