Misty McCarn

Volunteer Reflection
MEDT 7487
Fall 2015
Overall Volunteer Experience Reflection
I have had the opportunity to see three different schools in my district through my
volunteer experiences. I discovered regardless of the differences each media specialist
did their best to make their library an essential part of the school. They found ways to
collaborate and help students and staff while ensuring their library space was well used
and full of learning. I think Carol Brown (2004) said it best, the library must be the heart
of the school and the teacher-librarian must be a proactive team player (p.4).
When I envision my future media center I see one where staff is continually
aware of our programming and capabilities through public scheduling, talking at faculty
meetings, and displaying current student work from classroom collaborations. I was able
to see during my volunteer hours how staff will continue collaborations with the media
specialist once they have had a positive experience. A school media center also has to
have clear communications between all who work there. Regardless of whether the staff
is full time, part time, or a volunteer each member should be aware of their role and
monthly/yearly meetings can be scheduled to communicate how the media center is
doing and what improvements could be made.
Additionally, when I envision my future media center I now realize the importance
of the layout. I had the chance to see a library space full of couches, booths, cafe
tables, sculptures and plants. This high school library was the place every student

wanted to be. It was current and inviting to students and staff. I believe the creation of
this type of environment is a vital part of the media center. We need to be a place that is
alive with student learning and a place everyone desires to go to.
During the volunteer experiences I found that lesson planning and working with
teachers to be a strength for me. As a volunteer, I loved getting to communicate with the
other teachers in the building and find ways where I could make their job easier. I could
identify with many of their current problems and enjoyed getting to work with a variety of
subjects. Lesson planning was something that was familiar to me from my time in the
classroom. It was second nature for me to backwards plan and ensure our objective
matched the standards and goals for the unit and assignment
Not everything came easy for me. Upon reflection I have identified several
weaknesses I would like to work on to improve my practice. One of these areas is
managing adults. I found that within each of the media centers various volunteers, part
time workers and full time staff worked with the media specialist to ensure the media
center was meeting the needs of students and staff. I have not had much experience
managing other adults. It was interesting for me to learn about my mentors strategies
for managing and working with the other adults in the media center.
Personally, I want to do some reading on management and resolving issues with
adults because I saw firsthand how difficult it can be when issues remain unresolved. At
one of my placements the media specialist and one of the technology specialists had
unresolved issues and had trouble working together. On multiple occasions they would
approach me about the other. It reduced their productivity and added unnecessary

stress to the work environment. As a result, it encouraged me to reflect on my own

interpersonal skills and strategies I have for working with other adults.
A second area of growth I discovered during my internship was the lack of
content knowledge and course structuring for high schools. While I have had a plethora
of experiences with elementary schools and the common core standards I have not had
much exposure to 9-12 grade course work. My internship encouraged me to do
research regarding high school course work and begin reading some of the novels and
literature that are used in the classes. I plan to continue this as I prepare for a future
placement that may be in a high school.
I found my work during the internships to be challenging but rewarding. I was
able to learn from amazing media specialist who are adapting to the needs of their
school in order to best support students and staff. I was able to take away many
practical implications and tips for my future media center. It made me hopeful and
determined to create a space that fits the needs of the school community and ensures
students and staff are effective users of ideas and information (AASL, 2009, p. 8).
Special Needs Students
The needs for SpEd students is addressed in several ways through the district I
work in. The Media Specialist collaborates with Special Education teachers in the
same manner that she does the Regular Education teacher. The SLMs purchase
books with exceptional learners in mind. She provides technological resources such as
assistive technology devices. The Media Space itself is laid out in such a way that it is
accessible for wheelchair bound students. At one of the schools in the district they even
have a large print section and two Braille books.

Multiculturalism
The Media Specialists addressed multicultural needs by hosting a Christmas
around the world celebration through out the month of December. She highlighted how
Christmas/Hanukah/ Kwanzaa and other holidays were celebrated in other parts of our
world. She also highlighted several different books on different countries, religions, and
cultural norms each month in her monthly Newsletter.

Ethics
I believe one of the most trying things that I witnessed in the SLM pertained to
ethics and Intellectual Freedom. As a Media Specialist it is unethical to impose our
beliefs and opinions on the students we serve. Therefore we cannot put only what we
want on the Media Center shelves. By the same token, we cannot force students to
read things that are offensive to them either. We also cannot take a book off the shelf
just because one parent does not like it.

Advocacy
After completing my volunteer experience I believe that the Library Bill of Rights
and the ALAs Intellectual Freedom act is probably the effective advocacy programs that
I have encountered.
Copyright
Unfortunately it has been my experience that teachers do not pay much attention
to copyright laws. I feel that it is the Media Specialists job to provide them with the
legalities and policies regarding the topic however SLM cannot be the copyright police

for an entire school. I have developed a Media Center Orientation Professional

Development Module for our teachers outlining the electronic copyright and fair use
policies.
Collaboration
I observed the SLM on several occasions collaborating with teachers on
instruction. I observed the SLM directing a lesson on the writing process and then
assisting the teacher in ensuring that the students were carrying out the proper steps in
this concept. I also observed one Specialist working with the art teacher using the
OSMO to create super hero Caricatures.
Program Administration
The paraprofessionals in the Media centers where I completed my volunteer
experiences was amazing. Each of them nearly single handedly handled reshelving all
materials. She assisted in locating materials for students as well as circulating those
materials. The SLMs I volunteered in did not have student workers. The parent
volunteers came in during book fairs, Accelerated Reader celebrations,and other special
events.

References

Brown, Carol. (2004). Americas most wanted: Teachers who collaborate. Teacher
Librarian, 32 (1) 13-18.
Empowering Learners. (2009). Chicago:AASL.