Libraries cost money to build and maintain, regardless of how they are organized, and at the turn of the 20th century if you wanted a library you would write to Andrew Carnegie. Andrew Carnegie took the fortune he made in steel and turned it around to support libraries for everyone without looking at color. In areas of intense segregation, African Americans became fed up with the substandard quality of the library they were allowed to use as opposed to the library for white people. Carnegie…
Librarians are tasked with taking a patron from point A, their question, to point B, an answer to the question or resources that will provide the patron with further knowledge. Between these two points, librarians should not allow personal biases or beliefs to influence the process by which information is provided. Personal experience on the part of the librarian may provide insight for the patron, but it should not take the place…
Historically, librarians with professional and disciplinary expertise have curated academic library collections. (Walters, 2012) However, the current trend of shrinking library budgets has led to staff and collection budget cuts. With the increasing proliferation of publishing – especially electronic publishing – it is not possible for librarians to create fully comprehensive collections foreseeing patrons’ needs. (Weir, 2012, p. 41) Some academic libraries are using patron-driven…
Planning: Level Two Discussion 1. The Importance of Meeting Outcomes School librarians need to demonstrate the contributions of the school library program in contributing towards student learning at their school. Callison (2007) describes the difference between inputs, outputs, and outcomes and their importance in evaluating student learning and the contribution of the school library program to the school (p.43). School librarians need to focus on outcome- based evaluation to determine if the…
the Media Specialist and teachers in order to increase student achievement Goal #2: The school library program has a minimum of one full-time certified/licensed librarian supported by qualified staff sufficient for the school’s instructional programs, services, facilities, size, and number of teachers and students. The School Librarian: – will work with administration to ensure that the program is adequately staffed with professional and supporting staff so that the Media Specialist can…
just let me know he has not found anything and is still looking. Actually, that would probably have slowed him down even further though. The final result was being passed off to another library program. I was hoping to hear from the Youth Services librarian simply because I am genuinely interested in gathering some new sources for my lessons next semester. I hope I never make my students feel like I felt after working with Bruce that night. Unfortunately, it almost seems that if I really want to…
communication. This is what I’ve been searching for! Jenna Freedman, Associate Director of Communications and Zine Librarian at Barnard College Library, is quoted by Marilyn Johnson in This…
One of the best parts of being a librarian is seeing the impact the programs and community events have on the patrons being served. However, this is paralleled by the patron appreciation that can be seen as well. In communities where every-day needs are not being met and budgets, both inside and outside of the library are growing smaller, it is more important than ever to find creative and new ways to serve the community. Public libraries are excellent places to provide at-risk youth with…
Long before Melvile Dewey came around and implemented his decimal system, personal library collections typically were curated and and managed to some degree by men. Considering that the form of public libraries that gave rise to the ones we have today, did not come into existence until the mid to late 19th century, it is surprising that women were allowed into these institutions. However, even from the birth of the field of librarianship, women had to assert their right to be there. In order to…
Public Library also known as the George B. Dedrick Library. I asked for information about the theft of the Mona Lisa. I was hoping to find a book or possible access to a database with articles that may have ran in the newspapers at that time. The librarian did not conduct a reference interview. I was informed that there was no information available at that particular library, I was then encouraged to ask my home library to interlibrary loan a book for me or try a bigger library. The positives of…