Assignment+5

Part One: Weeding Analysis 1. I chose the category of Space and Astronomy and evaluated a middle school library collection. The criteria I considered was whether the book was up to date, accurate, in good condition and visually attractive. 2. The books I found on the shelves were all written prior to 2003. Most of the books were written in the 70s and 80s. Clearly, much has changed with the space program over the last three decades. An example of an outdated book that needs to be weeded is: __Man and Space__ by Neil Ardley, copyright 1978. This book states on pg. 32: "U.S. pioneer probes flew past Jupiter in 1973 and 1974, and a second probe is now on its way to Saturn, where it is due to arrive in 1979. Visits to the outer planets should follow in the 1980s." In addition to being outdated, many of the books are also incomplete, making them inaccurate for today's students. They, for example, refer to the launching of the Mir space station in 1986 but do not state that it was de-orbited in 2001. There were also several books about the solar system and atlases of star and planets that refer to Pluto as the "smallest planet in our solar system". My 9 year old son will tell you that Pluto is no longer a planet. A few of the books also had broken bindings, and many were simply ugly. 3. The School Library Media Specialist at the school agreed that these books should no longer be on the shelves. She said she simply hadn't gotten a chance to weed them. 4. I found only one book on the shelves that I consider a good example in the area of Space and Astronomy. __The Book of Constellations__ by Robin Kerrod is an attractive book written in 2002. It has interesting illustrations and was something a middle school might actually pick up and read. 5. I learned that books on certain topics may become outdated, and yet not be replaced with updated versions. The School Library media Specialist said she has a limited budget and purchases based on curriculum and student interests. Students in that school don't show an interest in space and astronomy books and the subjects are not part of the curriculum.

Part Two: Facility Analysis The facility I chose in many ways supports the vision of the school library program. It is a welcoming environment, bustling with student activity which meets the school library media specialist's vision of the library acting as the information center of the school. This vision is supported by having the space broken into spaces to meet the different needs of all students. There is a comfortable sitting area with periodicals for students looking to relax and browse. There are enough computers to serve the needs of those students doing online research. Plenty of work tables are available with convenient access to print resources. A separate room provides a place for teaching smart board lessons or viewing videos. There is even a table with a chess board to provide a recreational outlet for students. In addition, the library media specialist lowered the checkout desk to make students feel more comfortable. The library is also decorated with posters featuring actors and images the students can relate to. All these aspects help make it a welcoming place that serves as the information hub for the school.

The school library media specialist would prefer for the library to be located next to the main office. In fact, she said she would like faculty to be forced to physically walk through it each day to reach their classrooms. Instead, it is tucked away in a far corner of the building. The school library media specialist also wishes there was a cappuccino maker to make the atmosphere even more inviting.

Assignment 5, Part 3: Field Experience Report & Analysis a. I asked the library media specialist at the Pine Bush Middle School Library Media Center about collection development and budgeting policies and found that there wasn’t anything formal in place. She said she is   very familiar with middle school curriculum and content for non-fiction and closely observes which collections get used and abused and need to be replaced. As for fiction, she said she is familiar with the population and what they like to read. She tries to stay on top of trends without being “trendy” and uses her “intuition” and knowing kids. She pointed out that asking them to make suggestions has been very helpful. In addition, she has made the collection more multicultural and has added more fiction on social issues such as teen pregnancy, drugs, and gender confusion to address the changing demographics and needs of students. As for budgeting, she said she puts whatever money she receives toward books with most going to fiction. She said she no longer purchases reference books because the students use the internet. The technology department handles database funds. She weeds anything that doesn't get circulated or used in house and anything outdated because the media center is a very small space for the size of the population. b. Pine Bush uses the Horizon automation system. There is no security or other management technology system in place. The library media specialist has gotten rid of the card catalog all together because she feels it’s a waste of space. c. The public relations activities conducted by the Pine Bush Library Media Specialist are mostly informal, as well. She said the library is “always, always, always open”, and the kids know it and come in. She has created a website, she walks the hallways and teaches in other classrooms besides the library. She has also connected with students in her role as the yearbook adviser, and yearbook meetings are held in the library. She does a book fair in the beginning of the year and this year, she will have 2 author visits. Her favorite event is poetry week in the spring which brings students into the library to read their own poems in front of their peers. d. The positive aspects of this experience for me, of course, involved the interaction with the students. There were several students who have read their way through the library. It was invigorating to witness their love of literature. I was also positively impacted by a collaboration I witnessed between the library media specialist and a Social Studies teacher on an inquiry-based learning assignment. On the other hand, it was a negative for me to view the library media specialist setting up a smart board for a technologically inept teacher who demanded her assistance but refused her many offers to collaborate on the lesson. While this particular teacher stood in front of the smart board, he didn’t take advantage of its many teaching tools. The students would have truly benefitted from the library media specialist’s contribution. When I questioned her about the situation, she said while it’s frustrating, she will continue to act as “technological assistance” for this teacher because it at least keeps him coming to the library. She hopes one day he will open his eyes and see the value she could bring to a true collaboration. e. Reflecting on this experience, I hope that I am able to collaborate successfully in my future school but with even more teachers. I obviously hope that I don’t face many teachers who refuse to partner with me at all. But if I do, I hope to handle it with the persistence and grace I witnessed while shadowing at Pine Bush. I also hope to experience the joy of a pleasant, interactive relationship with the kids like I witnessed between the library media specialist and the students at Pine Bush Middle School. On the other hand, I hope to work in a school community that values its libraries and library media specialists so I don’t have the pressure of losing my position looming like a black cloud over my head each year. f. The rewards of working as a library media specialist today are innumerable. With a world of learning at our fingertips, we have endless opportunities to enrich the minds of our students. We also have the technological tools to make those lessons interactive and engaging for even the most resistant learners. Today there are also so many talented authors who are writing such an interesting variety of books for children that there is truly something for all tastes available. The challenges of working in today’s educational environment were especially clear in the Pine Bush Middle School Library Media Center. The library media specialist entered the field just a few years ago, and she shared the challenges she has faced in reaching out to both staff and students to overcome the perception that librarians are “book sitters” which was instilled by her predecessor. She was also very honest about the challenges of working with a tight budget and facing the potential loss of her job. g. While this site is too small for the population it serves and lacks an adequate budget and updated technology, I would still recommend it to other students in the future. The reason this library is worthwhile is the library media specialist, herself. Her resilience and commitment to wearing as many hats as necessary to display her worth were inspiring to watch. She loves her job and shows a commitment to her work by putting students first, regardless of the obstacles she faces each day. By the way, the library media specialist I shadowed is a former LIU student.