Wow, Did I hear from a whole bunch of you. =20
Thanks to all who took the time to respond. =20
It seems that it all depends on what state you live in. Some states (my own=
=20
Ohio included) have strict no-no's written in the licensing agreements=20
(politicians must be getting kickbacks or own stock in the companies to have=
approved=20
that hair-brained scam) that forbid online resource sharing. Other states=20
have a virtual free-for-all. =20
In my previous position in North Carolina, the state funded NCLive for the=20
public libraries and the local district purchased a few curriculum related=20
databases and we all shared, so not every state is dumb enough to let the co=
mpanies=20
browbeat them into paying double for the same services to the same taxpayers=
.
Here's just a sampling of my responses, the first being the absolute skinny=20
on the issue in Ohio, where I am now. I've removed identifying info:
---------------------------------
OPLIN stated in their most recent policy statement [May 11, 2001] that=20
OPLIN's=20
focus is public libraries.=C2=A0 That policy specifically prohibits IP addre=
ss=20
authentication of school buildings. It reaffirms Update 73 that states,=20
"We are sensitive to the importance of cooperation between public libraries=20
and other entities in their local communities including schools, local=20
government, non-profit organizations and businesses.=C2=A0 OPLIN, however, w=
as=20
established and funded specifically for public libraries, and we do not=20
provide direct services to entities other than public libraries."
INFOhio recognizes and affirms the validity of the above OPLIN statement.=
=C2=A0=20
Both SchoolNet and INFOhio are designed to serve the schools and to assist=20
them in getting both access and content for classrooms and school libraries.=
=20
Where possible INFOhio and OPLIN work together to obptain the same or simila=
r=20
resources.=C2=A0 Examples of this are Encyclopaedia Britannica, and SIRS=20
Discoverer.
Home Access to Electronic Databases
Can OPLIN databases be used in school classrooms and/or libraries?=20
OPLIN's contracts with vendors do not allow, by intent or spirit, schools to=
=20
use the public library issued cards as an avenue to open, continuous access=20
to=20
the databases.
Why is continuous access during school a problem?=C2=A0=20
Home access to online databases is an experiment for vendors as well as=20
library networks.=C2=A0 If the public misuses the privilege, it could result=
in=20
higher licensing costs for all clients who use the products.=C2=A0 It could=20=
also=20
result in less access to databases for our public libraries, and, therefore,=
=20
our patrons, including the children and young adults who use the privilege=20
correctly from home.
When can students access the databases with their public library cards?=C2=
=A0=20
Occasional use by students in school for completing assignments is OK, as is=
=20
their use of the resources at home. INFOhio encourages all students and=20
teachers to have local public library cards for home use of OPLIN resources.
What electronic databases are available to schools?=20
INFOhio, as the Information Network for Ohio Schools, provides open and=20
continuous school access, as well as home access via username and password,=20
to=20
the following electronic resources for all public and private schools in=20
Ohio:
-=C2=A0 =C2=A0 Encyclopaedia Britannica and Britannica Intermediate
-=C2=A0 =C2=A0 INFOhio ProQuest Collection
-=C2=A0 =C2=A0 SIRS Discoverer Deluxe
-=C2=A0 =C2=A0 American National Biography
INFOhio continues to works in partnership with OPLIN and OhioLINK under the=20
leadership of the State Library through Libraries Connect to strengthen=20
resources available to all Ohio citizens.=C2=A0 However, to ensure the ongoi=
ng=20
success of these partnerships and to maintain good vendor relations, it is=20
imperative that Ohio's K-12 educators and students do not violate either the=
=20
intent or the spirit of the contracts OPLIN has signed with vendors to=20
provide=20
home access to these resources.
-------------------------------------------------------
I don't know about Ohio, but here in Texas schools have just lost their
state-provided online databases (thanks to budget cuts by the state
legislature). Your suggestion was made on our state school librarians'
list and we were told we could not encourage that because it would
violate the public library's license agreement.
Perhaps your librarians have heard the same sort of thing in the past?
---------
I'm also a huge fan of not duplicating expense or effort (or computer files,
but that's a different story). I'd bet folks/schools just don't realize what
resources the public library has! Does your library system have a
partnership/outreach program with the public schools? If not, someone
should!
My neighborhood public library branch asks that I keep them informed of unit
studies, projects & reports due dates, and assignments (I hope the other
branch libraries have such a relationship with their nearby schools!).
Before summer vacation, we managed to get library cards for at least 40
neighborhood students, and made sure they knew that the bookmobile visited a
nearby high-rise-elderly home so neighborhood students could use it. We also
have visiting readers and story tellers from the library, take kids to the
library for story time, and participate in a local award program that
started with the public library. The librarian visits every Fall and Spring
to make sure kids who want library cards have them.
In other words, someone has to make the effort to do the outreach to
schools! And you can easily make a case with the administrations about
partnering and cost savings. Start with the folks who aren't "turf anxious"
and news of your collaboration and good works will spread quickly.
--------------------
That very question has befuddled me, too! I'll be interested to hear what=20
responses you get (would love a hit). I work in a school system and a city=20
that is huge and largely disfunctional, so I project that it was a simple=20
case=20
of no one thinking it through nor bothering to make the connection. I'm=20
pretty=20
sure that the Berkeley High School library only purchases licenses that=20
augment what the Public library has, and they are in decent communication=20
about print resources, too. Though I live in _____, I work in _____, and=20
_____ has no comparable communication. And we don't have a district=20
librarian who could even push for such a vision, though just having=C2=A0 on=
e=20
doesn't mean they'll have such a vision. I also remember talking with a=20
middle=20
school librarian in SF who said it was a big deal for him to get an ok for=20
his=20
students to access the local public library branch's holdings including=20
databases--but maybe the issue there was that they were able to do so with=20
just their student id rather than a public library id. Perhaps the issue is=20
one of equity (at least in somebody's mind) because if a student did not hav=
e=20
a public library card, they would not have access to the resources, whereas=20
if=20
the school provides it, they do.
Hmmmmmm.
------------
THANK YOU FOR WRITING!! A colleague of mine and I are trying to do this in
our schools and I was wondering how the public libraries felt about it.=C2=
=A0 It
definitely seems like a waste of money to me!! Why purchase the rights to
all those data bases at the school level when they are available with a
library card!!
---------------
I am the librarian at a high school in ______, VA, and am definitely not=20
purchasing databases that students can access online with a library card.=
=C2=A0 Good=20
grief!=C2=A0 My budget is stretched enough all ready!=C2=A0 Our library, The=
C___ R____=20
Regional Library , is fantastic, and the YA section has issued key-chain lib=
rary=20
cards, in school colors, to our students.=C2=A0 I have the library cards at=20=
school=20
and show each entering class how to sign up online.=C2=A0 If they already ha=
ve a=20
card they sign up anyway at the public library links the two numbers.=C2=A0=20=
That=20
way, we hope, students will have the cards with them at school.=C2=A0 To me=20=
it=E2=80=99s just=20
a no-brainer.=C2=A0 You might want to talk with our fantastic YA librarian,=20
________.
----------------
It all depends on the funding for your databases.=C2=A0 In Texas, the legisl=
ature=20
just recently funded databases for the public libraries, but specifically=20
indicated that these databases cannot be accessed from school libraries, nor=
=20
taught in school libraries.=C2=A0 A real bummer for us, since they also deni=
ed the=20
funding for our Texas Library Connection which provided all schools in Texas=
with=20
Gale databases!
---------------
From Illinois
We have been able to do just what you describe for several years now. As the=
=20
school librarian, I checked with the youth services folks at our public=20
library to see if that would be included in the services that they could=20
offer. They assured me that since our kids'arents were taxpayers, we should=20
have access to the databases here at school.
The result was that we have linked the public library home page to our schoo=
l=20
library home page. They have issued our school a universal "library card" so=
=20
that we can not only borrow books but also to use when their reference=20
databases ask for a password and log-in. What has surprised me most, is that=
=20
any number of our students can use the databases simultaneously using the=20
same login and password!
------------------------------
We were destined to meet online . . . we share a=20
name and a common interest.=C2=A0 I collaborated with=20
our public library on an inservice for our teachers a=20
few days before school.=C2=A0 The teachers got credit for=20
the inservice (our district requires 4 hours of=20
professional development per year) and I felt it was=20
a great bridge with the community.=C2=A0 The public=20
librarian had a fabulous 1-hr. presentation on data=20
bases.=C2=A0 I would be happy to send you the flyer as=20
an attachment . . . though I know everybody is=20
freaked out by attachments right now, so I could=20
send it via snail mail if you'd prefer.=C2=A0 At our first=20
inservice meeting, the public librarian came and=20
signed up everyone for a collection card--I don't=20
know if a collection card is common to all public=20
library systems or not.=C2=A0 I facilitate teacher collection=20
requests by faxing the form to the public library=20
and, if it's convenient for me, picking up the=20
collection.=C2=A0 Yes, we do duplicate some of the=20
databases as well.=C2=A0 Ohio provides INFOhio for all=20
of our students.
-------------------------------
I agree 100% with you.=C2=A0 Our public library resources are the best thing
we have in our library.=C2=A0 We do have access to some databases provided b=
y
the state of Missouri, but not nearly so many as provided by the public
library.=C2=A0 I constantly preach about them.=C2=A0 We=C2=A0 have our fresh=
men fill
out an application form that I created and I take all of them to the
library in September; students get a card through the mail.=C2=A0 Our public
librarian has been most helpful.=C2=A0 I would suggest that you talk to the
school librarian; she/he is really the key as to what goes on in the
high school library.=C2=A0=20
----------------------------------------
I am just this year encouraging all teachers to tell
students to get library cards.
We are a new school and simply cannot afford to spend
the money on databases every year when we need books
on the shelves.
I printed out the database list from the public
library and xeroxed it adding a copy of my library
card (with the numbers blacked out and barcode altered
of course).
No real response yet but it is still early in the year.
Put out the word, many teachers have no idea what is
available through the public library.
Also, students can search the public library catalog
for research materials in school before heading down
there on a Saturday.
-------------------------------------
I would bet that the school technology supervisor would love to hear about
these services.=C2=A0 A partnership/collaborative effort would benefit every=
one!
----------------------------------------
In Texas, it is a violation of the license agreement for us to do that. We=20
recently lost state provided databases for schools, but they kept databases=20
available at the public libraries. We suggested that the school students jus=
t use=20
the PL databases via their library cards, but were told that IP authenticati=
on=20
would track us down and we would be cited for piracy of the databases if the=
=20
schools promoted use of the PL databases from school. An occasional personal=
=20
check is one thing, but widespread use is prohibited.=20
-----------------------------------------
I have had the same question, and we do use HPL [Houston Public]
resources, but we do have on site and campus remote access to some
duplication [World Book, mostly] because some faculty and student
families just cannot grasp that anything "public" is really accessible.
But we also do a library card drive and advertise the wealth available
there that we cannot aspire to duplicate.
------------------------------------------
I met with our public librarians and basically here is what I was told:
1. It's a licensing issue.
2. Students can use the library databases when they log in using their=20
library cards....but at school it can only be the student who has the=20
card...therefore there is the issue of "equal opportunity at school" for all=
=20
students to use the resources.=C2=A0 IF a student chooses not to get a libra=
ry=20
card will they be able to complete the assignment using "school library=20
resources"
3. Remote access is limited to a certain number of users at a given time.=
=C2=A0=20
The public library would not want us to use "database x" with a class of=20
students because the remote acesss is limited to 25 users at one time...if w=
e=20
had students login we could "cut off" everyone else who wants to=20
use "database x"
I suggest a meeting with the public librarian in charge of the online=20
databases and see what you can legally do and what you should do as a=20
professional.
---------------------------------
Sandra Dews
Teen Services Librarian
EPL, Cleveland, OH
Sandradews@aol.com
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