March 2000: Let Me Be a Librarian

I think that having a librarian in the school is an important part of the program. A few years ago, at Southern Connecticut State University, I was cross-certified as a school media specialist. I got very tired of everyone in my classes telling me I had to be a teacher first and a librarian second. If I'm the only librarian in a school full of teachers, then I think I should be the librarian first--no one else will be. I never did take a position as a school media specialist--I found a very rewarding job as assistant director of a regional library consortium. I wonder how many other librarians are "turned off" by the teacher-first rhetoric? We are currently suffering a shortage of school media specialists in Connecticut (we have had a shortage for a number of years) and they are "fast-tracking" teachers through a school media course based on dire need. Too bad--I might have taken one of those positions if the focus had been on the library part of the job and not the teaching part. Anyway, thanks again for the article. Dr. Swigger will probably get a lot of flak for it, but I respect his choice to air the issue, and I agree with his position.

Sandy Brooks
Assistant Director
Eastern (CT) Libraries

Skating Debate

I am writing in response to a review of my book, Sophie Skates (Putnam, 1999; November, 1999, p. 143). I understand that reviewing is often a matter of opinion; however, in this case, the reviewer, Pat Leach, takes issue with the facts.

Pat Leach says, "A novice skater's free skate would be shorter than indicated." Actually, the time frame I used was taken directly from the official time frame stated by the United States Figure Skating Association. These same rules are quoted by Tara Lipinski in her book, Triumph on Ice, and in Figure Skating for Dummies. I'm not quite sure what Pat means by the term "novice skater," because Sophie has had years of training.

Pat also states that "the position shown for 'shoot the duck' is incorrect." The position shown in Sophie Skates is an integral part of the preparation for "shoot the duck."

Our Reviewer Replies:

In crafting the review for Sophie Skates, and in preparing this reply to Ms. Isadora, I have relied on the assistance of a colleague who is a United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA) judge, a skater, and on the staff of the USFSA. Another woman, the archivist at the World Figure Skating Museum, has also looked at the pages in question.

In regard to the illustration labeled "shoot the duck," Ms. Isadora writes that the position shown is integral to the preparation for this move. However, it is not the move itself, which includes a lower sitting position and one leg straight.

Regarding the time of the free skate, or long program, the context of the book implies that Sophie would be presenting a four-minute free skate. Indeed, senior-level skaters present a four-minute long program. Given her level of skill as shown, Sophie would not be competing at that level. My use of "novice" does not imply that Sophie is new to skating. "Novice" is the sixth step in the eight levels of competitive figure skating. Until Sophie reaches the senior level, the time requirement for her free skate would be less than four minutes.

Corrections

The literary agent Sterling Lord, not the agency Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc., is an investor and co-producer of The Looseleaf Book Company radio show (News, December 1999, p. 15).

The review for Corinne Gerson's Cyberdog (Fireworks, 1999; January 2000, p. 96) was written by William Owen, Government Hill Elementary School, Anchorage, AK, and not Maryann H. Owen, as stated.

Call for Reviewers

School Library Journal is looking for librarians/media specialists to review videos, audiobooks, music recordings, and educational CD-ROMs in all subject areas and for all grade levels. For more information e-mail Phyllis Levy Mandell at pmandell@slj.cahners.com or write to her at School Library Journal, 245 W. 17th St., New York, NY 10011.