Re: [LM_NET] School libraries irrelevant

[LIZANELL BOMAN <lizanellb@MSN.COM>]

Just had to jump in with an observation from a friend who is very much a 
technophile/early adopter.  He travels a fair amount for his work as a tech support 
rep for Red Hat, and he ALWAYS packs a hard copy book.  His reason?  He can't have 
his laptop or his blackberry on during take-off or landing because of the rules 
about electronic devices.  Simple, but true.   As electronic devices get more and 
more sophisticated, I think this restriction could conceivably tighten.  Who wants 
a terrorist with their laptop or smart phone hacking into the flight systems which 
are becoming more and more computerized?

Lizanell Bomanlizanellb@msn.comcurrently un-affiliated

Dreams, books, are each a world; and books, we know,

Are a substantial world, both pure and good.

Round these, with tendrils strong as flesh and blood,

Our pastime and our happiness will grow.

William Wordsworth

> 
> Date:    Sun, 7 Mar 2010 17:25:38 +0800
> From:    Barbara COMBES <b.combes@ECU.EDU.AU>
> Subject: Re: SCHOOL LIBRARIES ARE IRRELEVANT?
> 
> When we talk about this topic and the rush to all things technology, we sho=
> uld be looking at what research is telling us.
> 
> Firstly, new research says that kids must have really good traditional lite=
> racy skills before they can use a computer and even then they miss things o=
> n the screen.
> Computers are not compensatory but complementary.
> 
> Secondly, statistics are delivering a 20% number consistently across all le=
> vels - school university and population - that says this proportion of the =
> population are technophobic and dislike using computers for anything.
> 
> Thirdly, children learn to read when they are in their pre-cognitive stage,=
>  ie. before they are cognitively capable of conceptual thought and making c=
> onnections. They are still in their physical stage of learning and books pr=
> ovide them with the tools to learn to read - which is more than just decodi=
> ng symbols on a page. It is about sequence; beginning, middle and end,; rea=
> ding from left to right, top to bottom, ...
> 
> Fourth, many books are not published in any other format due to copyright r=
> estrictions and we are a long way off digitising everything.
> 
> Fifth - There is not currently enough good content on the Web that caters f=
> or all levels of students, both reading level, age level and academic level=
>  across all curriculum areas.
> 
> Sixth and very important, print on paper is still the format/delivery mode =
> which has the greatest longevity. The average lifespan of a CD/DVD is appro=
> x 5 years (CD/DVD rot), and this only so long as the hardware and software =
> still exists so you can access the resource.
> 
> I doubt I will see the death of the book in my lifetime or that of my child=
> ren.
> :)
> BC
> 
> 
> President WA Operations, WASLA, http://www.wasla.asn.au/
> Vice President, Advocacy & Promotion, IASL: www.iasl-online.org
> The GiggleIT Project: www.iasl-online.org/sla/giggleIT/index.htm
> LIS@ECU: www.chs.ecu.edu.au/portals/LIS/index.php
> Australian School Library Research Project: www.chs.ecu.edu.au/portals/ASLR=
> P/
> Barbara Combes, Lecturer
> School of Computer and Security Science Edith Cowan University, Perth Weste=
> rn Australia
> Ph: (08) 9370 6072
> Email: b.combes@ecu.edu.au
> 
> "Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of=
>  an ignorant nation." Walter Cronkite
> 
> This email is confidential and intended only for the use of the individual =
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> ied that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email is strict=
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> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: School Library Media & Network Communications [mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV=
> .SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Barbara Karp
> Sent: Sunday, 7 March 2010 1:52 PM
> To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> Subject: Re: [LM_NET] SCHOOL LIBRARIES ARE IRRELEVANT?
> 
> You said it, Jennifer!  The appearance of my elementary/middle school libra=
> ry at the end of any given school day is proof that reading is certainly no=
> t becoming obsolete.  (I'm working on attracting more high schoolers into m=
> y domain.)
> 
> 
> 
> When I look around me on the NYC subway on any given day going to or from w=
> ork, I see people of all ages reading, not ebooks (I've maybe seen only one=
>  of these), but books!
> 
> 
> 
> "Librarians...have been my lifelong friends, guides and heroes."  Joseph Br=
> uchac
> 
> 
> 
> Basya Karp, Librarian
> 
> Shulamith High School and Shulamith School For Girls
> 
> Brooklyn, New York
> 
> basyak10@hotmail.com
> 
> > Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 18:47:38 -0800
> > From: springtimejen@GMAIL.COM
> > Subject: Re: SCHOOL LIBRARIES ARE IRRELEVANT?
> > To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> >
> > Seems like this is more of a rant than an article. Where are your facts?
> > School libraries are much more than books, but basic literacy will
> > never go out of style and the most enticing way to encourage reading
> > literacy is through reading good books. Just look at elementary book
> > sales of Junie B., Lightening Thief, etc.
> >
> > Also, remember that the idea of libraries is to provide equal access.
> > Your assumption that everyone will be able to go digital any time soon
> > is erroneous. Libraries cross the bridge between the have and have
> > nots, and while book collections may become more narrow to accommodate
> > computer labs, there are still many years to go before kindles, or
> > readers, will regularly be checked out to entire populations. We are just=
>  not there.
> >
> > So, SLJ did you a favor by not publishing your "article." You are
> > clearly not stimulating discussion as the people on this list are
> > committed to equality and education through literacy, and many of us
> > put hours into collection development for that purpose. Please stop
> > with the paranoia about societies without books and start promoting
> > library funding. It is disappointing to finally have time to catch up
> > on this list and waste time reading articles like yours.
> >
> > Jennifer Berube
> > Library Media Teacher
> > Arcata High School
> > Arcata, CA
> > springtimejen@gmail.com
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Mar 2, 2010 at 4:47 PM, Sara Ralph <bibliophile26@yahoo.com> wrot=
> e:
> >
> > >
> > > http://www.publishers.org/main/PressCenter/Archicves/2010_February/S
> > > alesUp4.1in2009Release.htm
> > >
> > > From the American Association of Publishers. Books sales were up 4%
> > > in 2009. While there have been some dips in the past few years,
> > > sales increased more than 25% since the early 2000s. While ebook
> > > sales are on the rise, they are still less than 3.5 % of total book
> > > sales. Your observations are not totally wrong, but (and I say this
> > > with all due respect) ancedotes do not override statistics and
> > > according to statistics, there is no book buying crisis in America.
> > >
> > > Sara Ralph, librarian
> > > Asheboro, NC
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ________________________________
> > > From: Bob Hicks <bob.hicks@USD470.COM>
> > > To: Sara Ralph <bibliophile26@YAHOO.COM>
> > > Sent: Tue, March 2, 2010 6:10:28 PM
> > > Subject: Re: SCHOOL LIBRARIES ARE IRRELEVANT?
> > >
> > > I am not sure where your are getting your publishing/book figures.
> > > My Bowker and other statistics and publishers show a steady
> > > decline--3.2% in
> > > 2008 & per capita decline--18% in 2005. Even more dramatic is the
> > > decline in the percent of people buying and reading books relative
> > > to the increased population. A 1,000,000 copies bestseller meant
> > > more in say 1960 when the population was much less than today.
> > >
> > > I'm afraid you are in denial.
> > >
> > > On Mar 2, 2010, at 3:52 PM, Sara Ralph wrote:
> > >
> > > We have heard this over and over (that physical copies of books will
> > > be eliminated, but more books than ever are being published. I know
> > > the Kindle and the B&N ebook reader is hugely popular, but I just
> > > don't see it happening.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > ________________________________
> > > From: Bob Hicks <bob.hicks@USD470.COM>
> > > >To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> > > >Sent: Tue, March 2, 2010 11:01:01 AM
> > > >Subject: SCHOOL LIBRARIES ARE IRRELEVANT?
> > > >
> > > >Believing this might stimulate interest and discussion, I first
> > > >submitted
> > > this to "School Library Journal" but to no surprise they could not
> > > find space for the article.
> > > >Bob-- Sorry you didn't receive a reply previously. Our editorial
> > > >schedule
> > > is set for 2010 and, unfortunately, we do not have an open position
> > > for your article. Thanks you for submitting it.--Phyllis.
> > > >
> > > >Phyllis Levy Mandell
> > > >Managing Editor
> > > >Multimedia Review Editor
> > > >School Library Journal
> > > >Curriculum Connections
> > > >360 Park Avenue South
> > > >New York, NY 10010
> > > >646-746-6763
> > > >
> > > >____________________________________________________________
> > > >
> > > > School Libraries Are Irrelevant?
> > > >
> > > >I have extrapolated on the following online article
> > > >
> > > >Do School Libraries Need Books?
> > > >
> > > http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/do-school-librarie
> > > s-need-books/
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >Within a capitalistic system, economics defines and dictates everythin=
> g:
> > > human behavior, the culture, and societal institutions including librar=
> ies.
> > > >
> > > >Recently, I visited one of the bookstore chains. For a Saturday,
> > > >there
> > > were only a few people in the store and most of them were in the
> > > ever expanding "non-book" areas: CD, DVD, and computer software. Can
> > > these places still even be called bookstores? I bought a $30 book.
> > > Upon returning home, I checked Amazon and discovered I could have
> > > download the same book for $10. Because I am a "Last Generation
> > > Bookman", hard copies have intrinsic and sentimental value thus
> > > paying triple for a "real" book is not a problem. However, if I was und=
> er say thirty or an "internet/computer"
> > > generation person having no emotional or psychological attachment to
> > > three dimensional books , I would be angry and feel cheated.
> > > >
> > > >Did you read or hear in the news that Laredo, Texas, a community of
> > > 250,000, was losing their last and only bookstore?
> > > >
> > > >In the end, economics trumps everything. Do you remember the "buy
> > > America" movement years ago? The idea was two fold: support American
> > > labor and manufacturing by buying more expensive products made in
> > > America, and refuse to support and reward employers of slave and
> > > sweatshop labor by purchasing their products. Unfortunately, people
> > > who would never dream of supporting child or exploited labor were
> > > willing to do just that just o save a few bucks. The movement
> > > quickly failed! Americans chose their pocketbooks over their patriotism=
>  and principles.
> > > >
> > > >Just as the technology in form of the printing press initiated the "ch=
> eap"
> > > book/printed page era, the technology of computers, the internet,
> > > eReaders, and etc. will end it. Does anyone want to bet that "hard
> > > copy" books will get cheaper? Excluding the author and actual "text"
> > > costs, consider all the other costs of getting a physical book into
> > > your hands: materials, labor, printing, binding, packing, shipping,
> > > and bookstore costs. What percent of the retail price? Half? Two
> > > thirds? In ten years, what do you think the postage on shipping a
> > > box of books? What if both the author and the publisher of an eBook,
> > > digital book, or whatever you call them made the same profit or even
> > > more with a download instead of a hard copy? Are capitalists known for =
> their sentimentality?
> > > >
> > > >Have you noticed new books are going out of print faster? Publisher
> > > >print
> > > runs are smaller. Have you tried to buy a year or two year old
> > > hardback lately? Sorry, out of print, but the eBook is available for
> > > $8. In 2009, Carol Buchanan's God's Thunderbolt: The Vigilantes Of
> > > Montana won the Western Writers Of America prestigious "Spur" award for=
>  best first novel.
> > > It is a self-published book. Why pay a publisher? When will an eBook
> > > win the Pulitzer Prize or make it on the NYT bestseller list?
> > > Presently, is their a bestseller list dedicated to eBooks?
> > > >
> > > >Besides the cost difference between a hard copy and an eBook,
> > > >consider
> > > other existing and potential advantages of eBooks over the Gutenberg
> > > template? Guaranteed availability--no gamble as to whether the store
> > > has it in stock. No worry of it going out of print. How about text
> > > keyword and index searching? What would the YA reader rather have? A
> > > hard copy of Stephanie Meyer's latest tome or a cheaper "Multimedia"
> > > eBook which besides text would includes a read-along audio track,
> > > background music track, graphic illustrations or graphic version,
> > > keyword text & index searchability, and a visual "Avatar"
> > > characterization play/drama of the story. Of course, a Spanish
> > > language version is included. Oh, by the way, if you don't want to
> > > buy the eBook, you can rent it for for $1.99 (automatic text
> > > deletion after 30 days). Of course, if you belong to the eBook club and=
>  pay the $15 monthly fee, you have unlimited rental downloads for free.
> > > >
> > > >Of course, shortly, hard copy school textbooks will be a thing of
> > > >the
> > > past. Again, cost will determine the preference. Why would a college
> > > student or school district pay $75-$200 for a textbook when it can
> > > downloaded to a computer, Kindle, iPad or whatever for $20? Again,
> > > also keep in mind the advantages of the eBook from keyword indexing
> > > and highlighting to the audio/visual features. School districts will
> > > simply pay the publisher a flat fee for X number or unlimited downloads=
> .
> > > >
> > > >Since students have classroom computer and/or handheld access to
> > > >all the
> > > standard "library" reference resources: encyclopedias, magazines and
> > > newspapers, both free and subscription databases, and thousands of
> > > specific primary and secondary downloadable eBooks, why do they need
> > > to go to the library or why does there need to be a library to go
> > > to? If a student is doing a research paper on the American
> > > Revolution, he simply downloads the "David McCullough" Revolutionary
> > > War Library of his ten recommended books on the subject. How about
> > > info on Mccarthyism? Access and/or download famous Professor Smith's
> > > McCarthyism Book & Magazine Library (bundle). Do you need
> > > information on the development of the gothic novel and horror
> > > literature or simply like horror novels? Access and download Neil
> > > Gaiman's recommended eBooks. All downloads are free to students because=
>  the district pays an annual $ subscription free for unlimited access and d=
> ownloading!
> > > Why would a student waste precious classtime to physically go to the
> > > library?
> > > >
> > > >Remember spending hours and hours in the university library? What
> > > >is
> > > happening or is going to happen to all those impressive college and
> > > university "brick & mortar" libraries with their miles of stacks of
> > > books and back issue journals? Will they still buy all those
> > > academic and technical books and subscribe to all those esoteric
> > > university press journals once they are digitized and downloadable?
> > > How are they going to continue to rationalize such expenditures? How
> > > about the storage and utility costs? Are they or will they become
> > > simply huge computer/internet cafes? Why would a student need to spend =
> time in one?
> > > >
> > > >How much reference assistance or advice in book selection do
> > > >students
> > > really need? By they get to middle school and high school, I believe
> > > not much. Have you visited one of the increasing online "ask a
> > > librarian or "reader advisor" sites (see examples below)--you type
> > > in your favorite book, genre or book you recently read and liked and
> > > you will get a list of similar books. Do your want to know what book
> > > three is in the -----series? Yes, in certain circumstances, one
> > > could still make a case that a librarian's unique knowledge and
> > > experience has educational value. But, the librarian does not need a
> > > "library" facility to practice reference assistance. A classroom or jus=
> t an office would suffice.
> > > >
> > > >Presently, what functions have your actual "library" space morphed int=
> o:
> > > computer lab, testing center, back to the old study hall, and/or
> > > club and social meeting hall? If I recall correctly, are not school
> > > architects reducing the library square footage in new school buildings?
> > > >
> > > >I am what you could call a "transitional" librarian or the last
> > > >generation
> > > of "traditional" librarianship. Initially, I practiced librarianship
> > > basically the same way the previous three or four generations of
> > > librarians had--hand written/typed catalog cards, wooden drawers, the g=
> reen Readers'
> > > Guide To Periodical Literature, multi-volumed reference sources & etc.
> > > Recently, I weeded the library's remaining old record recordings and
> > > filmstrip kits I had left. After notifying the faculty, a young,
> > > first year teacher stopped by to inspect the kits just out of
> > > curiosity. She had never seen one!
> > > >
> > > >As library traffic, circulation, and usage continue to decline, it
> > > >is
> > > going to become more difficult for MLS school librarians to
> > > rationalize and defend their facilities, contributions to the
> > > curriculum, and educational value. Any teacher certified person or
> > > even a "para" can checkout a few books and supervise computers.
> > > Having been a high school librarian for over thirty years, I have
> > > had hundreds of student library aides. With my encouragement, some have=
>  chose librarianship as their profession.
> > > Currently, I am reluctant in recommending the profession to
> > > students. At times, I see the specter of the buggy whip maker. A few
> > > years ago a fellow high school librarian and friend announced his
> > > retirement. Sounding frustrated, he said he no longer had much to do.
> > > >
> > > >Flashlight Worthy
> > > >http://www.flashlightworthybooks.com/
> > > >
> > > >The Book Explorer
> > > >http://www.thebookexplorer.com/
> > > >
> > > >What Should I Read
> > > >http://www.whatshouldireadnext.com/search
> > > >
> > > >Bob Hicks, librarian
> > > >Arkansas City High School Librarian Arkansas City, KS 67005
> > > >bob.hicks@usd470.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >

                                          
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