Ruth Toor

In library settings, the manager or administrator position is a prevalent position within the profession (Mackenzie & Smith, 2009). This exploratory essay will examine the current education requirements, skills, competencies, knowledge, experience, technical skills, and salaries of managers and administrators working in public libraries.

“Why Public Libraries Matter: And How They Can Do More” by David Vinjamuri demonstrates the dedication that librarians have toward benefitting their patrons. The goal of libraries has always been simple; to supply easy access to information and to establish a center where the community can read stories as a leisurely activity. As the Internet became more common in the

The responsibility rests with the library director or school superintendent, who regulates the selection to appropriate staff acting within the framework of the established policies. In schools, librarians work closely with teachers and school administrators to provide collections that support and supplement the school’s curriculum.

Ruth’s father was a rabbi. He was traveling rabbi preacher. Ruth says he was just like preachers would see on TV except hem preached in synagogues. Ruth also says that “he wasn’t so smooth-talkin” like other traveling preachers. This occupation forced Ruth and her family to move often.

This passage talks about how Ruth’s father, Tateh, ran a household. He did’nt show any love to his wife or kids but he put them to work. Sam got so upset about having to work in his Tateh’s store that he ran away. Running a household is a very important factor to Ruth and James. Ruth tends to run a very strict household with grades and if they don’t listen to Ruth they get punished by a belt. Ruth’s household tactics are similar to her Tateh but she shows love for them too. Ruth would even put a king or queen in charge over their siblings. In this passage, Mcbride is describing how Ruth and her siblings hated being treated as slaves to their Tateh. This also relates to what James and his siblings go through. Some of the siblings such as Helen

Ruth’s mother set a feminine guiding line that was characterized by a serious devotion to principle, righteousness, duty, and her husband.

Furthermore, school library media centers provide students from poverty with access to print and digital information. As a school library media specialist, I will use my expertise in children’s literature and information literacy to lessen the educational gap between high-income and low-income students through providing equitable access to information for all students. Moreover, by pursuing a career as a school library media specialist at the elementary level, I will be able to help early childhood students from diverse backgrounds develop literacy skills. I am seeking a career as a library media specialist to use my expertise as a information professional and the resources of library media centers to empower students through instilling their love of reading and increasing their information literacy to foster educated and empowered school

The process I used to create the advocacy video provides evidence of how my core values as a school librarian can positively affect the students and teachers around me. Based on the Texas Education Agency’s SBEC School Librarians Standards for the initial Preparation of School Librarians the following standards were met:

The U.S. population is shifting and minorities such as the Hispanic race will soon exceed all other races in our country. We librarians have a duty to introduce our younger generation of minorities to our profession and begin chaining the view for U.S. minorities to have a better understanding of our profession. By doing this we can begin to change the perspective of our profession and to help ensure that more future minorities enter our profession.

Thinking of the roles school librarians have to play in advancing a school’s curriculum, what role do you anticipate will

The library I volunteered at is run by the high school, Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute (C.I.). The school was founded in 1979 and was named after Norman Bethune; a well-known Canadian doctor. He was best known for his services during World War I and his dedication to helping the poor in Canada. Moreover, over these past few years, the school has prospered beautifully and has had many renovations and changes. For example, two years ago, the school’s library had a huge makeover. The library was given new furniture to allow to have students a better working space. Similarly, the library moved shelves around in order to make it more convenient for everyone to access books. Ultimately, Dr. Norman Bethune C.I. has it in their best interest to provide students with the tools they need to succeed in education. In other words, the school displays good citizenship by assisting their students.

I am a thirty-four-year-old United States Army veteran from Norfolk, Virginia. I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, and I minored in Urban Studies from Norfolk State University in 2004. I have over nine years of volunteer and paid experience with the Norfolk Public Library in Norfolk, Virginia. Currently, I am a Library Associate at the Blyden Branch Library in Norfolk, Virginia. As a Library Associate, I serve on the reference desk, and I answer basic reference questions. Also, I assist patrons by locating materials on the shelves and providing help with the use of equipment such as computers, the fax machine, and the scanner. I suggest reading materials for patrons of all ages. In addition, I check out and discharge books and DVDs, reserve material requests, register new patrons, coordinate interlibrary loans and collect fees. I prepare statistical reports, order supplies, process library holds, distribute library materials, and process lost and damaged materials. Additionally, I open mail and ensure that the office equipment is functioning properly. Previously, I worked for the Norfolk Public School system as a Substitute Teacher for middle and high school grade levels. I tutored disabled students during my internship at Norfolk State University. I have a passion for helping others which is my biggest strength.

Ruth, despite her manipulative and controlling exterior, is actually a complex character whose actions are greatly affected by personal insecurity. Ruth's lack of self-confidence became apparent after the pencil case incident at Hailsham. Kathy ends up confronting Ruth about her lie, which is when we see her façade break, "...how for once she was at a complete loss for words, and had turned away on the verge of tears..." (60). By Kathy's wording, "for once", we can see how Ruth doesn't break like this often. Then the question is, why include this detail in Kathy’s story?

In Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz, the minor character, Mary Louise, is used to strengthen the justification of the major character, Amanda’s, actions in regards to her giving up her daughter, Imogene, to Mary Louise to raise and instead, raises her niece, Ruth, after her sister died. This justification is presented through the similarities between Mary Louise and Amanda with how they keep secrets from Imogene and believe what they are doing is protecting her and is the best thing to do, which portrays the novel’s theme of maternal figures acting in what they believe to be in favor of their daughter, blood or not.

Almost 20 years ago Margaret Stieg spoke of Darwinism and the closing of Library Schools, as did Marion Paris in her dissertation research. Around the same time, in 1996, Nancy Van House, in a paper entitled “The Panda Syndrome: An Ecology of LIS Education” used ecological theory to warn against the extinction of LIS education, because like the Panda, it was failing to adapt to new environments, seek out new niches, or explore alternative resources. In this research Van House put forth several adaptive strategies some of which have taken root in the form of school mergers, alternative delivery formats, and as Andy Dillon, from UT, Austin, recently suggested in a JELIS article, by iSchool branding. With all of these developments has anything really changed? The stamp on the forehead is “NO” for those programs that are teaching for the past, and “YES” for those programs that are teaching for the future. In this editorial I will only have time to speak for the future, interjecting teaching and learning considerations where I see those lacking in future oriented programs. In my concluding thoughts I will address issues of accreditation, the iSchool movement, and