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SLMS: Acceptable Use of Technology

·         One other blog entry on a topic of your choice. You may discuss any topic that was mentioned in class or, if there is a topic that is pertinent to the operation of your particular SLMC or technology center then you may choose to discuss this topic. Entry should be at least 3 paragraphs long and should include at least one link.

     With the change from the traditional library filled with only books, to the media center packed with technology, comes a challenge that school library media specialists must address.  Technology can be extremely beneficial to the education and learning of students, but it is a tool that must be used positively and productively.  Technology does have the ability to have a negative affect (potentially harmful) if misused.  Since so much of this technology is centered in the library media center, it is the job of the school library media specialist to ensure that students are safely using the technology in the most beneficial way. 

     First, the school should be sure to have an Acceptable Use Policy put into place for all students and faculty.  Here are some examples of Acceptable Use Policies: Cranford Public Schools http://cranfordschools.org/boe/pdf/BP_6142_10.pdf, Wake County Public School http://www.ncsu.edu/ligon/au.policy.html, Livingston District http://www.livingston.k12.mt.us/1393101210104745700/lib/1393101210104745700/_files/3612.pdf

Acceptable Use Policies can range from a page long, to multiple pages long.  These policies are put in place to provide guidelines and rules on how to use the Internet and technological devices in a safe, efficient, and respectful manner.  School Library Media Specialists should ensure that the school has an acceptable use policy in place and that all students and faculty are made aware of the policy.  Most schools have students and faculty sign a copy of the policy, and have a copy of the policy sent home to parents. 

     With an Acceptable Use Policy in place, students should know how to behave while using technology.  However, the school library media specialist can take a few more steps to ensure that student behavior is appropriate.  First, it is important to have a certain type of filtering program for Internet Use in the school.  There are pros and cons to these types of filtering programs.  While programs restrict access to pornographic and other inappropriate websites, some programs actually end up restricting appropriate websites as well.  However, it is so important to make sure that students cannot access pornographic and other harmful websites in schools.  Some schools may also wish to block social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.  This is a decision that should be made by the school (SLMS included!). 

     Finally, I think it is important for the SLMS to open the eyes of the students to the potentially harmful effects of technology.  This could be through a program designed by the SLMS, through a presentation from an outside source, or through another medium.  I once saw a presentation by IROC (http://www.iroc2.org/) that really opened my eyes to the idea that things posted by individuals on the Internet become public and permanent.  I think the school library media specialist has a responsibility to help students become “digitally conscious” or aware of the impact of technology in positive and negative ways.  I would recommend the IROC presentation to anyone in the media aspect of a school!

Library Collection Mapping

  What is library collection mapping? How does it help the SLMS to meet the needs of students and teachers? Put at least one link to a company which provides this service (it doesn’t matter whether this is a free service or if you must pay; just note if the service is free and if not, what costs there are).

     A library collection map is defined by Baltimore County Public Schools as “graphical representation of the strengths and weaknesses of a library collection”. (http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/office/admin/cm/mapping.html) 

      As a math person, I love graphs and visual representations of information.  I find that things are easier to understand and visualize by using graphs and maps.  A school library collection map categorizes the collection of the library into groups (usually based on the curriculum of the school) and then further subgroups.  It shows what resources the library has for general education needs, specific school subjects, unit topics within the subjects, and more specific subgroups within a unit.  Library collection mapping is a great tool to help analyze the collection of the library.  Using library collection maps can greatly help the library meet the needs of the students and teachers because it helps the SLMS see the size, quality, and condition of resources in the library.  It also shows what specific areas are in need of more resources, and which areas could use some weeding out of resources.  Using a library collection map can help the SLMS work towards obtaining a library collection that supports the entire curriculum offered at the school in a fairly evenly distributed way. 

     I looked online to find a company that provides collection mapping, and at first I got stuck!  It was difficult to search this topic, because different companies came up that involved actual maps (of geographical places) for libraries.  Then, I decided to search with some different words and I found this website: http://www.perma-bound.com/collection-analysis-introduction.faces !  The company PermaBound offers a free collection analysis and planning tool that allows users to upload a collection and analyze it by creating different graphs, maps, and charts.  It seems very helpful, and it is free!  It also looks like it is definitely geared towards school libraries, and even helps fit materials right into the curriculum of the school. 

    I was also able to find another tool.  The company Bowker developed a Book Analysis System.  http://www.bowkersbookanalysis.com/Pages/how.html  This is a product that costs a certain fee (request more information for fee details).  This is also a product that seems to fit larger, college libraries.  It can help the process of building up the collection based on certain needs, and weeding the collection based on materials already in possession.  

References

Collection Mapping. (n.d.). Retrieved November 26, 2012 from Baltimore Count Public Schools:
http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/office/admin/cm/mapping.html

Collection Analysis and Planning. (n.d.). Retrieved November 26, 2012 from PermaBound: http://www.perma-bound.com/collection-analysis-introduction.faces

Bowker Book Analysis System. (2011). Retrieved November 26, 2012 from Bowker: http://www.bowkersbookanalysis.com/Pages/how.html

Automation Systems- Compatible with MARC

·         Why is it important to have a MARC Record compatible automation system in your SLMC? How is this related to outsourcing the cataloging of books? Have at least one link to a company that does book cataloging.

      I think it is important to have an automation system that is compatible with MARC Records for a few different reasons.  First and foremost, if the LMS can directly import MARC records from somewhere (possibly through using Z39.5 and the automation system), then the job of cataloging is made so much easier for the librarian.  The daunting task of creating the MARC record (or copying each and every field from an already made MARC record) is reduced to just the click of a button (as I wrote in the Discussion Board earlier).  This frees up an immense amount of the librarian’s time which today is necessary for the many jobs the LMS has within the school.  With the free time, the LMS can now dedicate him- or herself to the “media” aspect of the job, enhancing the technological aspects of the library, classrooms, and school itself. 

     Another reason that it is important to have an automation system compatible with MARC records if for structure and consistency.  MARC records allow for a uniform or standard way of classifying and cataloguing, and reduce the chance of errors while cataloging.  Most major libraries use MARC records for cataloging, allowing for structure within the library system. 

     If cataloging can easily be done through an automation system compatible with MARC records, then it is not necessary for library media specialist to outsource this task.  Thus, money is saved, and can be spent elsewhere.  Having a library automation system that is compatible with MARC records greatly affects the role of the LMS, the amount of time spent on certain tasks, and the distribution of funds (all in positive ways!)

Below is one link to a company that does book cataloging:

http://www.librarycatalogingsolutions.com/index.html

Dewey Decimal System

What are the advantages/disadvantages of this system? Why was it developed? Who uses it? What are the basic principles of system? Are there any inherent prejudices or biases? Discuss any other interesting information about this type of library classification system. And finally, what system do you think you would use in your media center and why? Be sure to include a list of your references.

          The Dewey Decimal System, or Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC), was developed by Melvin Dewey in 1876 as a way to classify the written materials of the world.  It was designed to organize all human knowledge, and more particularly, the materials in a library.  It is used by most public libraries in the United States, as well as in over one hundred other countries.  This system arranges books and other materials in numerical order based on category.  First, the numbers are split into ten classes, each divided into ten divisions, and further into ten sections.  This means that the number 931 is in class 9, division 3, and section 1.  The numbers correspond to different categories.  Decimals are used to divide the sections even further, allowing items to be classified more specifically.  It is possible for materials to be classified in more than one way in a computer or written system; however the materials can only be shelved in one place.  Every book has a Dewey Decimal classification associated with it, but not every library organizes all books using this method.

          The Dewey Decimal System has advantages as well as disadvantages.  One huge advantage is that it classifies all materials in a uniform way, and is so widely used.  However, all systems classify in some manner, and who is to say that popularity of a system makes it the best?  Another advantage is that it is very simple to organize shelves in a library and to put books back on the shelves.  People can easily put items in numerical order.  There are also disadvantages to this system.  First, it is difficult to add more subjects to this system.  The categories are already defined, and with the world changing and adapting, it is not easy to fit all new books into the predefined categories.  Yes, smaller more specific categories can be developed, but they still must fit into the broader defined categories that exist.  Another disadvantage of the Dewey Decimal System is that it is difficult for most people to use.  If a reader is not familiar with the system, the reader may struggle with finding the books, because he or she has not memorized the categories that match up with particular numbers.   Browsing in a library that uses the Dewey Decimal System is not an easy task.

          If I had a media center located within a school, I think that I would use a system similar to the bookstore method.  I think that the school is a rather small setting, and students typically browse for books within the school.  The bookstore method gives the library a more natural and comfortable setting.  Students are used to going into bookstores and would be able to find what they are looking for more easily.  I would probably use the BISAC classification if possible to create some type of uniform classification within the library, so that specific books could also be easily found.

References

Singleton, M. (2011, January 26). Bisac - in which we organize the bookshop sections. [Web log article] Retrieved from http://bookshopblog.com/2011/01/26/bisac-in-which-we-organize-the-bookshop-sections/

Wingett, Y. (2007, May 30). Gilbert library to be first to drop Dewey Decimal. The Arizona Republic. Retrieved from http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0530nodewey0530.html?&wired&nclick_check=1

Halsey, J. (n.d.). The Dewey Decimal Classification System. Retrieved from http://mypages.iit.edu/~smart/halsey/lesson1.htm

Dewey Decimal Classification. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2012 from the Wikipedia Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dewey_Decimal_Classification