Re: [LM_NET] school w/ no library...2nd response

[Barbara Paciotti <barupa@SWBELL.NET>]

Darn, no one raked me over the coals.  Y'all are getting real polite.  I 
thank you.

Now, regarding my post, I did receive several responses directly, mostly 
in agreement, however, one nice lady reminded me that students need to 
have a place they can go to work or read or gather, and that is 
typically a library, so to have no such place in a school would be 
irresponsible.  I appreciate that insight and wholeheartedly agree!  It 
reminded me of David Warlick's comment in one of his podcasts about the 
library becoming an Information Production Center, where kids go to 
find, synthesize, and produce information in print, video, audio, and 
digital formats--that if they do not have the opportunity to develop as 
effective communicators, their "voices" will simply not be heard.  Now 
THAT would be a powerful argument for a library to use with architects 
and superintendents!

Some comments bemoaned the use and quality of Internet/Web resources and 
I completely agree with that...but it wasn't the issue.  I did 
specifically mention the purchase of online subscription database 
services.  There is no question about the quality of such databases and 
their value as supreme research sources, and since higher education and 
corporations of all types use them more and more, there's a real need to 
teach students how to find, access, and use those resources 
appropriately.  It seems to me that providing and teaching a variety of 
high-quality, information-rich databases will allow students to see far 
more dramatically the inferiority of free Internet/Web sources than if 
we persist in restricting them to a certain number or type of source.  
Like, how often do you suppose the boss is gonna say, "Joe, we need you 
to compile some information for the annual report, and we want you to 
use an encyclopedia and a newspaper, and only one website."?

Finally, my comment about not seeing print reference resources on Star 
Trek:  many referred to incidents in the various series' where books 
were read and appreciated, but I did say use of "a print _reference_ 
resource"--for reference they _always_ used "Computer."   Even in the 
"Court Martial" episode that appears to glorify books over computers, it 
is the dilution and homogenization of _information_ put on the computer 
that is criticized (much as we lament the poor quality of info on the 
Web; I am reminded of a concern expressed on this listserv about 
including only text for periodical databases, ignoring the power of the 
accompanying pictures and graphics--certainly a consideration when 
choosing which database to subscribe to!).  And, at the end of the 
episode, it's the skillful use of the _computer as a reference resource_ 
--not one of the law books piled up in Kirk's quarters--that helps to 
find the real culprit.  I do love books--I have hundreds--and I love to 
read books; I use reference books when appropriate, but I sure do love 
the comprehensiveness and searchability of databases for most 
information needs! (I wonder if Lexis-Nexis had been digitized back in 
the late 60's, would Spock have convinced Cogley of the ease of 
searching L-N to find information rather than wade through his thousands 
of books? :-) ) 

So, my friends, I think I will continue believing that it is curriculum 
needs, student demographics, and facility arrangement & equipment that 
ought to determine the library and its resources.  To convince 
others--like architects and superintendents--we need to offer some 
different arguments than the tired old refrains about the difficulty of 
"curling up with a good computer" or "not everything is on the Internet" 
or even "it's faster to find some info in a good reference book than on 
the Internet."  We need strong arguments about finding and using 
information in a variety of useful, high-quality resources in several 
formats, about the need to teach information-seeking strategies for any 
kind of research requirement, and about the one person in the school who 
can bring curriculum, technology, and communication together...a 
certified teacher-librarian, whether s/he has a "normal" library or not.

Barbara Paciotti, SLMIS
Barbara Bush MS, Irving TX
barupa@swbell.net

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
  You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
  by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET  2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL  4) SET LM_NET DIGEST  * Allow for confirmation.
 * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
 * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
 * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/
 * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------