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.
Weeding Library Collections: A Selected Annotated Bibliography for Library Collection Evaluation
"Next to emptying the outdoor bookdrop on cold and snowy days, weeding is the most undesirable job in the library. It is also one of the most important. Collections that go unweeded tend to be cluttered, unattractive, and unreliable informational resources." - Will Manley, "The Manley Arts," Booklist, March 1, 1996, p. 1108. There are two aspects to weeding. The first is the writing of a collection development or selection policy that is appropriate for your community; this will serve as a guideline as you make decisions about your collection. The second is applying that collection development or selection policy as you make decisions about the materials in your collection.
*Position Statement on Digital Content and E-books in School Library Collections
Today’s twenty-first century students must be able to discover, analyze, evaluate, interpret, and communicate ideas, information and knowledge in a variety of ways. Because school library programs are instrumental in teaching these skills, their collections must include a wide variety of formats beyond printed books. These multiple formats, including e-books and other forms of digital content, should be accessible by the school community physically and virtually as indicated in the mission statement of AASL’s program guidelines, Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Programs (2009). School library programs should provide access to materials in all formats, provide students and staff with current resources, and anticipate changes in technology. Presently, in 2013, there is no single device that will access all e-books. Consequently, school librarians face a confusing investment decision.
gateway
Welcome to the Library of Congress Page for gateway access to LC's catalog and those at many other institutions. Contents: Search Library of Congress Catalog | Search Other Catalogs | About the Z39.50 Gateway Search Library of Congress Catalog Library of Congress Online Catalog Library of Congress Electronic Resources Online Catalog Handbook of Latin American Studies (Voyager Database)
*Position Statement on the Confidentiality of Library Records
The members of the American Library Association,* recognizing the right to privacy of library users, believe that records held in libraries which connect specific individuals with specific resources, programs or services, are confidential and not to be used for purposes other than routine record keeping: i.e., to maintain access to resources, to assure that resources are available to users who need them, to arrange facilities, to provide resources for the comfort and safety of patrons, or to accomplish the purposes of the program or service. The library community recognizes that children and youth have the same rights to privacy as adults. Libraries whose record keeping systems reveal the names of users would be in violation of the confidentiality of library record laws adopted in many states. School librarians are advised to seek the advice of counsel if in doubt about whether their record keeping systems violate the specific laws in their states. Revised on 02/06/12
Library - Facilities
Resources for School Librarians - Index Menu for This Page: Library Facilities Design | Disasters, Damage, Insects, Mold Building and Redesigning Libraries Facilities Management - This is a very good place to start planning for renovation of old school libraries or planning new ones.
*Position Statement on Labeling Books with Reading Levels
The following position statement is currently under review to align with the National School Library Standards. Librarians use spine labels to organize and identify library resources by call number to help patrons locate general subject areas or specific fiction, non-fiction, reference, audiovisual, or other items. Viewpoint-neutral directional labeling in libraries increases students’ access to information and supports their First Amendment right to read.
Five Laws of MIL
Five Laws of Media and Information Literacy We are travelling towards the universality of books, the Internet and all forms of “containers of knowledge”. Media and information literacy for all should be seen as a nexus of human rights. Therefore, UNESCO suggests the following Five Laws of Media and Information Literacy.
*Intellectual Freedom
Intellectual Freedom Brochure Brochure created by the AASL Intellectual Freedom Committee available for download, duplication, and distribution. It describes why intellectual freedom is important in a school library program, the difference between selection and censorship, what to do before a challenge occurs, where to obtain assistance during a challenge, why schools filter and how it affects students intellectual freedom, and how the ALA Code of Ethics affects school librarians. Material Challenges
