Community outcry over ‘exclusionary’ new policies at Kingston Frontenac Public Library

Community outcry over ‘exclusionary’ new policies at Kingston Frontenac Public Library

Salazar, Araceli

McBay, A. (2016, April 21). Community outcry over ‘exclusionary’ new policies at Kingston Frontenac Public Library. Retrieved from http://www.kingstonregion.com/news-story/6509214-community-outcry-over-exclusionary-new-policies-at-kingston-frontenac-public-library/

 

This article talks about how a community became upset at the public library system for changing words and deleting phrases from the libraries policies. Community members were also upset at how the new policy can exclude members of its community and allow staff members to check patrons personal belongings if necessary. The library defends itself by saying it’s because of health and safety reasons. The new changes were still being reviewed for approval and many hope for a better revision.

“Ryan hopes that the Library Board will take a more proactive, visionary approach. “At their best, libraries are an expression of our collective values,” she said. “The path forward for public spaces should not be exclusion.”

This article is a great read for any librarian because this is a reminder that the community is a big part of the library and little changes to policies can influence the perception of the library.

Florida College and University Libraries Adopt Next-Generation Technology

Florida College and University Libraries Adopt Next-Generation Technology

Salazar, Araceli

Retrieved from: http://news.uwf.edu/florida-college-and-university-libraries-adopt-next-generation-technology/

This article is about public colleges and universities across Florida using new technology to share books, journals and other educational resources. It talks about how Florida legislature provided $1.5 million dollars to implement this new system.  This new system will connect over 40 college and university libraries and allow libraries to manage their work within one system from any device.

“A new responsive website design will allow students to access material from any device, anywhere and anytime. New features for librarians will improve the ability to find, track and share material, process new acquisitions, and analyze usage.”

This article was an interesting read because I am aware of interlibrary loans but unaware there was a system that will connect multiple libraries. I believe it would be interesting to see once the system is up and running. I am also interested at the analysis it’s capable of giving. Colleges and universities are rich with different collection, so to see it all in one system is amazing. 

What to Collect? Building a Local History Reference Collection at Your Library

What to Collect? Building a Local History Reference Collection at Your Library 

Salazar, Araceli

Marquis, K., Waggener, L. (2015, July 29). What to Collect? Building a Local History Reference Collection at Your Library. Retrieved from https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2015/07/29/what-to-collect/

This article gives information regarding how to create a collection in a public library. It is a simple overview of what a collection needs and does not need. This article encourages community outreach by creating a collection based off the community’s history.

This article is a great read for those wanting to peruse a career in public libraries. This article is a simple how to guide, to building a local history collection at any library. It gives information on how to start looking for materials, what to look for, what not to collect and how create a policy to reflect the new collection.  

Seven Tips to Protect Faculty and Student Data from Hackers

Seven Tips to Protect Faculty and Student Data from Hackers

Salazar, Araceli

Baker, M. (2016, May 8) . Seven Tips to Protect Faculty and Student Data from Hackers. Retrieved from https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-05-08-seven-tips-to-protect-faculty-and-student-data-from-hackers

This article talks about the importance of protecting data in an educational setting. The article is broken down into sections talking about the importance of securing devices to educating students about cybercrimes.

Overall I thought this article was very insightful. This article gives perspective of technology we use today and gives helpful free links to research-based classroom tools to help students, parents, and staff learn about technology safety. 

Bringing them in: Developing library gaming programs

Werner, K. (2013). Bringing Them In: Developing a Gaming Program for the Library. Library Trends, 61(4), 790-801.

This article describes the development of a library card, board, video, and role-play game collection, gaming days and tournaments that fostered connections with young children, teens, and the local community and businesses.

Alongside the advertised gaming days, the library created a book club hour before gaming time for younger children, and a teen advisory board alongside their gaming time.  Creating this program, the library has become a place teens feel welcome in:  the Teen Book Club is made up of many male teens who started going to the library for the gaming events and became dedicated patrons and readers, and the Summer Reading Program doubled within a five year period.  Also, connections with businesses and community were formed as the library advertised in gaming stores and got advice, marketing tips and support.

Recommendations are given of how to start a gaming program.  Games are suggested and ways to research and find the right games are given.  Listed card, board and role-playing games for the most part can be considered ‘current.’  However, given that this article is published in 2013, the video games may be out-of-date.

Challenges are presented:  the right space for gaming time, theft, download issues, ipad and hand-held devices for gaming use is on the horizon as of 2013.  The writer points out other games may still be valuable, and still encourage participation and interest in the library.

The Future of Libraries

McGuire, Morgan

Future Rooms:  The Intelligent use of Space. (2015, January 15) Tech Learning. Retrieved from: http://www.techlearning.com/resources/0003/future-rooms-the-intelligent-use-of-space/69818

The Future of Libraries

Library collections today are all about strong connections.  Both collections and connections are heavily influenced by technology.  It’s not just about the books anymore.  Technology has a big influence on how people connect to information and to one another.  Successful libraries know that patrons and students want to access collections on-line. Information is being made accessible via the Internet and online catalogs.   Librarians are incorporating technology into collections, and it’s important for patrons to know that connections, to and through technology, are a big part of information services today.  When I came across this article about technology and libraries and space, I had to stop and listen.

According to author Ellen Ullman, educational trends are shifting.  Libraries, and in particular school libraries, are not what they used to be.  The days of the quiet libraries and study halls with rows of books are fading.  The library is no longer a place to sit quietly.  Rather libraries are incorporating more elements of learning commons.  Library space is less about owned items and more about shared collections and connections.  The library as place is about experimentation, creativity, collaboration, and 21^st century skill sets. 

So what are 21^st century skill sets?  The physical aspects of the library are no longer driven by silent reflection and study, but rather 3D printers, maker spaces, spaces for creating art with video, and music labs.   Libraries that are able, are dedicating space for patrons and students to create and learn through experimentation.  Judging from the article, school libraries will still promote reading, but the learning experience is much more tactile, much more hands on.

According the article, students, educators, and administrators that have incorporated “maker-space” and “learning common” space into the physical library have been pleased with the results.  Some school libraries have been redesigned all together and no longer appear to fit the definition of library; “other projects include turning the high school library into a media center with a TV studio, recording studio, and café”. The library of the future is not about passivity, but about engagement and hands on learning.

Getting into Play: Cataloging Toys, Games and Puzzles

Washechek, Evan

BASTIANSEN, C. Y., & WHARTON, J. (2015). Getting Ready for Play!. Children & Libraries: The Journal Of The Association For Library Service To Children, 13(4), 13-29.

This article goes into great detail to show the positive effects which “free play” or allowing children unstructured time with games, puzzles or toys can have. There has been a serious reduction of the time that children have to discover things on their own. The article goes on to state all of the benefits of free play and talks specifics with regard to studies that have been done on children who have had notable increased “exploration skills, language skills, social skills, physical skills, and creativity activity”. These skills, the study goes on to note are even more important for those in poverty settings. This compounds with the sad reality of a lack of money for such toys, games and puzzles in poverty situations. The Public Library is shown to be an example for a possible solution. The Author also note just how much of the budget was spent toward the collection of the studied library. It was particularly relevant to myself as a public library employee and someone who feels strongly encouraged to help specifically those economically disadvantaged patrons.

Reflection

By expanding the collection and adding (or simply barcoding existing) toys, games and puzzles to the collection we would facilitate and foster these outcomes that are so valuable to the community. There is a certain amount of person hours which goes into a project such as this, which would be cataloging items, creating shelving/space, labeling the items as well as creating policies for their lending. This would be in addition to extra time that would be spent keeping these items sanitized. Germs would be a major factor in some libraries not lending out these kinds of items. All libraries have some responsibility to maintain the cleanliness of their items on a professional level, but items specifically for children (some of which are at high risk for disease) is even more important.