I have worked in both public and school libraries, and having had =
experience in both I must say that the concerns expressed by SBrisco are =
right on the mark.=20
We currently have one secondary library in our system being run as a =
"combined" library with our local public library system. Yes, the =
library has more books than a typical school library in Ontario, but =
after the initial purchases for the start-up collection few of these =
books have been bought to fulfill the needs of students or with a view =
to meeting actual curriculum demands.
From the point of view of the library staff, it is a public library that =
just happens to be housed in a school. The attitude towards students is =
that they create an unfortunate nuisance factor that interferes with the =
daily running of the branch.
When I did my MLIS I did two independent study works on combined =
libraries. At that stage in my life I was working in a public library =
setting so I looked at the arrangement from a public library =
perspective. Interestingly these joint use facilities present many =
drawbacks from a public library point of view as well. Why the idea =
continues to be trotted out as the greatest thing since sliced bread is =
beyond me -- I guess it is a case of political expediency.=20
Jill Marks
Librarian
Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School
185 Myers Road
Cambridge, ON N1R 7H2
(519) 622-1290 ext. 213
jill.marks@wcdsb.edu.on.ca
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