Group #1 Members:
Pamela Eakin, Suzanne Hayes, Margaret Kelly, Mitchell McNally, Jen Chase
Statement of Problem:
There are a number of challenges faced by school libraries in Nova Scotia today, including issues with teaching personnel, integrated library instruction, program and services development, physical and intellectual services, and collection development. As a result of these challenges, there is some concern over whether school libraries are achieving their desired goals, and what can or should be done to improve this.
Statement of Purpose:
The purpose of our report is to reflect on the major issues that affect the efficacy of school libraries in Nova Scotia today. The report aims to provide an understanding of the causes of these issues, as well as offer information on the recommendations or solutions being considered.
Research Strategy:
We will gather information about the challenges facing school libraries in Nova Scotia by conducting internet searches for information on library and academic websites. We will also seek information through online databases, available through the NSCC website and Infotrac, as well as by visiting libraries to conduct on-site research. Finally - whenever possible - we will speak with school library professionals to gain an understanding of their experiences with these challenges on a day-to-day basis and how they see these issues being resolved.
Blog Presentation:
A blog is short for “web log” and is a type of website. We will use the blog to present our presentation to combine text, images, videos, and links to informative websites. There will also be a feature where other people can leave comments on the work we have done. On the main page of the blog, we’ll have links to the separate topics the people in our group have researched and written about.
Tentative Outline:
I. What are the major challenges confronted by school library staff in regards to collection development?
A. What affect does funding have on school library collection development, and how has this changed over the years? What major challenges are associated with this lack of funding?
B. How has technology affected school library collection development in recent years?
C. What role do teaching staff and students play in collection development?
II. What are the issues when it comes to teaching personnel?
A. What is a teaching personnel role in a school library?
B. How has a teaching personnel role changed and/or been made more difficult with new technology in school libraries?
C. What can be done to ease or assist teaching personnel’s with their roles in a school library?
III. What are the challenges when it comes to integrated library instruction?
A. What is the role of the teacher-librarian in education?
B. What is the effect of integrated library education on students?
C. How can teachers and librarians most effectively work together?
IV. What are the issues when it comes to program and services development?
A. What affect does funding have on program and services development? What issues have arisen because of lack of funding?
B. Why are there no designed, developed, or delivered instructional programs in school libraries?
C. What affect does the Boards and Department of Education's inconsistencies in the appointment of consultants to lead the development of programs, have on school libraries?
V. What are the major issues associated with physical and intellectual access?
A. How is physical and intellectual access defined?
B. Discussion of physical services (books, DVDs, CDs) and access (entries, shelving, program space)
C. Discussions of intellectual services (using the library, research techniques, citing sources) and access (librarian’s time, computer usage)
D. What are some barriers to physical and intellectual access?
E. What are some possible solutions to these barriers?
Work Schedule:
Research on individual topics.....................May 17 - May 23
Compose draft blog posts...........................May 24 - May 30
Provide draft blog posts to secretaries for
formatting and proofreading.......................May 31 - June 3
Blog information posted by tech.................June 4 - June 6
Finalize presentation ..................................June 7 - June 13
Submit final report (blog)............................June 14
