AKLATAN KO’Y KANLUNGAN: Fostering inclusive, diverse and safe spaces in school libraries (2 of 2)

Taking off where we last had a review of the slide presentations on the Aklatan Ko'y Kanlungan is this rubric. May this be your guide and tool to evaluate programs and services that foster and promote inclusive, diverse and safe spaces in school libraries. 

Rubric for Evaluating Safe Space, Inclusive, and Diverse Library Programs and Services 

1. Collection Diversity

Excellent (4 points): The library's collection is highly diverse, representing a wide range of cultures, perspectives, and experiences across various formats (books, ebooks, audiobooks, films, etc.). It includes materials from diverse ethnicities, religions, and sexual orientations, actively promoting inclusivity. 

Good (3 points): The collection is fairly diverse, with a noticeable representation of different cultures and perspectives, although there may be some gaps in coverage or depth. 

Fair (2 points): The collection shows some effort towards diversity but lacks sufficient representation across all dimensions. There are notable gaps that limit inclusivity. 

Poor (1 point): The collection is limited in diversity, with minimal representation of cultures, perspectives, and experiences beyond mainstream offerings. 

 2. Multilingual Resources 

Excellent (4 points): The library provides extensive resources in multiple languages, including books, newspapers, magazines, and online materials, effectively meeting diverse language needs within the community. 

Good (3 points): There are substantial multilingual resources available, although there may be some gaps in specific languages or types of materials. 

Fair (2 points): The library offers limited multilingual resources, addressing only basic language needs of the community. 

Poor (1 point): Multilingual resources are severely lacking, failing to meet diverse language needs effectively. 

3. Programming 

Excellent (4 points): The library organizes a robust calendar of events, workshops, and activities that celebrate various cultures, traditions, and perspectives. Programs are well-attended and engage a broad cross-section of the community. 

Good (3 points): Programming includes a variety of events that promote cultural diversity and inclusion, although there may be room for improvement in audience reach or thematic breadth. 

Fair (2 points): The library offers some programming related to multiculturalism and diversity but lacks consistency or depth in engagement. 

Poor (1 point): Programming related to diversity and inclusion is minimal or absent, reflecting a lack of effort in fostering cultural awareness and understanding. 

 4. Accessibility 

Excellent (4 points): The library is fully accessible to people with disabilities, with comprehensive facilities such as ramps, elevators, designated parking, and appropriate signage. Materials are available in various accessible formats. 

Good (3 points): Accessibility features are generally well-implemented, though there may be minor gaps or occasional maintenance issues. 

Fair (2 points): The library has some accessibility features but lacks consistency or completeness in implementation. 

1-5 points: Poor - The library's efforts in creating a safe, inclusive, and diverse environment are minimal or ineffective, requiring substantial changes to meet community needs. This rubric provides a structured approach to assessing how well a library integrates principles of diversity, inclusion, and accessibility into its programs and services, ultimately aiming to create a welcoming space for all patrons. 

 Note: This rubric is created with the assistance of AI.

Think Tank Project 2015: Revisiting Goals

Decluttering and decorating helps me think!

This year, I am applying a concept and a process that I have learned in one of our PD (professional development) sessions in school to actual library practice. I am calling this approach as the 2015 Think Tank Project where design thinking is the methodology I will use to plan programs and services for library patrons and users.

Design Thinking is espoused by David and Tom Kelly, authors of the book Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential With In Us All. It is a four cyclical process where participants go through periods of Inspiration, Ideation and Experimentation, Synthesis and Implementation. To strengthen the approach, I am applying Roger von Oech's Creative Whack Pack as strategies to see me through the entire process.

To start, I am looking at the services and programs the library staff has delivered for the first term. Picking out three "take aways" from an informal survey I conducted during in-service training, I will think through and reflect if the "take aways" and the library services and programs agree or adhere to each other. This way, I am able to analyze and explore current practices with insights from library patrons. The patrons I gathered insights from being the teachers.

From here, I write questions to ask myself and my staff. We will do this individually and as a group. These are the questions I have written:

a. How did the library support student research during the 1st term?
b. What helped teachers in facilitating research when they asked assistance from the teacher librarian?
c. What mechanism did the library staff use to inform the community of new resources?
d. How did the community respond to these mechanisms?

This is only the first part, which is Inspiration. Ideas and insight are generated from a context and/or a content. The questions I crafted help me Explore what is current and in front of me. This exploration is like a whack on the head (von Oeck) at seeing what is obvious. Sometimes, we can get answers to questions by looking at the resources we currently have.

Dear Librarian Reply: Appraisal and Evaluation Tool for School Librarians

Here now is my reply to Ms. Quilantang's query on appraisal and evaluation tool for librarians and library personnel.

* Define the purpose and the objectives of the evaluation tool, as well as the procedure for the evaluation process. You may need to consult the HR Officer and speak with the Principal, or who ever your immediate supervisor is, on this matter. Performance evaluation is very much related to supervision by your Principal. The HR officer sees to it that supervision and performance evaluation procedures are implemented fairly. Meet with them first and articulate the impetus for designing an appraisal system and evaluation tool for library personnel.

* When you're given the green light by your administration, work with your co-librarians and library staff on this evaluation tool. Make it a team project. Set a strategy to finish this project that agrees to your team's context and your learning community's work culture and character.

* Always be guided by the school's VMG, in a macro level, and the library's VMG, on a micro level.

* Research, benchmark, set articulation meetings with other school librarians and/or professional librarian's group in your area. You may set standards that your region or district follow on performance appraisal and evaluation.

* Draft an evaluation tool base on your job description. You can get the rating scale used for teachers or office personnel. Check on rubric making and study how rating is done. For example, one job description is: Catalog print, AV and media resources. A rating of 5 as the highest and 1 as the lowest may be assigned to gauge the level of expertise and coverage of the task achieved in a given school year. Each rating has a qualitative description. Once the draft is done, make a proposal to your principal. A cover letter is necessary.

* Be ready for feedback. Keep an open mind.

Below is an introduction for designing a performance appraisal and evaluation tool.

Lib media specialist from Zarah Gagatiga

This page is taken from the book, Enhancing Professional Practice by Charlotte Danielson, published by ASCD, 2007. I encourage you to get this book for the library's collection. Apart from librarian appraisals, the book fleshes out standards and evaluation measures for teachers, school nurses, IT personnel and staff support.

If you have further questions, feel free to comment.

Dear Librarian: Appraisal and Evaluation Tool for School Librarians

Rose Marie Quilantang, a librarian from Cebu City sent this query on evaluation tool for librarians and library personnel.
 

Hello Ma'am Zarah. Hope you are fine. I Just want to ask if you have an evaluation tool for librarians. It is because we don't have any. During evaluation time, the evaluation tool we used in rating is the same as the secretaries, maintenance personnel and other staff. Though at the moment I'm still surfing the internet. Thank you in advance and God bless.

I will post my reply to Ms. Quilantang this week.