Ms. Bates,
I don't believe I am taking as you say a "hard stand" but rather
observing a coalescing of economic, societal, and technological
forces and trends. They don't seem to favor continuing to support the
Gutenberg era or "brick & mortar" or traditional libraries. For
instance, if libraries (administrator driven?) are turning into
computer labs, digital books projected costing 1/3rd of print version,
school architects are reducing library square footage, patrons
accessing traditional library resources including the card catalog
without going to the library, your library averages X number of
patrons per day and 75% never touch a book, and the younger generation
preferring to read/use digital instead of books, what do all this
portend?
Also, there are the what ifs. What if many jobs do not return--
average unemployment stays at 7-8% or, like Europe, is considered FULL
employment? Housing values remain stagnant for next 5010 years thus
state tax revenues continue to decline? If school librarians have to
cut, will it be easier or more difficult to defend to administrators
cutting an online resource instead of books? Because of personnel
cuts, librarians have less time to review and process books? What if
99% of books are also ebooked or the next YA bestseller is published
first as an ebook and only six months later as a hardback or
paperback? Kindles, ereaders are $50?
In response to the trends, over the years I've expanded my online/
digital resources to about half my budget (15-20 subscription
databases compared to 1,200 new books), created a a virtual library of
websites/resources, weekly bulk email staff/students reviews,
bibliographies, and research suggestions, student book reviews in
school paper, and usual displays, inservice and orientation of library
resources. I've tried to encourage staff to require a certain percent
of "print" citations when doing research (3 out of 6 sources?).
Bob Hicks
Arkansas City High School Library
Arkansas City, KS 67005
bob.hicks@usd470.com
On Mar 3, 2010, at 3:16 PM, Naomi Bates wrote:
> I'm just curious, since you take such a hard and fast stand...can you
> give examples of what you, as a high school librarian in Arkansas,
> do
> in assisting student's needs in research or other searches? How are
> you
> accommodating the digital natives, or even perhaps, the digital
> immigrants?
> How is your library reflected? How are patrons using the library at
> your high school and are you helping them reach their potential, be it
> electronic or hardcopy?
>
> Just some curious questions....
>
> Naomi Bates
> Northwest High School Library
> Justin, Texas
> nbates@nisdtx.org
> 817-215-0203
>
>
>>>> Bob Hicks <bob.hicks@USD470.COM> 3/3/2010 11:26 AM >>>
> CHANGE
> Too many people make the mistake of assuming "change" is automatically
>
> or guaranteed good or positive. Consequently, they are blindly in
> favor of any or all change. Change is just change. There is a 50/50
>
> or equal chance it is good or bad or positive or negative. History is
>
> replete with change for the worse. It is merely faith over fact to
> believe that the age of the book and the "brick and mortar" library
> will go on forever or infinity. Why would books and libraries be
> somehow uniquely exempt or immune from the negative consequences of
> technology? It is hubris and wishful thinking to believe that printed
>
> books and libraries are irreplaceable or immortal.
>
> Here are some articles about the end of libraries and and the book era
>
> FUTURE OF BOOKS/LIBRARIES...
> http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/09/04/future.library.technology/
>
> http://opls.blogspot.com/2006/09/microsoft-opens-school-without-library.html
>
>
>
>http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/09/04/a_library_without_the_books/
>
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/16/books/16libr.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1
>
> http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2009/0717/p09s01-coop.html
>
>
>
>http://directmarketingobservations.com/2008/01/18/death-of-the-library-and-rise-of-the-kindle/
>
>
> http://schoolof.info/infomancy/?p=259
>
> http://findingschools.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/end-of-libraries/
>
> http://annoyedlibrarian.blogspot.com/2006/08/on-purpose-of-public-libraries.html
>
>
>
> EBOOK MARKET
>
>http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/report_ereader_and_ebook_market_ready_for_growth.php
>
>
>
>http://www.digitaltrends.com/talk-backs/the-future-of-ebooks-flexible-screens-and-beyond/
>
>
> END OF BOOKSTORES
> http://www.fonerbooks.com/booksale.htm
>
> BOOK BUYERS
>
>http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/393983-New_Report_Examines_Book_Market_Buyers.php
>
>
> PUBLISHING TRENDS
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/dec/15/stephen-covey-amazon-ebook-deal
>
>
>
>http://www.bowker.com/index.php/press-releases/563-bowker-reports-us-book-production-declines-3-in-2008-but-qon-demandq-publishing-more-than-doubles
>
>
> EBOOK SALES UP/YA SALES DOWN
>
>http://www.publishers.org/main/PressCenter/Archicves/2010_February/SalesUp4.1in2009Release.htm
>
>
> Bob Hicks
> Arkansas City High School Library
> Arkansas City, KS 67005
> bob.hicks@usd470.com
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> 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, you send a message 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
>
> * LM_NET Help & Information: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/
> * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
> * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm ( http://lm/
> )-net.info/join.html
> * LM_NET Supporters:
> http://lmnet.wordpress.com/category/links/el-announce/
> * LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> 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, you send a message 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
>
> * LM_NET Help & Information: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/
> * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
> * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/join.html
> * LM_NET Supporters: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/category/links/el-announce/
> * LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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, you send a message 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
* LM_NET Help & Information: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/
* LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
* EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/join.html
* LM_NET Supporters: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/category/links/el-announce/
* LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LM_NET
Mailing List Home