Collecting the Dust Collectors: Reimagining and putting to use materials your school is not using.

 

Cullinane, A. (2018, January 11). School library incorporates reading with exercise. 10 WJAR. 

https://turnto10.com/news/local/school-library-incorporates-reading-with-exercise

           

Summary: This article was interesting in this work because it talked about the often forgotten task of simply rummaging through your school storage areas and putting to use what is not being used. Then, simply putting clip boards over the handlebars, the students are now able to use equipment the school paid for and read at the same time, effectively building a life skill of associating reading with physical and mental health. The librarian in this story also works at the high school in the district, so this is a habit she could potentially build on going forward for students. This was free!

 

Evaluation: You never know what you can find in the depths of your school’s, and even district’s, storage areas. I once found old LeapPads-with the cartridges-in the library of a highly disadvantaged, 100% free reduced lunch school and they weren’t being used. They should have been in classrooms and in the library but they were in storage. I was so mad. The school was build in 1921 so my classroom legit had five outlets with two plugs and a few plugs didn’t work. Another outlet was our SmartBoard and another the class phone. So, with what was left, I plugged in four LeapPads for the kids. They loved them. They were bulky enough to survive being on the floor incase of accidental kicking. What I enjoyed with this article was the implementation of the bikes and ellipticals in the library. This allows rambunctious students to burn some energy in a calm atmosphere. To begin connecting exercise and reading with physical and mental health. I would love to see public libraries do this for all ages but specifically school libraries as obesity rates rise and literacy rates lower. Let’s fight both battles at once!

Collaborative Resource Sharing between Public and School Libraries

Perez, Rosa

Reference: Smith, D., Shea, M., & Wu, W.N. (2014). Collaborative resource sharing between public and school libraries. Interlending & Document Supply, 42(4), 159–164. https://doi-org.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/10.1108/ILDS-09-2014-0045

In this article, the authors explore the importance of collaborative resource sharing between public and school libraries. The study focused on collaborative collection development and interlibrary loans between public libraries and school libraries. The methodology used to conduct the study was a survey sent to 265 youth service librarians across the USA. The results show that the majority of the libraries involved in the study believe it is important to collaborate with their neighboring school libraries. They believe in collaboration because it helps both institutions save money and shelf space. By sharing resources the libraries can stretch their limited funding and purchase more materials and programs for patrons. Furthermore, this collaboration is a good promotional tool for public libraries. Students already use the school library but may not use the public library during school breaks because they are unaware of the programs and resources available. But through this collaboration, they are made aware of the resources they have access to during those breaks. This increased awareness increases foot traffic and usage in the public library. The school library benefits from the additional resources they can provide to their students. The collaboration is beneficial to both the public library and the school library but the ultimate beneficiaries are the patrons being supported by both institutions. 

This article reminds me of the current collaboration my school district (Anaheim Union High School District) has with the Anaheim Public Library. This connection called ACES (A Card for Every Student) allows all AUHSD students to access the Anaheim Public Library’s online resources by using their student ID card. This resource is helpful because it helps fill the digital gaps that the AUHSD libraries face. ACES allows students to access ebooks, audiobooks, databases, and homework help platforms among other resources. 

Surprising Results About Americans and Our Libraries

Brandes-Miesner, Marta

Raine, Lee (2014). 7 Surprises about our libraries in our surveys.
Retrieved from
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/06/30/7-surprises-about-libraries-in-our-surveys/

Summary:

This is an article written by Lee Raine, director of internet, science and technology research at Pew Research Center. From surveys taken in 2013, it states that older Americans (65+) are the smallest age group likely to have used a library in the past year. Younger Americans (16-29) are the largest group, on par with all of the ages in between ages 30 through 64. The survey identifies a group referred to as “Distant Admirers” who make up nearly 15% of the population (16+) who have never been to a library but have very positive views of the library. These views are based on another family member being a library user, the belief that libraries promote literacy which can result in the improvement of communities and the quality of lives. Next is that although e-book reading is on the rise, only 4% of those 29% of Americans who have ever read an e-book have become “e-book only” readers. Of Americans who read both, their preferences are pretty evenly split depending upon circumstances. The survey also revealed that library users prefer to own books (purchase them) rather than to borrow them from the library. That is they are not necessarily purchasing them but they would prefer to, rather than borrow.  Additionally, despite librarians’ staunch support of patrons’ privacy, 64% of library users said they would be willing to use a Reader’s Advisory Service that would recommend reading materials to patrons based upon their previously checked out materials. The remainder said they would be “”very likely” to use it. Finally, library patrons were fairly evenly divided into thirds (yes, no and maybe) when asked about the future physical arrangement of library materials and whether or not they should be removed to make way for tech centers, reading rooms and spaces for cultural programs.

Evaluation:

This 2013 poll taken by the Pew Research Center turned out to be more surprising than not. Some results were expected for logical reasons, for example the impression of libraries in general, even by “Distant Admirers”. The first question about actual library usage did surprise me. I would have thought that there would have been more library use among older Americans. Traditionally (as the question about the impressions of libraries by non-users revealed) libraries are seen as an embodiment of our nation’s founding principles. They are institutions that symbolize life-long learning, knowledge, wisdom-ideas that are customarily associated with societies’ elders. However, the discomfort that many older Americans feel in regards to technology may be one reason among many for the lower percentage. The fact that young adults were among the largest groups would not be surprising given the number of people in school among this age group. However, one might expect more alternative resources given the availability of internet sources today. The question about library users preferring to own books rather than to borrow them may seem surprising at first, but upon reflection it makes sense-book lovers are book lovers. Lovers of knowledge are lovers of knowledge. One may not always have the ability to purchase their own reading material but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t like own it in whatever format. Even as students, it would make sense that it is easier to study materials when one have the liberty to highlight, notate, etc. Over all, the results of the survey and article are interesting and worth consideration.