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May 15, 2002

Not Your Parents' Library

By Pam Berger

In the first of a two-part series, we examine how today's technologies have caused a major upheaval in traditional school libraries.

There was a time when teachers and librarians understood and were comfortable with the various formats through which both adults and children could access information-primarily books, periodicals, film, and video. Librarians were experts at assisting patrons as they searched the card catalog, reference books, and microfiche to conduct their research. But enter the technological revolution of the last 20 years and voila! Everything's changed.

Walk into most school libraries and the difference is obvious: card catalogs have been replaced by online catalogs (see "Automating the School Library"). Computers are dispersed throughout the library, and large display devices are available for students to share their electronic projects. The Web is now the preferred source of information. According to a recent USA Today study, 94 percent of online teens use the Net for school research and 71 percent say it's also the major source of information for school projects. There is also growing evidence that middle and elementary school students are relying more and more on filtered Internet content as a learning resource-usually with the guidance of a teacher or parent. School librarians now talk about virtual libraries, knowledge management, and Web development alongside topics such as reading motivation, information literacy skills, and collaborative curriculum planning.

Students use the library to access complex information networks unheard of just a decade ago.

As schools increasingly embrace the transformation from passive learning environments to active, student-centered ones engaged with rapidly changing information technology, school librarians are constantly reevaluating, adjusting, and assuming new roles. In this first article of a two-part series, we take an introductory look at how those roles are changing. Part two next fall will examine close-up some best practices and sample projects from school libraries around the country.

The Role of the New School Librarian

Trend #1: Team Teaching

Although librarians have always supported classroom teachers through orientation, study skills units, and similar activities, they are now even more directly involved in core curriculum instruction. Working in concert with classroom teachers, librarians can now be found heading up projects that enhance student information literacy and critical thinking skills. Building instructional Web sites-with articles, photos, and links to primary sources-is one notable example of what school librarians are doing to support teachers' efforts.

Trend #2: Community Partnerships

With the increasing number of resources available online, the physical boundaries between school and public libraries are disappearing. More than ever, community and school librarians are teaming up to guide students as they access information from school, home, and public libraries. As a result, there is a greater focus on collaboration with parents, educators, universities, and local businesses.

Trend #3: Librarians as Staff Developers

Classroom teachers are expected to prepare students to work in an increasingly electronic environment, an environment where the user is now responsible for determining the accuracy and the authority of information. As a result, school librarians-sometimes by default in a world where much of the faculty may be inexperienced with technology-are often charged with organizing and implementing technology staff development programs.

Trend #4: Anytime, Anywhere Service

Moving to an online environment has given school librarians the opportunity to provide their services to an expanded audience. For example, a partnership between the American Association of School Librarians and Drexel University offers a free online service called KidsConnect. Over 165 volunteer school librarians answer kids' questions, and, more importantly, share search strategies for effectively and efficiently locating information.

School librarians have embraced technology to become collaborators, publishers, staff developers, guides, and navigators. Their mission remains the same, however: ensuring that students are effective users of information and ideas.

Pam Berger, educational technology consultant and publisher of Information Searcher, was a school librarian for 18 years.

Automating the School Library The following companies offer products to automate your school library. Alexandria's product line includes the Alexandria v5 automation system, Alexandria Web for publishing an online collection, and the Alex Explore customizable user interface. Brodart recently came out with the latest iteration of its Precision One Cataloging System, which provides access to a database of two million MARC records via the Web or CD. Chancery's Library Pro system allows librarians to manage circulation, create custom collections, and incorporate electronic materials into classroom curricula. Library Web provides users with access to library resources 24/7. Follett Software In addition to a wide array of automation tools for cataloging and circulation, Follett Software offers the Find-It-All Collection, which allows access to multiple online reference databases, as well as links to teacher-approved sites. Gale develops over 600 databases published online, in print, and in microform. The company recently partnered with academic publisher Ingenta to aggregate their online periodicals into one service, InfoTrac OneFile and Expanded Academic, available this summer. Sagebrush's products include the Accent, Athena, and Winnebago Spectrum automation systems, as well as WebMARC for integrating curriculum-related Web sites into a school library collection. SIRS offers the Mandarin M3 Library Automation System, a Windows-based system that features a full MARC search engine, advanced cataloging and circulation features, and optional Web gateways customizable for adults or children. Surpass makes a suite of applications for circulation, cataloging, and putting collections on the Web. The company recently introduced Surpass Serials software for managing periodicals. The Library Corporation's raft of offerings includes three automation systems (Library.Solution, CARL.Solution, and SchoolLibrary.Solution), public access catalogs, cataloging software, and an interlibrary loan tool.

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