Jennifer Robinson Henry Library Media Specialist Massena Central Schools Nightengale Elementary 2001-Present

Jennifer Robinson Henry

Professional Library Portfolio1996-Present

Philosophy of Librarianship

I believe that the library media center is a place where people learn to respect literature, language and technology and to seek answers to their questions.

I believe the library media center is a safe haven where questions canbe asked and answers are always readily available.

I believe that the library media center will instruct individuals in skills to serve throughout life in all endeavors.

Philosophy of Teaching

I believe that there are multiple ways to teach a lesson. I know that Iam a constructivist by nature. As a school librarian I delve into any

and all content and subject areas whenever the need arises. To the

school librarian,information is just that...information. Whether in the

form of a social studies text, a mathematics forum or a literature blog,

it is still merely information used to reference a problem waiting to be

solved. Perhaps it is because I do not teach in a specific content

area like mathematics or science that I find it easy to adopt this

philosophy.

I think many of us believe that today's teaching strategies and tools

will quickly be replaced by newer trends, and I'm inclined to agree.

Yet generally the content remains the same. I believe the school

librarian should be involved in every subject area, every step of the

way. I believe they need to be involved in assessment, serve on

school planning committees and take steps to be a leader in new

technologies. Our emphasis must be on skills rather than a particular

content. Mastering the skills that allow a person to seek, interpret

and answer their own questions throughout life leads to students who

are truly masters of their own knowledge.

Beginnings

I have always had two loves. First, and foremost is my love of children and youth, secondly, is my love of books.

As a young child of 7 I would cut strips of paper from my mothers notebooks and place them inside the back of all my books. Id put a sign on my bedroom door in the scrawling script of a child announcing the open hours of my library. Id invite my parents to serve as my patrons. Although seemingly innocent at the time, I think even then I knew what I wanted to do.

Foundations

I began my college career in Rochester, New York at St. John Fisher College, where I promptly acquired a job as a student librarian in the inter-library loan department.

It served as my first exposure to a college library setting, and I was instantly amazed by the wealth of knowledge available at my fingertips. I enjoyed being asked to fill patrons requests for information that was unavailable to them otherwise, and I was pleased to see the ease with which libraries shared their materials.

Midway through my college career I transferred to the State University of New York College at Potsdam. I immediately headed to check out their library facilities and inquire about employment. They were pleased with my enthusiasm and soon three separate departments had hired me. I worked in the inter-library loan department at Potsdam, but I also worked at both the circulation desk and the Julia E. Crane music library. I continued working there until I married in 1999 and moved off campus.

Core

From 2001-2004 I served as an elementary school librarian for the Massena Central School District.

I was responsible for all aspects of the library media center, from planning classes, creating programs, maintaining and improving the collection, and supervising staff in the facilities.

In 2004 I began my current position as School Library System Coordinator for Champlain Valley Educational Services.

I worked daily with school librarians in 41 school libraries in the Champlain Valley facilitating inter-library loan, professional development and the integration of 21st Century Skills into the curriculum.

Local Programming

Successful Book Fairs

Family book fair events coordinated to include guest readers, student puppet performances, and family reading time

Young Drama GuildStudent created puppet shows by older students for performance to younger students in classrooms

Creation of Summer College Puppetry Class for students in grades K-3.

New Media FairAnnual event opening the library to staff, students and parents, advertising all the newest materials available

Jr. Librarians

Program created to teach students the infastructure of the library media center and allow students to become workers in the library.

Regional Programming

P-16 Partners in Information Literacy

Created in collaboration with the CVES Instructional Planning for Assessment Coordinator. Composed of school librarians from Champlain Valley as well as regional college librarians. The group emphasizes the information skills needed for college preparedness.

Bi-Annual Book Review ProjectAn opportunity for school librarians to review new books from publishers and retain the books free of cost for their libraries.

Best Practices WorkshopsSchool librarians meet to share their best practices during these half day sessions. Sessions are held after each School Library System meeting and focus on an assigned subject area.

Cooperative Services

Organized through the CVES BOCES. Provide schools the opportunity to receive coordinated automation services and online resource purchasing.

Grants

RIF BooksProvide three free books per year per student through grant funding.

Nightengale NewsCreation of student-run newspaper through Article XV grant funding

LSTA Funding

Managed Federal Library Services Technology Act (LSTA) funding for two Improving System Services grants from the New York State Education Department.

Collaborated on a state-wide 2-year LSTA grant providing professional development from the American Association of School Librarians

Additional Programming

Massena Summer College for KidsTaught classes in DigitalPhotography and Puppetry during

summers in the library.

Internet SafetyLarge Scale Internet Safety unit completed by students in grades 3-6.Massena School resource Officer

Presents to each class on the

dangers of the internet

Teacher TrainingTaught teachers how to access new network based report cards and input information. Taught the use of network folders, email, and school attendance software

School Board PresentationPresented the role of the media center and student achievement to Board Members of Massena Central School

SLMS 2009 Conference

Served as conference co-chair for the

2009 NYS School Library Media

Conference

Beyond the Role

Nightengale Elementary School Committees:Coordinator of Nightengale Parent CommitteeMember of Nightengale Advisory CouncilMember of Technology CommitteeMember of Character Education Team

Member of SLS Staff Development CommitteeMassena Central School SLS Liaison

School Library System Committees:NYSUT Building RepresentativeSchool Library System Association Pres-Elect

NY Alliance Library Systems Conference Planner

NYS School Library Media Conference Chair 2009

Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System Board

Northern New York Library Network Board

Outside Memberships:NYS Computers & Technology in Education

New York Library Association

American Library Association

American Association of School Librarians

Experience

School Library System Coordinator2004-Present

Champlain Valley Educational Services, Plattsburgh, NY

Elementary Library Media Specialist

2001-2004

Nightengale Elementary School, Massena, NY

Student Librarian

1998-1999

F.W. Crumb Memorial Library, Potsdam, NY

Student Music Librarian

1998-1999

J.E. Crane Memorial Library, Potsdam, NY

Student Interlibrary Loan Librarian

1996-1998

Lavery Library, Rochester, NY

Credentials

Education

2005-2006, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH19 Hours of Educational Leadership CourseworkNYS Permanent Teacher Certification School Administrator/Supervisor

2001-2003, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN

Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Technology & Library ScienceNYS Permanent Teacher Certification School Library Media Specialist

2001-2003, SUNY Potsdam, Potsdam, NY

Master of Science, Instructional Technology & Media Management

1998- 2000, SUNY Potsdam, Potsdam, NY
Bachelor of Arts, English/Education

NYS Teacher Certification Pre-K-6 with 7-9 English Extension

1996-1998, St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY

Major: Communication/English, Minor: Education