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I'm not sure where to start! I am so glad that this class is taught in conjunction with the field experience. I was glad to be able to make connections between both the FE and this class and felt like I could immediately apply what I was learning in this class to the FE on several occasions. A big takeaway for me is the importance of having a PLN/network/friends in the profession. I saw firsthand with this class that surrounding yourself with supportive people is so important! I'm so glad Peg set up that Facebook group because this is such a wonderful group of people. Very supportive, very positive. Another important takeaway for me is that it's also really important to go outside your comfort zone, whether it's trying out a new technology, seeking feedback when you think you know all the answers, or what have you. I like that this class encouraged us to use 21st century platforms especially. While a Face to Face class may have been a little easier (mainly because you can raise your hand when you don't understand something!), I personally feel that online is better for me. I am naturally shy (and, truthfully, socially anxious) and the online format has forced me to participate in class when normally I would be sitting silently in the back wondering if I should really ask that question or say that comment. (I think it's also improved my written communication skills!) So for me online has been a wonderful experience. For this class specifically, with the emphasis on tech, I think it lends itself to an online format.

It's been real, guys! I will miss you and this class.

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There are so many takeaways to chose from after having finishing this course (which, as an aside, I can't believe is wrapping up!!). One thing that most impacted my thinking was the framing of the five major responsibilities of the librarian as instruction, collection/access, staffing, facilities and budget management. As we all know too well, librarians have to wear so many hats and manage so many different aspects of the library program that framing it in these five clear domains really helped me focus and shape my thinking in this role. It's also helped make clear priorities for me, showing which areas needed improvement in my FE and which were going strong and could be put on the back burner.

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This course has been an invaluable lifeline for bridging the gap between academic library courses and the practical knowledge and support that is necessary to be successful in a school library position. We received a lot of information to absorb, and it is comforting to know that a lot of it will still be available to us after class on the LibGuides. The most important thing I will take away from this course is the importance of staying connected, building a professional learning community, and always being open to learning and sharing new ideas and technologies with others in the library and educational community. I have enjoyed my time with all of my classmates and professors in the MLIS program and I hope we will stay in touch throughout our careers.

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So I have to say this has been one of the greatest decisions of my life. I have always been the quiet kid who wasn't sure about what they wanted, even told my mom I wanted to be a cat at one point... but my decision to go for my masters at Rutgers was the right choice. I knew from the moment I entered my field experience and started our management course that all of the hard work was meaningful and every moment in this class has been a learning experience. What surprised me the most was just how much I didn't mind the class being online, which has not been the case for other courses. I was very worried coming in, that I would be left behind and feel that I wasn't learning, but every aspect of this course is designed to get you talking with your peers, get you online to see what's out there, and make you feel part of the community we are joining.

I think that the most valuable thing I learned in this course is how beneficial having a community of colleagues is. I have never been big on social media, other than Facebook. Our Library community is huge and just being on a webinar where people were chiming in from all over the country was really neat. This course had me trying new things and pushing myself to reach out and break through that wall. I was also very surprised by all of the materials out in the web, that I never knew existed. Things had changed so much from what we learned at school! In a lot of ways, this course has prepared me for a future in the library field, by pushing us to get to know who we should be following and learning by example. There are always different webinars that will teach us new things and we should never feel stuck or alone. There is an answer as quick as typing a question. Thank you all for amazing semester! :D

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One of the ways this course has prepared me for the real world is by connecting me with so many leaders in the field of librarianship.  I found the Google Hangouts to be really helpful, both in terms of the ideas I gleaned from them and the inspiration they provided.  As a relative newcomer to the world of libraries, being able to connect with and get advice from such experienced practitioners has been invaluable, and I feel like I now have an extended network of mentors I can turn to for valuable insight and help.  Just last night I connected with Stony Evans again following the latest #TLChat and he encouraged me to contact him when I land a job so that we can connect our students through a Mystery Skype, etc.

Another way this course has prepared me for the real world is through the assignments we have engaged in throughout the course.  The environmental scan highlighted the importance of understanding the school and local community your library serves.  The information I gathered as a part of this exercise not only assisted me with my needs assessment and action plan for Assignment 2, but also informed my interactions with faculty during my field experience.  In addition, it illustrated for me the importance of understanding whatever community I will hope to serve as I begin my job hunt, and actively engage in interviewing for school librarian positions.  Assignment 2 was another invaluable exercise because it highlighted how important planning is to any successful library program.  While my field experience provided me with ample opportunities to engage in the day-to-day operations of a school library program, Assignment 2 allowed me to occupy the lead role in that program and work through how my plans for it would best be implemented.  Finally, Assignment 3 provided a crash course in how to create an effective workshop for teachers.  After completing this assignment I now feel more confident about my ability to support teachers and provide training to various stakeholder groups in whatever school I end up at.

The final way that this course has prepared me for the real world of librarianship has been in reinforcing the importance of professional development.  Attending LitCamp was informative and fun, and it has encouraged me to seek out similar events.  This class has provided me with all kinds of ideas for learning, including online opportunities like webinars and Twitter chats as well as on-site conferences and learning seminars.  One of the primary reasons I love working as a librarian is that I’m always learning something new, and this class has provided me with concrete ways I can expand that learning in a variety of ways.

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I have enjoyed this class - and the thoughtful comments and enthusiastic responses from all of you - so very much.  It has been a lot of work, but I have learned so much that it's hard to even begin to catalogue it.  When I think back to those early days of management 101 and all of the various theories we were immersed in, I couldn't imagine that we'd all end up here.  I still think back to the dancing guy video and the importance of being a first follower, and a leader.  And defining your why.  Those were two very powerful ideas for me.  And yet my biggest takeaway is rather simple ... a feeling of confidence and hopefulness.  Everything that we've learned together has reaffirmed my commitment to this profession, and filled me with a confidence that I could succeed in it.  That I have passion and enthusiasm to share and so much to give.  It has made me stop and realize how much of the school culture I have picked up along the way, while I thought I was "just a fundraiser".  I needed this jolt, and I'm grateful for it.  It has truly been an inspiring journey, and I look forward to the next stage with renewed confidence and excitement.

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One of the main things I've taken from this course is simply the enormity of this profession.  I don't mean that in a bad or scary way, though.  In one way there have been times that I have been so overwhelmed by the amount of information out there to help hone our practices.  I remember at one point thinking I was a glass full of school library information and didn't think I could take another drop!  I have learned this semester that there is so much more depth and breadth to our profession than I even imagined!  I'm so glad that the libguide and other course resources will be available after the end of the course so I can explore more when I have the time.
Another view of enormity is how each of us can take our experience in so many different directions.  There really is no limit to what we can do, how we can impact student learning and how we can change the world!  [Insert librarian superhero here]
The third enormity is the worldwide scope of our community of colleagues.  Through modern technology we can connect with SLs from all over the country and the world!  And, as I've mentioned elsewhere, librarians are known to be sharers and problem solvers.  Put a question out there and many colleagues will jump in with a suggestion!
I couldn't imagine being in any other profession!!  <3<3<3
BTW, I love the online format! For those of us in the workforce, raising a family, etc. it is so perfect! And we are in the age of technology where this should be the norm! People may think an online class is easier, but it's NOT!

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Do you think you would have learned more in a F2F class, rather than taking this course online? Why?

I really thought about this question, and I feel that if this class was a F2F class, I would have learned less than I did with the online format. In a class, especially one such as this with so much information, I think the online format gives students more time to consume and digest the information before having to answer questions (post to the Discussion Boards).  Several weeks, I found myself looking over the information in the beginning of the week, finding out the topics, only to discover as I went through my week at work that something in my ‘world’ was relative to our class discussion topic.

The Discussion Boards also allow each student the opportunity to have an equal voice, allowing each student to say as much, and as often as they wish.  In a face to face class, only one person can speak at a time, and that time is even more limited by the class schedule. Not that any of us are shy, but some students may not feel as comfortable speaking in front of other classmates, compared to expressing themselves in writing.

Final Reflections -

This class has helped me to think deeper, and feel more passionately about my role as a School Librarian. So I have pondered, and I have reflected, on how and why these past few months have been so rewarding, and I want to share my thoughts with all of you. (I know! How out of character!)

First, surround yourself (physically and/or virtually) with people whom you admire, who are a positive influence, who you can learn from, and who help you to feel good about yourself and what you are doing.  Thank you, Dr. Valenza, for being one of those people for me, and for introducing me to so many other amazing, influential people as well. I will continue to follow, and communicate with those I have met, and continue to grow my PLN throughout my career.

The other thought I want to share is that you can go through the motions to pass this course, you can go through the motions to be a decent School Librarian, or you can reach deep down and find your ‘Why’, your passion, and you will actually feel the difference. You will determine what you get out of this class, and out of your career. There may be components in either that seem challenging, or even impossible, but when you truly believe in what you do, you will find a way to accomplish what you want.

Once you experience that feeling, that passion that drives you, people around you will start to notice, and you will become the ‘change agent’, the one others want to surround themselves with. I know this because I am watching it happen, to me, and it feels so good!

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My primary takeaway from this course is that running a school library is one giant balancing act -- you have so many plates (updated collection, lesson planning that meets standards, designing a functional space, tracking a budget, event planning, and collaboration, to name a few) that you have to keep spinning all at once, and you have to keep in mind that even if you don't have a full- or part-time secretary or aide, you still don't have to do it all completely alone. You can bring in volunteers to shelve books so you can work on a guided inquiry unit you've been planning with a teacher, or order new books to add to the collection, or look into rearranging the room to increase productivity, or whatever you might need to get done. Each of us also has a PLN that we can lean on (which includes all of us!) for advice or questions if need be. I've learned SO many things this semester, but that's really my biggest takeaway.