"A professional often becomes a gatekeeper, by providing a necessary or desirable social function but also by controlling that function ... Professional self-conception and self-defense, so valuable in ordinary times, become a disadvantage in revolutionary ones, because professionals are always concerned with threats to the profession" (Clay Shirky--Here Comes Everybody).

Shirky hit home with this one. Do we as librarians feel a threat to our profession. I sure do. As a school librarian, I feel like I am constantly explaining my job to people. Even the people I work and teach with. Sometimes even the people that employ me. Always justifying my presence in a school that is short staffed. 

Yes, I do more than read books to kids. Yes, I can work with technology. No technology is not all I do. Yes, it is important to have a licensed media specialist in our schools....

Could a lot of people do my job? Yes. Do a lot of people have the training to do all parts of my job--no. School libraries run by library assistants don't have collections that go with grade level outcomes and curriculum. Assistants frequently aren't reading professional journals to know the latest on children's literature--and if it is appropriate for our patrons. Assistants are not finding a book for every reader, and they most certainly have not been trained on censorship and weeding. Collections in many schools are falling by the wayside, because there is no gatekeeper to watch over what is being pulled, what materials are allowed to be purchased.  Don't like gays--pull the books. Don't want to deal with parents on books about sexuality--don't buy it. Collection development alone is reason enough for me to think that school libraries need a librarian. And don't even get me started on what kids are allowed to read--and the comments I hear  from assistants that think they are helping students-- but are really making reading choices for kids that they are not trained to do. 

Let me justify myself some more, and let people know that as a school media specialist, I teach students library skills, reading skill, and technology skills essential to their learning. I collaborate with teachers to help students learn information seeking skills that are embedded into their curriculum outcomes. I help teachers think of tools that let students use web 2.0 tools or other technology tools to create projects to show their learning. I manage our library, and teach students the 21st century skills that will help them be life long learners. I am a librarian--and I am a professional.

Could anyone do my job--sure. Do they need a degree and/or education to do it--I firmly believe they do. Am I concerned with threats to my profession--yes I am--but not because I think others can do the job as well as school librarians can--it's because I fear schools are being faced with tough decisions right now...and often times they are choosing non professionals to do the work of those that are highly trained.

On another note--thinking about my aha moment of the week. 

For me, while reading Shirky, I was surprised and yet disappointed with the use of social networking tools to organize a group. It seems so simple in the book--and yet--with the upcoming Constitutional Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution I am surprised with how many people still don't know of the damages that are facing the rights of the people in our state (can you tell where I stand??). I follow some of these groups on Facebook, and many people I know have similar feelings as myself. Yet, I have yet to see those that are uninformed being reached. I started to think--that the people of our state need to start SHARING the information more freely, because it has not yet reached social networking capacity. The text talked about emailing others and sharing to groups. I think there is still a lot to be learned about social networking/web 2.0 and politics/social justice. I am excited to see where we move.


*Photo taken from Creative Commons-- National Archive
*Vote No--taken from MN United For All Families