Thursday, April 21, 2016
demise ? of school libraries
First, a nice little video on why we should care about the possible demise of school libraries
We'll get back to the video later.
It is true, as ably described by Lauren, Verna, Geoffrey, and the other posters, that there is much to be discouraged about concerning the future of school libraries. Many libraries are facing cuts in materials budgets and (more importantly) staffing. They are not given highest priority in many schools as people question their necessity in this internet age.
I wanted to explore one specific recent years that offers hope for the future of school libraries that Verna mentioned. That is Congress passing (with bipartisan support!) the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which President Barack Obama signed on December 15, 2015.
(image of signing ceremony from whitehouse.gov)
Emily Sheketoff, executive director of the American Library Association Washington Office (ALAWASH), headed the ALA's federal lobbying efforts, and expressed gratification over its passage -- even though it did fall short of her ideal. `"If I were the king of all things," she told School Library Journal editor Rebecca T. Miller, "I would have wanted a section [in the bill] for school libraries that required every school...[to] have a school library with a state-certified school librarian and such staff as that librarian needs to teach every student in the school what they need to know." (Miller, 2016).
ESSA does not have that. But it still has "a lot" according to Sheketoff. Provisions in the new law that might impact school libraries. One advance is is simple recognition throughout the law's text that libraries are an integral part of effective schools. "School libraries and school librarians are really recognized as critical education partners in this bill" says 2015-16 ALA president Sari Feldman. (Heitin, 2015). The "acknowledgement that an effective library is part of a good school" means that "if a school is failing, one of the things the school district needs to look at is if [it has] an effective library program" according to Shektoff (Miller, 2016).
In addition, ESSA includes the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program, which empowers to Secretary of Education to award grants and contracts to promote literacy programs -- monies that could theoretically be awarded for library resources and professional development for librarians. It also permits the use of Federal Title II funds to support instructional services "provided by effective school library programs" and encourages schools and districts to promote digital skills and literacy -- tasks well-suited for libraries. (Heitin, 2015).
However, the law as written permits and encourages states and local school districts to seek out grants and improve library programs, it does not mandate them necessarily. ESSA in general gives more leeway for local control decisions than the legislation it replaced (No Child Left Behind). There is no federal dedicated funding stream or line item funding for school libraries in the law.
What that means is that the future challenge for school librarians and school library supporters is to marshal support from school administrators to aggressively take advantage of the funding opportunities from ESSA and convince districts that supporting libraries (with federal, state, and local monies) is necessary to create vibrant school environments that promote learning. Basically it means that librarians still have the burden of lobbying for more funding for their positions and to try to marshal both administrative and public support for school libraries.
Which means more public relations efforts making arguments similar to what is seen in the video above. (see, I told you we'd get back to the video). ESSA does not guarantee the future of school libraries, but it gives more resources -- and the imprimatur of government recognition -- to those librarians seeking to both preserve and transform the school library -- and perhaps one day achieve the dream of a library and a librarian in every school.
Resources linked and cited in this post
[Captstone Publishers]. (2014, October 22). School libraries matter: the changing role of the school librarian. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eilZJp3_h8.
Heitin, L. (2015, December 9). How literacy programs and school libraries fare under the new federal bill [Web log post]. Retrieved April 21, 2016, from http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2015/12/literacy_school_libraries_ESSA.html
Miller, R. T. (2016). A new start: With school libraries in ESSA, on the the next phase of advocacy. School Library Journal. Retrieved April 21, 2016, from http://www.slj.com/2016/01/opinion/editorial/a-new-start-with-school-libraries-in-essa-on-to-the-next-phase-of-advocacy-editorial/#_
We'll get back to the video later.
It is true, as ably described by Lauren, Verna, Geoffrey, and the other posters, that there is much to be discouraged about concerning the future of school libraries. Many libraries are facing cuts in materials budgets and (more importantly) staffing. They are not given highest priority in many schools as people question their necessity in this internet age.
I wanted to explore one specific recent years that offers hope for the future of school libraries that Verna mentioned. That is Congress passing (with bipartisan support!) the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which President Barack Obama signed on December 15, 2015.
(image of signing ceremony from whitehouse.gov)
Emily Sheketoff, executive director of the American Library Association Washington Office (ALAWASH), headed the ALA's federal lobbying efforts, and expressed gratification over its passage -- even though it did fall short of her ideal. `"If I were the king of all things," she told School Library Journal editor Rebecca T. Miller, "I would have wanted a section [in the bill] for school libraries that required every school...[to] have a school library with a state-certified school librarian and such staff as that librarian needs to teach every student in the school what they need to know." (Miller, 2016).
ESSA does not have that. But it still has "a lot" according to Sheketoff. Provisions in the new law that might impact school libraries. One advance is is simple recognition throughout the law's text that libraries are an integral part of effective schools. "School libraries and school librarians are really recognized as critical education partners in this bill" says 2015-16 ALA president Sari Feldman. (Heitin, 2015). The "acknowledgement that an effective library is part of a good school" means that "if a school is failing, one of the things the school district needs to look at is if [it has] an effective library program" according to Shektoff (Miller, 2016).
In addition, ESSA includes the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program, which empowers to Secretary of Education to award grants and contracts to promote literacy programs -- monies that could theoretically be awarded for library resources and professional development for librarians. It also permits the use of Federal Title II funds to support instructional services "provided by effective school library programs" and encourages schools and districts to promote digital skills and literacy -- tasks well-suited for libraries. (Heitin, 2015).
However, the law as written permits and encourages states and local school districts to seek out grants and improve library programs, it does not mandate them necessarily. ESSA in general gives more leeway for local control decisions than the legislation it replaced (No Child Left Behind). There is no federal dedicated funding stream or line item funding for school libraries in the law.
What that means is that the future challenge for school librarians and school library supporters is to marshal support from school administrators to aggressively take advantage of the funding opportunities from ESSA and convince districts that supporting libraries (with federal, state, and local monies) is necessary to create vibrant school environments that promote learning. Basically it means that librarians still have the burden of lobbying for more funding for their positions and to try to marshal both administrative and public support for school libraries.
Which means more public relations efforts making arguments similar to what is seen in the video above. (see, I told you we'd get back to the video). ESSA does not guarantee the future of school libraries, but it gives more resources -- and the imprimatur of government recognition -- to those librarians seeking to both preserve and transform the school library -- and perhaps one day achieve the dream of a library and a librarian in every school.
Resources linked and cited in this post
[Captstone Publishers]. (2014, October 22). School libraries matter: the changing role of the school librarian. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eilZJp3_h8.
Heitin, L. (2015, December 9). How literacy programs and school libraries fare under the new federal bill [Web log post]. Retrieved April 21, 2016, from http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2015/12/literacy_school_libraries_ESSA.html
Miller, R. T. (2016). A new start: With school libraries in ESSA, on the the next phase of advocacy. School Library Journal. Retrieved April 21, 2016, from http://www.slj.com/2016/01/opinion/editorial/a-new-start-with-school-libraries-in-essa-on-to-the-next-phase-of-advocacy-editorial/#_
by: Marcela Miramontes
Neal-Schuman's Library Technology Companion defines a makerspace as a place where technology tools are available for interested community members to create audio, video, or physical items (Neal-Schulman 212). I do not recall having seen makerspaces at the schools I attended when I was younger, but I have seen similarly described spaces in the school libraries I've visited throughout the San Diego Unified School District and often wondered what the purpose of these spaces was. Walking into a library and seeing a group of students hard at work on some crafts one day , I asked the librarian if they were making decorations for the library, but she replied that, no, the students were actually working on creating cars out of miscellaneous objects and that they would be holding a race the following day. She also told me a bit about how their makerspace came to be; most of the students at the makerspace had attended the Gizmos and Gadgets Kids Labs Camp during the summer where they had a blast creating and testing science projects, making art, learned about new technology, and learned from each other.
Below is a description of the Gizmos and Gadgets ethos and mission:
Gizmos & Gadgets Creative Lab
Gizmos & Gadgets is a creative lab for kids where they are free to develop and pursue their own ideas through hands-on project based learning experiences in science, technology, engineering, art, math & maker (STEAM).
At Gizmos & Gadgets, our goals are to:
- Expose children to the real vocabulary, tools, processes, and content of STEAM fields and give them a head start in those subjects
- Provide a fun and engaging experience for children so they view STEAM fields in a positive way.
- Create confident children who are able to follow their own ideas, problem solve, work in teams, and who don’t give up.
Works Cited
"Makerspaces Implemented at Every Calvert School | Spotlight | Somdnews.com."SoMdNews.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
"Makerspaces in Libraries." YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
The Neal-Schuman Library Technology Companion, Fourth Edition: a Basic Guide for Library Staff. American Library Assn., 2013. Print.
"Tools + Support + Community = Our School Library Makerspace." YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
The age of the micro portable computer is upon us, and the iterations are vast. Everyone has a phone, tablet or laptop and many of them have more than one. The age of information is upon us and with this new age libraries need to become more than just a place where patrons can check out books. People are moving away from reading paper or physical books and would like everything delivered in a digital fashion. The have e-readers that they would like to check out books on, phones, tablets and laptops that they would like to access the internet with. The opportunity for a library to provide services much greater than their collection has become a reality.
Libraries can and should take advantage of "extra workstations", supplying internet is enough for most people to access all of the library's digital tools and collections.
The millennial is not focused on the collections at the local library. “77% [of patrons] say free access to computers and the internet is a very important service of libraries.“ (pewinternet.org) With this new reality the services that the library renders has grown. They now offer services for e-check out of virtual materials, e-books, e-magazines, and e-newspapers. Patrons do not come into the library to access these services, but choose to access them through the internet. The stacks and collection of the library are growing 10 times year over year as materials are made available virtually.
The expansion of new materials, music, movies, and online services are now available through services provided by companies like Overdrive. Their company monicure is “Borrow eBooks, audiobooks, and more from your local public library - anywhere, anytime. All you need is a library card.” (Overdrive.com) No longer is it necessary for a patron to come in to the library.
 |
| Electronic media can enhance the library experience; complimenting, not replacing, a collection of books. |
Libraries have begun to offer a new set of services to aid in the access to these services. They provide free internet services, access to computers. One library in Fallbrook, CA offers Laptop checkout for patrons to enjoy access to the internet or cloud services to complete their studies.
BYOD, or bring your own device, has changed the library in ways that were not predictable. It now behooves the librarian to make use of them to give their patrons the best set of services that they can.
http:// overdrive.com
http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/01/22/library-services/
The demise of school libraries
School Libraries and the SDUSD
by: Marcela Miramontes
After reading John Owen’s article Not as We Remember It:
Public Education Is Being Gutted, I was not too surprised when he brought up
the lack of funding for school libraries, but I was shocked when he mentioned
how a “school without its own library is now all too common” and how proof can
be seen on a crowd-sourced Google map titled “A Nation Without School Librarians”
(School Library Journal, Sept. 2013). After reading this piece, I immediately
looked up this map on Google, and sure enough, it shows a map of the U.S as
well as the rest of the world dotted with pins indicating which schools have no
libraries or certified librarians. I was sad to see how such a wealthy nation
as our own was dotted with so many pins.
This article immediately brought to my mind two interviews I
watched recently; in the interview videos, two school library technicians,
Theresa and Sarah, expressed the need for more staff and aides in school
libraries.
Theresa mentioned that one of the challenges she has
struggled with the most is limiting the amount of time and the number of
students who can use the library because of staff shortage ("RBHS Library
Tour and Interview") and Sarah mentioned that she would like an aide to
help her with shelving and checking out books so that she can have more time
for library lessons and helping other students. Sarah herself admitted that
although the students do a fine job as volunteers, they are still too young to
keep up with the duties of a library technician ("LCM Library Tour and
Interview”)
I do not think students should be barred from the library
simply because there are not enough staff members available. I understand that
in an elementary school or middle school students may need more supervision,
but I found it annoying as a teen when staff insisted on treating me like a
five-year-old when I was three weeks away from my 18th birthday. A solution to this problem I’ve seen some
High Schools take is to have students volunteer as library assistants for a
certain amount of time a week during the school year. The advantage of this
arrangement is that the volunteers can gain valuable experience in a
professional setting, their peers will feel more comfortable asking them, a
fellow student, for help, and the library will be more accessible to all students.
Because of my job with the San Diego Unified School
District, I have had the opportunity to visit several school libraries
throughout San Diego, but I have never really thought about the struggles faced
by the libraries and the library staff; after asking them about their position
and what they would change, most of them expressed dissatisfaction with the
current school system, their part time position, and the lack of support.
Works Cited
Owens, John. "Not As We Remember It." School
Library Journal 59.9 (2013): 20. Academic Search Premier. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
"LCM Library Tour and Interview." YouTube. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
"A Nation Without School Librarians." Google.
N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
"RBHS Library Tour and Interview." YouTube. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2016
Cloud computing in libraries
By Geoffrey Blakeley
"This paper starts with literature
review of articles in cloud computing,
some of them describing how libraries
are incorporating and evaluating
the cloud. The author introduces
cloud computing definition, identifies
three-level of services (SaaS, PaaS,
and IaaS), and provides an overview
of major players such as Amazon,
Microsoft, and Google. Open source
cloud software and how private cloud
helps are discussed. Then he presents
case studies using different cloud
computing providers: case 1 of using
an IaaS provider Amazon and case 2
of using a PaaS provider Google. In
case 1, the author justifies the implementation
of DSpace on AWS. In case
2, the author discusses advantages
and pitfalls of PaaS and demonstrates
a small web application hosted in
Google AppEngine. Detailed analysis
of the TCOs comparing AWS with
local managed storage and servers
are presented. The analysis shows
that the cloud computing has technical
advantages and offers significant
cost savings when serving web applications.
Shifting web applications to
the cloud provides several technical
advantages over locally managed
servers. High availability, flexibility,
and cost-effectiveness are some of the
most important benefits. However,
the locally managed storage is still
an attractive solution in a typical case of 10TB storage. Since Amazon
offers lower storage pricing for huge
amounts of data, readers are recommended
to do their own analysis on
the TCOs." (Han)
Han, Yan. "Cloud Computing: Case Studies And Total Costs Of Ownership." Information Technology & Libraries 30.4 (2011): 198-206. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
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