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Christeen Gilman
Professor Stephanie Shteirman
ILS 562
1 October 2014
Module 3 Assignment 2: Library/Media Specialist Interview
I interviewed Kerry Darby, who is the Library/Media Specialist (LMS) at Lawrence
Elementary School in Middletown, CT. She has been in the position since January 2015 and is
part of a group of LMSs hired by the district to bring back the program to the Middletown
elementary schools as there hasnt been one in the past ten years. She felt her Library/Media
Center (LMC) was better than other schools in the district because she has had the chance to
order updated books titles and has computers in her library, most of the elementary schools have
no computers library. Also she has an automated card catalog system that the students can access
which was much more than other schools in the district. The entire district only has two
databases: PebbleGo and Gales Site. She liked PebbleGo and does use it with her students;
however, she found Gales Site to be more for the older students.
Kerry is great with technology and has gotten the children to produce some wonderful
hands on learning materials such as a Dr. Suess Dictionary the 2nd graders produced through
Microsoft word. She also has had students create podcasts and videos of their work. She enjoys
taking students to the computer lab and incorporates technology in many of her units. In regards
to the technology plan there is one that is district wide that was put into place in 2012 and is
good for three years.
Because Kerry is on her own in the library she finds little time for duties such as
weeding. She has chosen, for now, to concentrate on creating the Library/Media program and

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updating the book collection. Kerrys schedule is fixed so she sees every child in the school
every week; however, because of the schedule she has little time to collaborate with the teachers.
She hopes to one day move to a flexible schedule so she can get out into the classrooms. At this
time she felt some teachers didnt understand her position and remembering hearing some
complaining that she wasnt teaching enough about Microsoft word. It appears there is little
communication between the teachers and herself.
Kerry does have a five year plan with her principal in place that she has just begun
working on this fall. She felt like her principal is supportive of her work to an extent because of
lack of funding. Students have been very receptive to the program and enjoy coming for library
time to have the chance to check out books. Teachers more see the program as a special to
allow them their own planning time and never stay with students or try to collaborate with Kerry.
However, what was alarming is that many students are not allowed to take books home; but
rather, have to keep them in the classrooms. In my opinion, this goes against what a LMC
should stand for. Students should be encouraged to take books home to read and share with their
families. Kerry didnt feel that her program was having a huge affect on the school as of now.
She has a long road ahead of her reestablishing the program, getting the proper funding and
advocating for a flexible schedule.