http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgSlpPUEAbo
Meet me @ the Des Plaines Public Library on Saturday, April 26, 2008!
Don't forget your Library Card! x x o , mb
Friday, March 28, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Illinois Library Legistative Day
Believe You Can Make a Difference
By MaryBeth McWilliams, MacArthur Middle School
January 30, 2008
As the Library Media Center Teacher at MacArthur Middle School in Prospect Heights, I strive for collaboration, leadership, intellectual freedom, and technology. I truly believe I have a vision for making a difference in Illinois Public School Libraries. Every school day, I facilitate intellectual freedom and learning with the young adult students and professional teaching staff in my school community. Constantly, these seekers of global information come to me requesting accurate information. As the LMC Teacher, I must continually be aware of current issues. I must be unbiased and prepared to assess and evaluate information and then concisely express and communicate this information. I am dedicated to doing this in order to continue to nurture an information rich society.
This aspect of my position, as the LMC Teacher, is one that I truly relish and I appreciate those students and staff that seek information. Working in the field of education and specifically in the middle school library media center, I focus on open access to information. As an educator in the library field, I am seeking to communicate, collaborate and connect intellectual freedom for everyone. The better informed and aware I am on state and national issues, the more effective I will be on preparing and presenting information for students. Ultimately, my mission is for quality in public school libraries that facilitate an atmosphere where students and staff spend less time searching and more time learning. By attending the Illinois and National Library Legislative Days in 2007, I gained an insight in how I fit into the partnership for libraries and lifelong learning.
I attended the Illinois Library Day on Thursday, April 19, 2007 at the state capitol building in Springfield. This was an occasion for school and public librarians to demonstrate our concerns to the Illinois legislators on issues that are important to the Illinois library communities. Since both House and Senate were in session, I was able to personally meet with the legislators to discuss Library Advocacy at their Springfield offices. My very presence and conversations showed our serious concern for the future of Library Literacy and Intellectual Freedom. I also gave each legislator my business card and a “Palm Card” that summarized exactly which bills I support and which I oppose. As a result of these face-to-face visits, I truly believe that I have established a solid rapport with local legislators.
At noon, as a collective body, Illinois Librarians gathered and enthusiastically marched from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum to the State Capital. I proudly displayed my “I [heart] Libraries!” umbrella as I walked. The procession concluded with an energetic rally with impassioned speeches given by the Illinois Library Association and other supporters outside the Governor's and Secretary of State's office windows.
On May 1 and 2, 2007, I attended a two-day event along with librarians and library trustees who care about libraries and intellectual freedom. I participated in advocacy and training sessions to tell “our story” of student education in Prospect Heights and the northwest suburbs of Chicago. I also interacted with Capitol Hill insiders and visited congressional member offices to express a strong, visible message to them and to ask Congress to pass legislation that supports libraries. My mission was to remind the law makers of the significant contributions libraries make in our public schools and communities.
The first day was filled with programming and networking with librarians and trustees from all over the country. There were 424 participants from 47 states. We were informed of legislative updates from the American Library Association's Washington office and advocacy tips from legislative consultants. During the afternoon break, I went over to the Library of Congress to update my library card and to do some “research.” To complete the evening, the Illinois Library Association hosted a dinner at the Capitol Hill Club. Michael Strautmanis from Illinois, Senator Barack Obama's Chief General Counsel, spoke about current and relevant affairs and the direction of a cautious and planned future.
The second day everyone was “on the hill” meeting with legislators or their aides in the House or Senate. With the North Suburban Library System, I had appointments at the offices of Mark Kirk, Melissa Bean, Dick Durbin, and Barack Obama. At each visit, I advocated for the students of MacArthur Middle School and public schools.
About the Author
MaryBeth McWilliams is the Library Media Teacher at MacArthur Middle School in Prospect Heights School District 23. Previously, she worked in Palatine School District 15 in the Library Resource Center program. McWilliams also serves on the NSLS Board of Directors and is a member of several professional organizations.
By MaryBeth McWilliams, MacArthur Middle School
January 30, 2008
As the Library Media Center Teacher at MacArthur Middle School in Prospect Heights, I strive for collaboration, leadership, intellectual freedom, and technology. I truly believe I have a vision for making a difference in Illinois Public School Libraries. Every school day, I facilitate intellectual freedom and learning with the young adult students and professional teaching staff in my school community. Constantly, these seekers of global information come to me requesting accurate information. As the LMC Teacher, I must continually be aware of current issues. I must be unbiased and prepared to assess and evaluate information and then concisely express and communicate this information. I am dedicated to doing this in order to continue to nurture an information rich society.
This aspect of my position, as the LMC Teacher, is one that I truly relish and I appreciate those students and staff that seek information. Working in the field of education and specifically in the middle school library media center, I focus on open access to information. As an educator in the library field, I am seeking to communicate, collaborate and connect intellectual freedom for everyone. The better informed and aware I am on state and national issues, the more effective I will be on preparing and presenting information for students. Ultimately, my mission is for quality in public school libraries that facilitate an atmosphere where students and staff spend less time searching and more time learning. By attending the Illinois and National Library Legislative Days in 2007, I gained an insight in how I fit into the partnership for libraries and lifelong learning.
I attended the Illinois Library Day on Thursday, April 19, 2007 at the state capitol building in Springfield. This was an occasion for school and public librarians to demonstrate our concerns to the Illinois legislators on issues that are important to the Illinois library communities. Since both House and Senate were in session, I was able to personally meet with the legislators to discuss Library Advocacy at their Springfield offices. My very presence and conversations showed our serious concern for the future of Library Literacy and Intellectual Freedom. I also gave each legislator my business card and a “Palm Card” that summarized exactly which bills I support and which I oppose. As a result of these face-to-face visits, I truly believe that I have established a solid rapport with local legislators.
At noon, as a collective body, Illinois Librarians gathered and enthusiastically marched from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum to the State Capital. I proudly displayed my “I [heart] Libraries!” umbrella as I walked. The procession concluded with an energetic rally with impassioned speeches given by the Illinois Library Association and other supporters outside the Governor's and Secretary of State's office windows.
On May 1 and 2, 2007, I attended a two-day event along with librarians and library trustees who care about libraries and intellectual freedom. I participated in advocacy and training sessions to tell “our story” of student education in Prospect Heights and the northwest suburbs of Chicago. I also interacted with Capitol Hill insiders and visited congressional member offices to express a strong, visible message to them and to ask Congress to pass legislation that supports libraries. My mission was to remind the law makers of the significant contributions libraries make in our public schools and communities.
The first day was filled with programming and networking with librarians and trustees from all over the country. There were 424 participants from 47 states. We were informed of legislative updates from the American Library Association's Washington office and advocacy tips from legislative consultants. During the afternoon break, I went over to the Library of Congress to update my library card and to do some “research.” To complete the evening, the Illinois Library Association hosted a dinner at the Capitol Hill Club. Michael Strautmanis from Illinois, Senator Barack Obama's Chief General Counsel, spoke about current and relevant affairs and the direction of a cautious and planned future.
The second day everyone was “on the hill” meeting with legislators or their aides in the House or Senate. With the North Suburban Library System, I had appointments at the offices of Mark Kirk, Melissa Bean, Dick Durbin, and Barack Obama. At each visit, I advocated for the students of MacArthur Middle School and public schools.
About the Author
MaryBeth McWilliams is the Library Media Teacher at MacArthur Middle School in Prospect Heights School District 23. Previously, she worked in Palatine School District 15 in the Library Resource Center program. McWilliams also serves on the NSLS Board of Directors and is a member of several professional organizations.
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