Learning to Work with Vendors Working with book/material vendors can be stressful if you are socially awkward like my co-librarian and me. For the most part, we’ve been navigating the process by working exclusively with one specific vendor, but I can’t help wondering if we’re missing out. In the summer our library services holds a book/material Vendor Day meet and greet. I attended once, before I realized this type of situation is way outside my comfort zone. Even though vendors are just doing their jobs, they all want something from me (my budget money) that I probably won’t give them. Typically, our library receives a few calls and emails from regional vendors looking to make contact and potential sales. I have a few customizable phrases confirming my stance with a firm and polite rejection, because I imagine working in sales feels like working in Glengarry Glen Ross. For anyone who feels anxiety dealing with vendors, I have a few suggestions: Emails and phone inquiries. Author: Mica Johnson Like this:
As Banned Books Week Approaches, the Fight Against Censorship Intensifies Books are being challenged across the country; districts in Pennsylvania and Texas dominate the news with their decisions to remove materials. This story has been updated. After weeks of student protest and national media attention, the Center York School District board of education voted to rescind the removal of an extensive list of materials by creators of color. When the ban went into effect in August, students didn't stand idly by. Banned Books Week begins on Sunday. In Central York, there is a model of success for those fighting challenges and bans. “Standing in all kinds of solidarity with the students of York, Pennsylvania,” wrote Jacqueline Woodson, whose The Day You Begin is on the list. Grace Lin’s A Big Mooncake for Little Star is one of the many titles on the list. [READ: George Tops Most Challenged List for Third Year in a Row: Stamped Takes No. 2 Spot] Bernice King, daughter of the late Dr. It was yet another escalation in an ongoing situation.
The School Library Media Specialist: Information Access & Delivery The teacher librarian sustains a healthy collection through an effective maintenance program. I hate to throw things away. How do I know when something should be pitched? There's a really old video on first aid that the fifth grade teacher is still using. It's inaccurate in some sections. The collection must be examined periodically to determine what materials need to be repaired, replaced, or removed. You also need policies that help you in the reconsideration process. What is weeding? Weeding or deselection is selection in reverse. For example, the book on the left titled Space Flight: The Coming Exploration of the Universe by Lester Del Rey (1959) was found in the science section of the library. Purging is officially withdrawing an item from the collection. A policy is an important part of the weeding process. What happened to "The Wizard of Oz"? Weed now or weed later? The answer to this question is WEED NOW! How do you deal with guilt over tossing materials? Weeding involves guilt.
Collection Evaluation of School Libraries Amanda Credaro ©1999, 2000, 2001 "Collection evaluation is the process of assessing the effectiveness of a collection to meet the identified information needs of the school community. It is a continuous process which reflects changes in teaching/learning programs and user needs." The organised process (Arizona Department of Library, Archives and Public Records, c1998) of systematically analysing and describing a library collection, and thus assessing the quality of a library collection, may be variously referred to as collection evaluation (Mount Saint Vincent University Library, c 1998), collection assessment (Perritt, 1993), or collection analysis (Middle Tennessee State University, c1996). Collection assessment may be a time consuming (Gaskell, 1995: 3), and thus expensive, operation. Tanner (1995:17) states that collection evaluation may be either client-centred, based on usage, or collection-centred which is based on the actual resources. Method 1: Survey of User Opinions
Workbook for Selection Policy Writing Office for Intellectual Freedom, American Library Association Why Do I Need a Policy? Every school system should have a comprehensive policy on the selection of instructional materials. It should relate to and include all materials; for example, textbooks, library books and materials, and all supplementary resources. The reason should be obvious: haphazard patterns of acquisition will result in waste because some—perhaps many—materials will overlap in content, or will be unrelated to changing patterns of instruction. A comprehensive policy on the selection of instructional materials also will enable school professionals to rationally explain the school program to the community. A good policy on the selection of instructional materials will be relevant to your particular system and include basic sections on objectives, responsibility, criteria, procedures for selection, reconsideration of materials, and policies on controversial materials. Basic Components of a Selection Policy Dear _____:
Let's Talk Collection Development! Even though we’re back in school, our library budget money won’t be distributed to us until December. We can’t change this timeline, so we’ve tried to make the best of it by using the first few months of school to really talk to staff and students about what type of books or other materials they’d like to see in the library. We’ve always been open to suggestions, but the timing has to be right for us to add items to an order. Otherwise, the request has to wait until we have funds to make another order, which could be in a week or six months. I love collection development, but sometimes when I talk about it with other teachers I feel like all they hear is Old lady librarian going on about card catalogs or some nonsense. Even though technology can be awesome, we’re still buying books and expanding in specific areas. We’ve chosen to expand in 3 main ares, and concentrate on replenishing books in a series. Contemporary Classics. Missing Books. Author: Mica Johnson
Up to the Challenge: Dealing with school library book challenges before they happen When I worked as a school librarian at Little Elementary in Arlington, Texas, I was terrified of having a book challenged. Sometimes I would wake up at night worrying. I was afraid a parent would be angry with me, and my principal would think I was a bad librarian. If you ever find yourself wide awake and troubled about possible challenges: Get out of bed, drink some water, and remember that you have nothing to fear—if you’re prepared before a complaint occurs. Build your foundation The first step is to be an excellent educator. The second step is to find the section in your district’s school library handbook on reconsideration of school library materials. The third step is to have a policy allowing all students the opportunity to come to the school library daily to check out books. Real-world applications You are likely to have five to 10 books to worry about. For example: A parent walks into the school library. Know how many challenges I had that moved up the chain of command?
The School Library Media Specialist: Library Media Program: Introduction What is collection mapping? Collection mapping is the process of examining the quantity and quality of your collection and identifying its strengths and weaknesses. A number of authors have written about the process. The outcome of the process can serve as a guide during the collection development process. A collection map is a visual representation that graphically displays the breath and depth of the library collection. There are three basic assumptions about collections that relate to collection mapping. The collection should have breadth. Collection maps are used for many collection-related projects. What is a base collection and core collection? Collection mapping involves examining your collection and comparing it with some standard. A base collection is an arbitrary standard denoting the number of works recommended for a minimal level collection. A core collection is a base collection that is often associated with specific titles. What should be in the collection? Make It Real
Collection development Library collection development is the process of meeting the information needs of the people (a service population) in a timely and economical manner using information resources locally held, as well as from other organizations.[1] According to the The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), acquisition and collection development focuses on methodological and topical themes pertaining to acquisition of print and other analogue library materials (by purchase, exchange, gift, legal deposit), and the licensing and purchase of electronic information resources.[2] Collections are developed by librarians and library staff by buying or otherwise acquiring materials over a period, based on assessment of the information needs of the library's users. Weeding is an important but difficult aspect of collection development in a library. Collection evaluation methods[edit] Selection Vs. Checklists method[edit] Citation analysis[edit] Faculty Opinion[edit] Vendors[edit]