Re: [LM_NET] Building school w/ no library

[Barbara Paciotti <barupa@SWBELL.NET>]

I feel impelled to contribute my 2 cents on this issue, and anyone is 
free to rake me over the coals if you think you can change my mind.  I 
welcome a sane answer to my exasperation.  :-\

I'm not quite ready to say that a school doesn't need any library at 
all, but I honestly don't think a high-tech high school needs to build 
the kind of library that has been the norm for the past 50 years.

This is my 6th year in a middle school that is in its 8th year, and we 
have about 220 student computers for just under 650 kids--and I do as 
much research teaching in the classroom computer spines as I do the 
library.  Yet, I am prevented from purchasing online database services 
beyond those provided by the district because I haven't quite reached 
the state-required books/student ratio for my relatively new library.

My district does provide valuable online resources for each grade level 
(elem, ms, hs) but each of our 6 middle schools has huge differences in 
facilities and populations.  For example, my school has more computers 
than at least two schools that have twice as many kids.  Their libraries 
use lots of print reference sources.  I haven't had most of my 7 print 
encyclopedia sets off the shelves in 3 or 4 years, but my students are 
limited to the single online encyclopedia provided by the district (even 
though my staff and students overwhelmingly preferred the additional 
ones I provided before they decided I couldn't purchase them anymore).

I've heard the "what will they do when they get to HS/college?" 
argument, but somehow that doesn't wash for me either--our new feeder HS 
has as high a computer/student ratio as we do.  Our local colleges and 
universities are all online-resource rich, so students will really need 
to be more proficient at choosing and using a larger variety of online 
database services than print resources.  And the academic world is 
increasingly moving toward power-search tools that search both print and 
online databases at the same time, to provide students with exactly what 
is needed, regardless of format.  Yes there will be a need to use some 
print resources, but the huge number of online database services make 
most undergraduate research easily completed with those alone.  In fact, 
I was able to do much of my graduate work with them. 

One complaint I hear from our high schools is that students do little 
leisure reading because they are so overwhelmed with work.  It seems 
probable that the fiction section of a high-tech HS library can be very 
small compared to the resources needed for research.  It might even be 
preferable to consider mostly paperbacks for the fiction section to keep 
it as current and inviting as possible (maybe even set up some kind of 
arrangement with one of the large bookstore chains!).  As for the format 
that those research sources need to be, curriculum needs and facility 
technology and student demographics are the best determinant, not an 
arbitrary ratio that extends from old-school thinking. 

I realize not everything is available online, but more and more 
research-type resources are going online or to e-books (which, thank 
goodness, I am allowed to purchase).  Why?  Simply because it's faster, 
easier, and CHEAPER to update and provide online stuff.  (Isn't an 
encyclopedia publisher ceasing its print version for online-only for 
this reason?)  I'm all for faster, easier, and cheaper...and for moving 
forward to embrace the future.  (You know, I don't remember ever seeing 
a print reference resource on Star Trek.)

Barbara Paciotti, SLMIS
Barbara Bush MS, Irving TX
barupa@swbell.net

-------------------------------------------------------

Date:    Wed, 29 Mar 2006 11:40:56 -0600
From:    Lindy Hutchison <lhutchison@MAIL.SWEENY.ISD.ESC4.NET>
Subject: SEC: Building the new high school without a library

Dear LM_NET,

Our district is in the process of planning a new high school.  The =
architects are here and are saying that "many new schools are being =
built without libraries," and that "students will each have their own =
individual gizmo and be able to access everything they need on-line." =
(sigh) I've already turned over to them the results of the Colorado =
Study, et. al., but they seem unconvinced that, in planning for "the =
school of the future," the library will not be obsolete. They postulate =
that the students of today and of the future are so used to being wired =
(& wireless) that they think and learn differently from those of us who =
are older.  Arguments about snuggling up with a book and quilt in front =
of the fire, they say, hold true for older generations, but our students =
are coming of age in a new ethos.  =20

I've been to the meetings; teachers, parents, and many students seem =
stunned at the thought of doing away with the library.  The architects =
seem to have convinced the superintendent and the assistant =
superintendent of finance, though, that they are right. =20

I've looked through the LM_NET archives & could not find a similar =
situation.  I've been researching & did not find evidence of other =
school districts thinking that this was a good idea.  If any of you have =
experience with or know of such a situation, especially research showing =
that the library is not totally on the way out, I would really =
appreciate hearing from you.=20

Ever thankful for LM_NET,
Lindy
=20

Lindy Hutchison, Librarian
Sweeny HS Library
Sweeny, TX
lhutchison@mail.sweeny.isd.esc4.net

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