The demise of school libraries

School libraries are in decline after the recession of 2008. Budgets were cut and only necessary staff were kept on payroll. Talking to library technicians I have gotten the impression that in every school library there are maybe one full-time library technician, one assistant who is part-time and student workers/ volunteers. Basically, the library technician has to learn to do everything and to get help where they can. From what I remember in my schooling I only ever saw one librarian and I had always assumed that it was a librarian and not a technician, when in actuality there is one librarian for a whole school district on call.

Why is this so critical?

School librarians are not only the go-between between teacher and student but they can be a crucial aspect in a child’s school career. They can help children and teach them crucial 21^st century information technology skills that their teachers may not have the chance and time to do so. School librarians can influence children to become life-long learners and that is something that is very important for not just libraries but for society as a whole.

School libraries and student achievement have been studied and they have found that there is a link . . . “between a quality school library program and increased student achievement” (Lee & Scott, 2015.) This is great news for school librarians but what does this exactly mean? It means that school libraries are necessary and crucial for students not just to inspire life-long learning but also in achieving academic success. There was a time were school libraries seem foreboding to most students and where a place where imagination, creativity and learning were not encouraged. In fact, I can vividly remember that in my high school library during school hours, the library felt isolated and quiet. It felt like a world removed from the school which was great for doing homework but not for active learning. “Librarians no longer "shush" students, but encourage, support and involve them in active learning” (Lee & Scott, 2015.)

An article written by Allison Zmuda talks about quite emphatically about school libraries needed to adapt and change, despite budget cutbacks because school libraries have to teach 21^st century information technology skills. School libraries need to inspire students to learn and grown and by doing this helping them succeed in their later careers. Empower and inspire students so that they can succeed in creative and ingenious ways is the way that a school library will always be important, that way the demise of the school library will be a thing of the past and not of the future.

“The job of the school librarian is always to close the gap between vision and reality” (Zmuda, 2010.)

http://www.schoollibrarymonthly.com/articles/Zmuda2010-v27n1p5.html

Works Cited

Plourde, Lee A., and Kristen J. Scott. "School libraries and increased student achievement: what's the big idea?" Education 127.3 (2007): 419+. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 17 Apr. 2015.

Zmuda, Allison. "School Library Monthly - The End of an Era... Falling Off a Cliff." School Library Monthly - The End of an Era... Falling Off a Cliff. Libraries Unlimited, Sept.-Oct. 2010. Web. 17 Apr. 2015.

Libraries and the digital divide

The digital divide is a challenge that is quite personal for me. I remember before in the late 90s when I was a child, most of my homework assignments and projects did not involve computers and technology whatsoever. It wasn’t until I hit middle school onwards in the early 2000s that computers and the internet was a crucial aspect of my school life. My mom was a single mother and while she made a decent living as a registered nurse she still did not make enough to afford a personal computer, printer not to mention a subscription to AOL for dial-up internet connection. I was lucky that I had aunts and uncles that did have personal computers and printers, so I was able to type up my essays and print them out for my classes. Even though I could easily go to my aunt or uncle’s houses, I still ended up going to the Public Library of Escondido every Saturday to use their internet and computer services. I remember quite vividly in high school when the iPod reached its peak and popularity and everyone HAD to have one, and most of my friends did. I felt left out of the group because I didn’t have one, I only had a basic cell phone while others had the newest T-Mobile Sidekick. Later in my sophomore year my family had a personal computer and broadband internet service but I still used my local library for their internet and computer services. This is why I truly appreciate public libraries having the resources readily available for EVERYONE to use and as a girl who used libraries religiously I believe it is crucial for libraries to bridge the gap in the digital divide.

The digital divide has been formally known as “the disparity between individuals who have and do not have access to information technology” (DeBello, 2005). These can be individuals who because of economic, social and even geographical circumstances do not have access to technology and information. We are lucky here in southern California that libraries are everywhere and are easily accessible for the community to use but there are places so remote and rural that libraries cannot be accessed easily. The digital divide has severe impacts to the society and can cause educational disadvantages, future employment and earnings, civic and social involvement, not to mention civil and equity rights issues.

“The ability to offer Internet-access alongside support and training for patrons using technology are primary indicators of libraries’ value to their communities” (Real, et.al, Jaegar, 2014). This said, libraries have the mission to satisfy all their community’s needs, especially in a low-income community or rural community this is vital for the growth of the community. The problem is that rural libraries do not have the funds, staff or available resources to have all the technology resources for their communities. Things like Google documents, slides, etc., and many other Google applications are very important for small, rural libraries because these resources are free to the public to use and are readily available wherever there are internet access. The digital divide is an issue that libraries can address and hopefully make the disparity between those that have and those that don’t smaller. From my experiences as a young girl and teenager with very limited technological resources I can honestly say that my local libraries were a lifesaver. 

Sources Cited 

DiBello, Lilia C. "Are We Addressing The Digital Divide? Issues, Access, And Real Commitment." Childhood Education 81.4 (2005): 239. ERIC. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.

 Real, Brian, John Carlo Bertot, and Paul T. Jaeger. "Rural Public Libraries And Digital Inclusion: Issues And Challenges." Information Technology & Libraries 33.1 (2014): 6-24. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.

The Demise of School Libraries

I have been volunteering at the San Diego County Library - Solana Beach Branch for the last 8 months on a regular basis, mostly on weekends in two or four-hour chunks.  The library serves the entire community of Solana Beach, in addition to the neighboring communities.  SDCL provides library cards for free for California residents and $5 for out of state patrons who may live anywhere in the world.  Government issued identification is required.

Of particular interest to this blog is the special role the Solana Beach Branch plays in its community.  It is also functions as the school library at Earl Warren Middle School.  A little bit of background is forthcoming.  After a number of changes in location in and around the Solana Beach community, it was not until March 1983, the Friends of the Solana Beach library was formed.  They became very active in trying to increase the library size and find a new location.  After a lot of searching, the library was moved into a 3,800-square-foot space in the Lomas Santa Fe shopping center.  In 1995, a deal was struck between council members, the City of Solana Beach, the County of San Diego, the San Dieguito Union High School District, and Friends of the Solana Beach Library to award the contract between the library and Earl Warren Middle School.  It is a shared-use library between the San Diego County and the San Dieguito High School District.

The Solana Beach Branch is one of two shared-use libraries in San Diego County Library system.  There are several benefits to this kind of partnership.  Longer hours of operation, for example, to accommodate the school's opening hours Monday through Friday.  They open earlier than any other library and close later than any other school library.  The school has access to the complete 33 branch collection, rather than a finite collection found in a regular school library.

The library makes it a special mission to reach out to the youth in the community.  It only takes a couple of people, an idea to qualify for library sponsorship, and it may come with snacks, in my experience.  Many students spend their recess time and/or lunch time hanging out in the stacks area to talk with their friends and hang out.  Adult patrons make full use of the library during these hours as well and there is an understanding in the midst.

It is a reality that school libraries are suffering, but there is a tacit complicity implied in the word "demise" between individuals and groups that expedites this process.  School libraries are places for young people to go and be safe from various elements: bullies, the sun, the street, strenuous sports activities.  It provides a space for them that is equipped with adults with a positive focus on the well-being of the children.  There is often a Youth Librarian that functions as a liaison between the school and the library and can help to support the needs of the curriculum as well as support circulation services.  A shared-use library is a very interesting solution between education and the community it serves.  Adults and children co-habit a space in a new and provocative way.

Works Cited:
delsolmagazine.com
March/April 2015
Conversations with Patricia Tirona, Branch Manager

Libraries as social hubs

From as long as I can remember, the library was always a place for me to go to after school to do homework, get help with research and to find books of course! During my high school years there was an after school homework tutoring program that I went to get help with homework from student tutors but most importantly to interact with others and build friendships. The afterschool program was THE place for freshman high school students to be at and it was located in the library itself. I spent my sophomore and junior years as a student tutor one day a week because I wanted to help incoming students (like I was helped) into becoming high achieving, motivated students with an interest in lifelong learning and literacy.

Libraries nowadays have departed from the old-fashioned places that are quiet and serious where all you see are students or patrons researching and studying, where speaking is discouraged. Public libraries have been transformed into community places where community members meet, network and have fun together. Libraries host events like summer concert series, chess club, book clubs, children story time, author visits, informative workshops and so much more!

http://www.sdcl.org/signature-series.html

Many libraries host video game groups for middle school to high school students that engage young people, create a safe place for them to have fun with their friends. Games are a great way for youth and young adults to interact with each other, learn social skills and even are great places to learn. “Good video games are first and foremost complex and challenging problem solving spaces” (Gee, 2012.) Many people do not realize that video games can be a great way for students and children to learn new skills and practice problem solving in ways that are innovative and fast paced. Gee states, “remember that what is really at stake for higher-order learning is what I call the ‘Big G Game’, that is, the game as a piece of software integrated with all the social activity around it organized for participation, production, and proactive learning. Games are digital invitations to rich social interactions (2012.) Libraries benefit from hosting video game groups, events and activities because it will bring the youth in and help create life-long learners because they might be tempted to check-out a book now and again.

“Libraries have also historically served as cultural hubs, particularly public libraries. . . “(Harris, 2013.) This said libraries are known as places where artistic expression and a place where intellectual freedom is protected.  This is why libraries have become community centers and are can be considered in my opinion an avenue for social hubs. 

The American Library Association has some great information on the role of the social role of libraries.

http://www.ala.org/research/librariesmatter/taxonomy/term/143

Works Cited

Gee, James Paul. "Digital Games And Libraries." Knowledge Quest 41.1 (2012): 60-64. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.

 Harris, Ryan, et al. "Creating Shared Campus Experiences: The Library As Culture Club." Journal Of The Medical Library Association 101.4 (2013): 254-256. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.