When is a TL not a TL?

Even when the blog is quiet, hubbers are still at work. 

Congratulations to hubber Sharon McGuinness who has just recorded her piece on school libraries for ABC Radio’s “Perspectives” program. Many thanks to the ABC for this opportunity.  We’ll let you know when it is going to be aired. 

A position currently being advertised (click here) at Melbourne’s Buckley Park College has us here at The Hub somewhat concerned.  The job advertised is a school services officer (SSO) position.  However the job description requires the successful applicant to  ”plan and conduct library and research skills tutorials for students” and “assist with supervision of students”.   

Hmmm, tutorials.   Sounds a LOT like teaching to me.  In fact, much of the job description reads like that of a teacher librarian, except that a librarian is cheaper, and qualifies for less annual leave.  Perhaps someone with greater knowledge of library SSO standards in Victoria could give us their opinion of this position description.  Applications close late July, so the link should stay active for at least 4 weeks.

World tour of libraries, part 1

A while ago I said I would add a few library stories from around the world, so here are a couple.   It’s interesting to read about how libraries are viewed by those who have little or no access to one.

Firstly, this from Columbia, 

The library system……was managing to survive when educationalists were being pushed out by paramilitaries. Between 1986 and 1988, some 88 teachers were assassinated – but no librarians were killed, despite operating in some of the most dangerous areas of the country. Even the most ruthless outlaws seemed to respect librarians. There was, though, a huge disparity in provision: good, mobile services in some areas, virtually none in others.

Click here to read what is happening now. 

The next piece is the acceptance speech given by Doris Lessing when receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature in December last year, in which she speaks of her experiences in Zimbabwe.   I would recommend reading it when you have a few guaranteed uninterrupted minutes to yourself, and, for the more weepy, a tissue at hand.  You may even like to leave a few copies around the staffroom, or even pop it in a newsletter on a slow news week.   

As I sit with my friend in his room, people shyly drop in, and everyone begs for books. “Please send us books when you get back to London,” one man says. “They taught us to read but we have no books.” Everybody I met, everyone, begged for books.

Click here for the entire speech.