Opinions and observations:
I am / was also on the TLC listserv and the TLC databases this past year.
During the spring when the rumors came through the listserv that TLC would
not be funded, I posted a message regarding my surprise that the entire
project (and education) was not a top priority among our legislative body in
Austin. I suggested online through TLC that we contact our legislators and
remind them that they needed to continue to fund this very important project
for students who had no access to quality resources, online databases, or
union catalogs. I also suggested that we actively search (government
voting) records if the project failed, to determine who did not vote for
continual funding of this program and remember those names when it came time
for re-election.
My comments were never posted. The list was monitored and I was admonished
by the moderator for suggesting that I "rally the librarians on the list
against the legislators". (I never said to "attack them"-- just to remember
their voting record when it came time for re-election!) My suggestions
never were mentioned but others made comments that suggested that we "try
really hard" to do something.... but then, nothing was actually done it
seems.
The ability for my students to use the various online databases (16), the
Union catalog for interlibrary loans, and the online encyclopedia was
fabulous. Because I am not originally from Texas (but from Oklahoma were a
similar project was available to libraries--school, public, university,
medical, etc.), when I first arrived at my school, I investigated and found
TLC available to us at the private school level.
I felt that the digital divide was being eliminated! Although I was at a
private school in Texas where funding was available for a few databases, I
had just come from the public schools of Fort Worth ISD--- on the east
side--- where funding and the ability to have a full-time librarian was
"hit and miss." I was happy to know that many of the students in Fort Worth
(and around Texas) had access to the free TLC databases and the resources
that were available through online access.
Now, except through the efforts of Thompson-Gale who is offering a wonderful
package of the same databases, there will be nothing for many schools.
Unfortunately, even at the reduced costs offered by Gale, many schools will
not be able to fund these databases and will take a big step backwards.
Regardless of the availability of a listserv that was created to help the
librarians learn, share, and discuss the TLC databases, we have failed to
pressure those who could have made a difference in retaining this program.
Many of us were told to stay quiet and watch. Was this as a result of
indifference and lack of conviction by the librarians -- or perhaps other
reasons at the state level that are not mentioned but certainly "stifled"
when spoken.
Our state legislature meets every two years which means that two years of
students will go through our public school systems in Texas without the
necessary online databases and materials that they once had access to
before. By the time this project is presented and in place again, there
could be as many as four years worth of students who will miss the
opportunity to learn the skills that only the "privileged and wealthy" are
offered. This places students in many districts (once again) in the cracks
of the digital divide. Can they succeed? Maybe. Would they have done
better with these resources....let's check the reports by Keith Curry Lance
and others....or better yet, let's remember to share these reports with
those who are elected to serve us and our students.
If our students in Texas fall behind because many do not have the technology
skills necessary to compete, advance to higher education, or learn how to
utilize information, we have no one to blame but ourselves. My disgust for
the failure to fund this project is deep. I applaud the efforts of those
struggling states who manage to keep these types of programs, despite the
lack of funding in many other areas. Their ability to "find the funds" to
educate and to decrease the "digital divide" for their students (and
citizens) is commendable.
Unfortunately, our students will flounder (again). I agree with Noe that we,
as Texas librarians, need to fight to regain the resources necessary for our
students to succeed. This should have never happened....and we should never
forget!
~Shonda Brisco
Trinity Valley MS / US Librarian
Fort Worth, TX
sbrisco021@charter.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Noe Torres" <ntorres@RGV.RR.COM>
To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2003 2:30 PM
Subject: Texas Library Connection: In Requiem
> Farewell Texas Library Connection -- you served Texas school libraries =
> well but became a casualty of state budget problems that worsened after =
> 9-11. When push came to shove, the state's school libraries -- and the =
> children of the state of Texas -- lose again when the plug is pulled on =
> TLC next month. =20
>
> A special thanks to the Thompson Corporation (Gale) for providing such =
> an excellent package of online electronic resources through TLC to Texas =
> schools for the past few years. I am thrilled to hear from Norene =
> Cashen of Gale that her company will offer aggressive pricing to all =
> former TLC schools on the very same databases that have served us so =
> well. For around 87 cents per student per year, they will provide their =
> excellent General Reference Center Gold, Student Resource Center Gold, =
> Literature Resource Center, Scribner Writers Series, Twayne's Authors =
> Series, Infotrac Newspapers, etc. Texas schools may contact Norene at =
> Norene.Cashen@gale.com or 1-800-877-4253 Ext. 8103.
>
> A slightly pricier option is the "Digital Knowledge Central" offered by =
> the Education Service Center 20 in San Antonio, which for $1.29 per =
> student will provide access to Ebsco's Magazine Article Summaries Online =
> Plus, Online Britannica, and NewsBank. Texas schools may call =
> 210-370-5623 for an enrollment form.
>
> As for the statewide TLC union catalog, there's talk of keeping it going =
> as a pay service through the state's Department of Information =
> Resources. Those of us who've experienced some of the DIR's other =
> services to schools (such as technology purchasing) can't help but =
> shudder at the thought.
>
> A huge concern is that one of the last remaining tangible incentives for =
> Texas school districts to comply with the state's minimum school library =
> standards was free access to the TLC databases and union catalog. With =
> TLC gone (on 9/30/03) and no remaining enforceable standards, many =
> librarians fear a massive decline in the quality of school library =
> programs throughout the state.=20
>
> Although I'm only in my 40s, I'm old enough to remember when school =
> libraries in my area hired only one or two library professionals for an =
> entire district, campus libraries were no more than converted =
> classrooms, the custodians' budget was larger than the book budget, and =
> all libraries were staffed by one paraprofessional. Hardly the glory =
> days for literacy and equal access to information. Texas school =
> librarians arise and get involved! Don't let our state go back there!
>
> ||> Noe Torres, Librarian
> ||> McAllen High School, McAllen TX
> ||> ntorres@rgv.rr.com
>
>
>
>
> =20
>
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