Re: Computer Lab in the Library??

[Joni J Rathbun <jrathbun@orednet.org>]

I have a bank of computers in my library at this time with plans
to expand as we move into a new school next fall. I'm the one with
the know-how at this time and the one teaching web development
(etc) so there they are. Some machines, of course, provide
info access and card catalog etc.

I LIKE having a lab in the library. But they do present certain
problems ... could be more of a problem for different ppl in
different situations:

Noise level: I work under the opinion that computers (and libraries
for that matter) support not just access to information but
processing, constructing, and communicating knowledge and
info... And that can (and often should) be noisy. Our new
school's library is being designed with specific acoustics
and sound proofing and separate spaces ... for this reason.
It's terrible right now.

Traffic:  Oh, it can be hard to keep track of who's who,
where they're coming from, if they are really supposed
to be there.. so on and so forth. For every procedure
and system we have in place there will be at least one
student whose goal in life is to get around it.

Librarian Time:  Some days I feel like Im in a 3-ring
circus .. and I am! Some things I used to do don't
get done anymore. It will be worse when I have
more equipment. I've been lucky in that I usually
find myself working with great kids who bring
skills and knowledge and are helpful and trustworthy.
But as that base expands... the more difficult it
will become. If the proposed lab in your space is
to be operated by you, something's going to have
to go. And ppl will have to be prepared for that.

Interestingly enough, (and knock on wood), I've
not had many problems in the way of "dicey" internet
use. Each year some "new" kid strolls in and dips
into forbidden territory, loses access, and gets tossed out on
his ear. FOr the most part, however, the kids
search for and spend time with what they are genuinely
interested in or need. I do expect that to change
in the new school. My current crop of kids takes
some ownership of the systems and access and protect
it. In the new school there will be more kids
with more access, less "ownership" and less of
me to go around. We've paid a lot of attention
recently to posts about internet "driver's licenses"
and such and how to handle such access so we
will be prepared. Or so I hope!


>
>I have a small computer lab in my high school library. It is hooked up to the
>internet and right now, no one can use them because they've all been trashed. I
>even have an aide but I refuse to hover over them and supervise.  I think if
>they are just being used for word processing, its not much of a dilemna, but
>internet access can get prety dicey.  Good luck.
>Judy L. Gray
>303 Main St.
>Cumberland, Me. 04105
>judy_gray@ghs.sad51.k12.me.us
>
>
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--
 --              Joni Rathbun | jrathbun@orednet.org              --
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