Most of our LA teachers require at least one print source on big projects. I
sometimes enjoy it when the network is down and students are forced to use
books. I'm with you regarding the value of books. I do, however, buy lots of
paperbacks because the kids will always browse the paperbacks first. And,
let's face it, their backpacks are already heavier than they should be.
Marsha Redd
Librarian, Kelloggsville High School
Grand Rapids, MI
marsharedd@hotmail.com
Education is not a goal; it is a life-long process. Everyone is a student.
Everyone is a teacher.
----Original Message Follows----
From: Donna Knott-Fac/Staff <dknott@LOVETT.ORG>
Reply-To: Donna Knott-Fac/Staff <dknott@LOVETT.ORG>
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: [LM_NET] school without library
Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2006 08:14:43 -0500
It scares me to hear younger/newer librarians say that their
print materials don't get used as much as their online
resources. That's because they don't push students to do so.
It's still quite often faster to find information in a book than
online because search engines and even databases don't have the
capability (yet) to be intuitive...to know what the searcher is
really looking for. Looking up the same information in an index
is very straightforward and quick. The upper school librarian
and I have gotten the teachers in both our divisions to make it
a requirement that students use at least one print resource for
their projects (in middle school, I require 2). Faster, easier,
cheaper doesn't mean high quality. In fact, if a student uses
mostly Internet resources, the teachers can usually tell because
the information is not as accurate. There are also increased
instances of plagiarism, because it's so easy to copy/paste
information from online sources. I'm all for accurate,
authoritative, unbiased materials any day and it's not because
I'm an old, stodgy librarian who doesn't like computers. I'm a
computer geek and as bad as the kids sometimes about going to
the computer to look something up, really quickly, but the idea
that libraries need fewer print materials and more online ones
is not acceptable, at least until the online environment can
provide safe, high-quality, easy-to-find information.
As far as the fiction issue goes, I will never want to curl up
with a good computer and I hate paperback books. They get
really ratty looking very quickly, whereas hard cover books are
built to last much longer.
I do agree that more focus is needed on teaching students how to
determine what sites/information is "good" and how to do the
best search possible. The internet is here to stay and I love
it but it has a plethora of problems that need to be dealt with
before it's as good an information provider as books are.
Hopefully, I will not live to see the day when libraries have
only electronic sources available!
Thanks,
Donna Knott
Middle School Librarian
The Lovett School
dknott@lovett.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
* LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
* LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
* EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/
* LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
* LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
* LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
* EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/
* LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LM_NET
Mailing List Home