Padlocked Libraries? FNO February Issue

[Jamie McKenzie <mckenzie@FROMNOWON.ORG>]

I need data for an upcoming article in the February
issue of "From Now On" which will cover the serious
threat posed to school libraries in many states and
provinces caused by the recent adulation of electronic
information sources.

One school administrator recently described the padlock
on the middle school media center door.

Please read on and send me data if you have it regarding
reduction of staff, reduction of budgets, reduction of
hours and padlocking of libraries.

As I travel about the USA and Canada I hear too many
stories of schools and districts which are replacing
elementary and middle school media specialists or
teacher librarians with aides and/or padlocks.  In the
drive to network schools it seems some foolhardy folks
are mistaking the Internet for a well developed library
collection and they are switching to electronic resources
in a manner which strikes me as anti-intellectual and
careless.

Although I am a fan of electronic resources when well
balanced by a robust book collection and a serious
focus on information literacy spearheaded by a talented
media specialist, I am concerned that many technology
advocates seem luke warm when it comes to libraries
and books and media specialists.

Please send me examples of the following, if you can . . .

1) reduction of LIBRARY staff
2) reduction of  LIBRARY budgets
3) reduction of  LIBRARY hours
4) padlocking of libraries

Look for the results in the February issue of From Now On.

Many thanks,
Jamie McKenzie

Jamie McKenzie
Editor - "From Now On - The Educational Technology Journal"

mckenzie@fromnowon.org            http://fromnowon.org

500 Fifteenth Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
Voice (360) 647-8759  Fax (360) 738-9083
"The question is the answer."  "Hits are not Truth."

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