Week 7 Thing 12 Learning 2.0
School Library 2.0 -Say goodbye to your mother's school library by Christopher Harris (2006)
Interestingly enough, this article was written just 6 years ago and Library 2.0 seems to be the hot topic today!
I guess we are trying to move from "Library 1.0" or even "Library 0.5" back in day to a technological fluid library of tomorrow. I wonder if someday there will be a display at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center called the "The Library of Yesterday" where it would show a peaceful, quiet, almost reverent room lined from floor to ceiling with worn books and a dusty card catalog cabinet. I kind of actually like that picture, minus the dusty card catalog cabinet.
Anyway, I think the article encourages a lot of new ideas about libraries by turning the traditional aspect of what one thinks of a library to a more patron and world centered establishment that morphs with the times and the changes in technology. However there is one downside. Funding. Sure, an espresso bar in a high school library just sounds too irresistible but will the art department give up their funding to buy a $500 cappuccino machine, and will the music department give up some of their budget to fund the coffee filters and cups? Wait, lets put the cost of the espresso bar on the taxpayer! "Novel" idea, no pun intended.
I guess the idea of all these changes in libraries really has to come from each individual school or school districts policy, funding sources etc. Granted there are grants, no pun intended there either, but how would a librarian justify an espresso bar in her library on a grant application. Okay, I'm off the espresso bar soap box because I do actually think it's a cool idea, though I would prefer a bagel bar. Back to the technology.
"It was school libraries, in fact, that led
the way in the first wave that brought computers and then the Internet
into our classrooms. This is about adapting, once again, to a new,
perhaps even more compelling digital revolution, in which powerful new
ideas are enhancing the way in which we function in an electronic
information environment." (Harris, 2006)
Very well said! Adaptation is the key word and not all libraries have the capability of adapting to all the technological advances at once, but they key is that they are trying through librarians who are advocating such changes on behalf of their students.
"Redefining the school library is not a
response to some inherent failure on the part of the institution. It’s
an opportunity for library professionals to engage in some exciting
activities that will enable our institutions to remain effective in the
midst of fast-moving technological change." (Harris, 2006)
Change is inevitable and whether we like technology or not, the majority of students librarians work with today are digital natives, born into a digital society. It is an expectation for them to be connected via technology in some way, so why not as library professionals bring that technology into the library curriculum.
"Remember the 65 percent solution? It calls
for 65 percent of school funding to go to classrooms to support student
learning, yet in many states school libraries are not considered
classrooms in this legislation." (Harris, 2006)
Appalling isn't it. This was back in 2006, some changes have been made since then, but those who believe in school library media programs still today must lobby their state and national legislatures to gain support for their programs.
I liked Mr. Harris' ideas about how libraries are "digitally re-shifting to non-traditional educational spaces."He did not say "replacing", just re-inventing how we look at libraries with their traditional function and future capabilities. With an open mind all things are possible.
For those libraries that are just struggling to make their inadequate space work, struggling with finding funds to buy books and supplies, struggling to not be the keeper of the books, but must be because 90% of books are through cast-off donations, I applaud your resiliency and courage to make your library work.
Librarians for some reason must prove themselves 10 times over and that work will eventually pay off. Even if it means that for you to be a digitally re-shifted 2.0 Library entails obtaining one used desktop so students can finally use your online library catalog.
