I added the "Follow by Email" gadget. I find this feature very helpful when I would like to keep up with a blog, podcast, YouTube channel. This way, the follower will get an email notification of new content and not have to keep checking back in.

It is currently at the bottom of the page. I put it there because I thought it might get lost on the right column which is getting crowded. I welcome someone with web design sense to move it to a better location!

Libraries and Student Success

When schools are faced with budget cuts, librarians are often casualties. According to Steven Yates, the president of the American Association of School Librarians, when this happens, “Not only do you lose the person curating the resources for informational and pleasure reading, but you lose the person who can work with the students on the ethical side—how do you cite? How do you determine a credible source of information?” (Harwin). The article, “Schools See Steep Drop in Librarians, New Analysis Finds”, goes on to state that minority districts are hit hardest when it is, in fact, these communities are in most need of these resources.

Chart Source: Alex Harwin, Education Week Research Center analysis of federal Common Core of Data, 2018

The authors of “How school librarians leave no child behind: The impact of school library media programs on academic achievement of U.S. public school students” take a look at multiple studies and conclude that “that students perform better academically where the [Library Media Specialist]: 

● is part of a planning and teaching team with the classroom teacher, 

● teaches information literacy skills, and 

● provides one-to-one tutoring for students in need.

Library media specialists have a twofold teaching role. They are teachers of students, facilitating the development of information literacy skills necessary for success in all content areas and they are in-service trainers of teachers, keeping abreast of the latest information resources and technology” (Lance).

The American Association of School Librarians has developed a “Standards Framework for Learners”, National School Library Standards (“Home”).

Learners Interpret the Standards: Curate

“The school library is where I learned to curate”

Given the important role school libraries play, it is imperative they remain an integral component in schools and an essential item in governmental budgeting. In his article, “Fight for School Libraries: Student success depends on them”, Jim Neal Argues for advocacy in the time of budget reductions and implications for staffing and closing of school libraries. He designates as lifelong skills those learned through access to and use of school libraries. These include “[understanding] issues like privacy, confidentiality, intellectual freedom, open access, fair use, and how these relate to their work as learners”.

He goes on to provide the Common Beliefs of The American Library Association’s American Association of School Librarians (AASL) National School Library Standards for Learners:

1. The school library is a unique and essential part of a learning community. 

2. Qualified school librarians lead effective school libraries. 

3. Learners should be prepared for college, career, and life. 

4. Reading is the core of personal and academic competency.

5. Intellectual freedom is every learner’s right. 

6. Information technologies must be appropriately integrated and equitably available

The relationship that the school librarian, or “teacher-librarian”, has with classroom teachers continues to evolve, and extended to include support not only for students.

The Changing Role of School Librarians 

The evidence of their importance necessitates ongoing support of the school library at local school district, city and state levels.

Referenced:

Harwin, Sarah D. Sparks, Alex. “Schools See Steep Drop in Librarians, New Analysis Finds - Education Week.” Education Week,
May 2018. Education Week, https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/05/16/schools-see-steep-drop-in-librarians-new.html.

“Home.” National School Library Standards, https://standards.aasl.org/.

Lance, Keith Curry, et al. “On the Road to Student Success. How School Librarians Leave No Child Behind; Accountability and
the School Teacher Librarian; Looking for the Evidence: Do School Libraries Improve Student Achievement?; Strategic
Directions and Newer Dilemmas for Teacher-Librarians and School Library Resource Centres; The School Library:
Accountability for Student Learning; Making Library Programs Count; Accelerated Reader: Does It Work? If So, Why?;
Improving Satisfaction Levels: Playing a Political Game; Accountability and School Libraries: The Principal’s Viewpoint;
Vive La Difference: Gender, Motivation and Achievement; Integrated Library Program; Canadian Coalition for School Libraries
Update; Block Grassroots Projects; On the Other Hand.” School Libraries in Canada, vol. 22, no. 2, Jan. 2002, pp. 3–43. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ664849&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Neal, Jim. “Fight for School Libraries: Student Success Depends on Them.” American Libraries, vol. 49, no. 3/4, Mar. 2018, p. 4.
EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=128247716&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

“Student Success.” I Love Libraries, http://www.ilovelibraries.org/school-libraries/school-libraries-and-student-success.

(“Student Success”)

Sylvia, Margaret. “Personal Librarians: Building Relationships for Student Success.” Library Journal, vol. 144, no. 9, Oct. 2019,
p. 111. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=138877371&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

https://login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=138877371
&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Libraries as Social Hubs

I love this statement by the authors of the Brooking Institution Blog, “They say you can’t judge a book by its cover. Increasingly in the United States, you also can’t judge a library’s value to its community by simply its books.” They go on to describe how libraries and librarians “have gradually taken on other functions well beyond lending out books.”¹

Indeed, a look at any library branch calendar will confirm the library’s role as a “social hub”.

•        Book clubs
•        Knitting and sewing groups
•        Yoga, Tai Chi, stretching, meditation, Zumba
•        Teen groups
•        Parent’s groups
•        Scout meetings
•        Citizenship classes
•        ESL classes
•        Arts and crafts
•        Computer literacy classes and help
•        Polling places and Mail-In Ballot drop off sites
•        Play and Storytimes
•        Concerts
•        Films
•        Academic subject workshops and tutoring/homework help
•        Chess clubs
•        After school snacks, free summer lunches for children
•        Safe space: youth LGBTQIA+ meetups

Testifying to this fact, during this current COVID-19 crisis, while physically closed, the library continues to function virtually as a resource for their community by providing links to information:

The Carnegie UK Trust presents the idea of the Library as contributing to social wellbeing and the value of the Library is “a shared resource in which experiences and value are created”.²

Another lovely image is created by Kirsty Williamson as she explores the impact of retirees on the Public Library. In her explorations of the topic she likens the Library to “The New Village Green”. This conjures up the notion of public space open to all and charmingly describes the core mission of the Library even as the particulars change over time.³

Shana Hinze goes further and encourages Librarians to act as Community Ambassadors.

I think Libraries and Librarians already do this to varying degrees but bears further consideration. Beyond offering in-house programs, she suggests actively getting involved in the community by reaching out and joining organizations through the local Chamber of Commerce and services such as the WIC office, state job placement office, schools, and after school programs. “The idea is to go where people in the community go to get help, ask for things, or get things done”.⁴

In these ways, the Library expands its role as community centers.

Referenced:

1. Butler, Marcela Cabello and Stuart M. “How Public Libraries Help Build Healthy Communities.” Brookings, 30 Mar. 2017, https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2017/03/30/how-public-libraries-help-build-healthy-communities/.

2. “Library as Social Hub (Speaking Volumes).” Carnegie UK Trust, https://www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/publications/library-as-social-hub/. 

3. Williamson, Kirsty. “Creating the New Village Green: The Impact of the Retirement of the Baby Boomers on the Public Library.” APLIS, vol. 22, no. 2, June 2009, pp. 83–88. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=40102604&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

4. Hinze, Shana. “Librarians as Community Ambassadors.” Young Adult Library Services, vol. 15, no. 1, Fall 2016, pp. 27–30. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=118843606&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Social Networking and Libraries

http://quiteunpredictable.blogspot.com/2014/07/social-media-inand-libraries.html?m=0

Why?

Libraries make use of Social Media as a cost effective and efficient way to promote/popularize and improve the quality of their services to users.¹

How?

It is important for a library to determine which social networking platform will be preferred by their particular community. It is especially relevant to determine this for those users who do not frequently visit the library but are primarily online users. The library’s online presence does not only serve to promote services, but is an expression of that library’s culture.

This video (although created for a research library) gives tips on maximizing and maintaining any library’s social media channels:

https://youtu.be/BcTLkT_mrf0 

What?

Facebook

• Library news. Libraries are sharing about themselves—what’s happening at the library, what will happen, and what recently happened.
• Fun stuff. Libraries are also sharing what I’m calling “fun stuff.” These are light-hearted or humorous posts that one often finds on Facebook. These types of posts tend to make people smile and click the Like button. That’s the goal.

Twitter

Many libraries share current information and news about their library—that “what’s happening now” type of content.

YouTube

• Reference and entertainment. Want to learn something fast? There’s probably a YouTube video about it. Want to listen to a new song? Increasingly, YouTube is where bands put their newest music (lyrics-only videos), even before the official music video is created. 
• Library information. YouTube is also a great place to post library-related instructional videos. 
• Social content. YouTube is a social network, too. So if you post videos, there’s a good chance people will follow your channel and comment or Like your videos.

LinkedIn

Libraries can use LinkedIn to connect with the professional community in their service area.

Tumblr

Tumblr can be a fun, popular place for animated gifs and visual-based posts for libraries.

Pinterest 

Pin interesting content that…is happening in the library. Pin new books.

Instagram

Libraries can share photos of what’s happening at the library—fun stuff and behind-the-scenes pictures. You can also use Instagram to give your library a human touch—to share the human side of the library.²

This topic has taken on an enhanced meaning in this time of sequestration. Libraries are making heavy use of social media platforms to connect and communicate with their patrons with relevant and timely information.

  

                  

Referenced:

1.      BOOKER, LATRICE, and SUBIR BANDYOPADHYAY. “How Academic Libraries Can Leverage Social Networking to Popularize Their Services: An Empirical Study.” Journal of the Indiana Academy of the Social Sciences, vol. 16, no. 2, May 2017, pp. 129–146. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=129365572&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

2.      King, David Lee. “Landscape of Social Media for Libraries.” Library Technology Reports, vol. 51, no. 1, Jan. 2015, pp. 10–15. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=100279059&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Libraries and the Homeless

https://blogs.proquest.com/general/libraries-and-homelessness/

In her letter to the editor of Computers in Libraries, in a response to an article identifying homeless patrons as the #1 security risk, Lois Odabas states “I am a public librarian and my number one issue is not unfortunate people in my library, but these kinds of response to them. Homeless people first and foremost are people. Human beings” (Odabas). And then...I have heard one of my own highly educated and intelligent, compassionate, loving and kind family members acknowledge that she no longer takes her children to their local library branch because of the number of homeless persons there.  Libraries today are grappling with this issue and how to manage it for the best of all patrons. This interview from 2007, “Libraries Become Temporary Refuge for Homeless”, asks the question, “So what do libraries do? How strange is too strange? How smelly is too smelly?” (“Libraries Become Temporary Refuge for Homeless”). Mr. Chip Ward, interviewed for the story, acknowledges that the challenge is managing “odd behaviors” that accompany “addiction or alcoholism or mental illness” and speaks to how his library has responded. Their solution, to “respond to people's behavior - not their appearance and not their status but their behavior” sounds very much like what is presented by Jared Oates of the Niche Academy which, among other things, offers a webinar and free tutorial on “Effective Responses to Homeless Issues” in the library. This is a very powerful presentation which will forever change one’s perception of the issue.  As is often true, the more we educate ourselves, the more comfortable and well equipped we are to manage complex and difficult circumstances. The website http://www.homelesslibrary.com/ is an excellent resource for libraries offering a newsletter, an online course, webinars, and training presented by author and homeless shelter Executive Director, Ryan Dowd.  A solution lies not in ‘what to do about the homeless population in our libraries’, but in educating ourselves to be more knowledgeably and confidently addressing the issues presented in creating an inclusive environment “capable of serving everyone” (“IntroLibrary”). Carolyn Harvey

Works Cited:

“IntroLibrary.” Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness, http://www.homelesslibrary.com/introlibrary.html. Accessed 19 Mar. 2020.

"Libraries Become Temporary Refuge for Homeless." Talk of the Nation, 2 Apr. 2007. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link-gale-com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/apps/doc/A161459041/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=OVIC&xid=1dfc7daa. Accessed 19 Mar. 2020.

Odabas, Lois. “Not All Homeless Are Library Security Risks.” Computers in Libraries, vol. 38, no. 7, Sept. 2018, p. 3. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=131799515&site=ehost-live&scope=site.