Christine Sharp Final SPP

L to R Christine Sharp, Vanessa McKellar (MEdTL student), Dr Erica Hateley (QUT Lecturer) and Teresa Ison (MEdTL student). This SLAQ Professional Development Day in May 2011 was organised by Teresa and Christine.  

About me

1998 - 2009

I have been filling the role of part time Acting Teacher Librarian at a large state primary school since 1998. Details of my qualifications, training, work history and professional networks are contained in this document.

2010 - Present

My current position is Assistant to the Director of the Learning Centre at an Anglican P - 12 college that has been operating for eight years. The current enrolment is 1150. I teach Years 4, 5 and 6 library lessons and I team teach Year 7 English classes once a week. Year 8 classes attend the library weekly for i-create classes with me. i-create is a blend of information literacy, digital literacy, promotion of reading and ICT skills. Further details on this subject are within the portfolio. In 2012 Year 8 students will have two i-create lessons a week. This will allow us to cover considerably more content than previous years. Students in Years 9 to 12 come to the Learning Centre as required to learn Information Literacy skills such as referencing, accessing databases and evaluating resources - particularly websites.  

Assisting Year 6 girls with their reading choices.  

Year 4 students displaying their new Regional Library Cards. I was able to organise for the Mobile Library Van to visit our school in November 2010.  

Professional Learning Plan (2008)

The first part of my SPP has been carried out in my workplace. I work Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the library and attend library related training, meetings, seminars and conferences after hours. The total hours worked in the library during CN646 (July to December) will be 150 hours.

Reflection (2011)

For the final portion of my SPP I worked full time from January 2010 to present in my current role as Assistant Director of the Learning Centre working directly with students in Years 4 - 9, and indirectly with all other students, staff and parents in our P - 12 College.

For the remainder of my prac I would like to learn more about:

Primary School Libraries

• Effective policies that reflect the changing role of the library as a learning hub.
• SCIS and cataloguing
• Effective collaboration with teachers 

Reflection

My current school has high quality policies in place that cover all aspects of library management. These will be included within the detail of the SPP. My previous experience was with manually cataloguing using Alice, and my current role necessitates full comprehension of Libcode and a working knowledge of SCIS. I collaborate directly with teachers from Years 4 to 6, and team teach with the Year 7 English teacher. Other secondary teachers request to work collaboratively with me to ensure students understand information literacy, particularly referencing, databases and the locating quality resources.

High School Libraries

• The role of the library in the school
• The role of the teacher librarian
• Effective collaboration

Reflection:

All three targeted areas have been addressed through my current role in a P - 12 college. Details will be included in the SPP portfolio that follows.

Public Libraries

• Collection management
• Policy and procedures
• The role of the Young Person's Librarian.

I am able to spend time at the local high school library when it is convenient. I also have an offer to 'work shadow' the local Young Person's Librarian at the nearby branch of the Regional Council Library. I have forged strong links with this librarian over the years and we have worked together to promote the public library and reading to the learners at my school. I will need to undertake most of this during school holiday time.

Reflection

Whilst I did not have the opportunity to 'work shadow' the Young Person's Librarian at the local regional libraries, I was able to improve my connection with the public library service. The details of working collaboratively with the Regional Libraries follows in the SPP Portfolio.

 Acknowledgements:

The following friends, colleague, lecturers and 'study buddies' have provided assistance and advice as I worked towards completing my Masters' Degree:

Terrie, Chris, Ronda, Allison, Keryn, Teresa I, Vanessa, Kerrie S, Teresa S, Jo, Monique, Hilary, Mandy, Erica, Raylee.

I thank them for their practical and emotional support throughout the three and a half years.