Final Class

What a wonderful job everyone did on their controversial issues project. I learned a lot through listening to the viewpoints and examples brought up by every group. What Kecia said makes perfect sense in the grand scheme of things. If you ban one book, you have to ban the others. I never thought of it that way, but she is absolutely right. Banning literature is like opening a can of worms or scratching at a scab.

Copyright Project

I am pleased with the product I created for my copyright project. I think it is a way to think outside the box and get the staff buy in. I loved the idea of creating a game that would involve students and staff, and I think this would be a fun way to learn new information and reinforce important copyright laws and guidelines.

I pitched it to my media coordinator as a possible event to coordinate with Copyright Awareness Week in March. I told her I would totally help run it. We shall see!

Controversial Issues Presentation

I was very pleased with my group's presentation online. What a challenge, but what an accomplishment to say we were able to work together as a group to the very end to figure out how to present our project in the virtual world. I'm so thankful to have worked with these girls!

Controversial Issues Project

I just met with my group about the final product in our presentation for tomorrow. I am excited to share this with them, because I feel like we all three worked so hard to get it finished, and I know how much I learned throughout this project.

I began the project with a narrow mind about gang literature...what gangster is actually reading in the library?! But now, I realize that this is more than just a glorified lifestyle, it is a message to the youth. Not only for those thinking about joining the lifestyle, but for those who have left it. I read an article about how displaced those feel that leave the gang. They feel they are making the right decision, only to be flagged by school officials and the justice dept. as criminals for the rest of their lives. I can see how they end up in a downward spiral. I can see how this lifestyle may attract a hopeless child. I can see how these books deserve a place in the public library or school media center.

Controversial Issues Project

I was surprised to find my opinion change during the research phase of this project. In the beginning our topic of gangs seemed unreasonable to defend. But the more I read about the literature and the opinions and purposes of the authors, the more intrigued I am about why you wouldn't allow some of these books into your library. I found some good examples of gang literature, and I found some questionable examples. Some books that tried to lead the reader away from that path, and some that gave too much detail for a librarian to be comfortable with. Overall, I was intrigued that my opinion could be swayed in either direction.

Collection Development Action Project

This was my favorite project to date. It was the first time that I actually felt like a librarian. I got to analyze the material and make a decision like I was leading my own library. It was great to talk to the librarian about our collection because being a recent graduate herself, we agree that our collection is in desperate need of weeding. She wanted a copy of my suggestions to use when it comes time to pull unneeded material. Apparently our staff is weary of getting rid of any material (big surprise, huh!). To make it easier on herself and to avoid controversy, she is planning on doing a lot of the heavy weeding over the summer. Eager to learn and lend a hand, I offered my services to her! I hope that between the two of us, we can make some much needed decisions to equal some big changes!

Weeding

I chose an article about weeding for my final critique because I wanted it to coincide with our next project. It helped because it had a helpful outline to help you weed effectively and efficiently. I am genuinely excited about this project because our collection age is so old (1988). I want to see what I can do to help. My librarian said that if I saw something that definitly needed to be weeded to go ahead and pull it. She is going on maternity leave in the spring, so she's glad to have any help she can get!

Selection Tools Project

This project was the hardest one so far for me. I found a lot of potential selection tools, but only a few that I would really want to rely on. It was interesting to find out about each tool and database and how easy it is to search for books. I am interested to see how these tools will affect the weeding/replacement part of our next project!

Collection Development Policy Analysis

I decided to read and write about Union County Public Library's collection development policy. I was different from what I wanted to report on, because I really wanted to read an elementary school's policy. I was relieved to read this policy though because it was so easy to read and understand. I think it was really written for the average patron of the public library. I was able to read it and apply it to my school and my library with little to no problem. I think that whoever wrote the policy did a great job. My only suggestion was to include an evaluation tool in the policy. It would only enhance the policy and the library.

Community Analysis Reports

I was very interested to learn more about everyone's libraries, as well as my own, through their community analysises. It is interesting to me that we all hit on the same main concepts: multicultural awareness, collection relativeness, and weeding. It was interesting to hear about everyone's ideas and conclusions. It made me think about my own even more. For example, I knew 1988 was an old collection date, but when compared to collection dates in the late 90's, I realized that it was almost ancient (and they thought their's were old!). I enjoyed hearing about everyone's demographic data and comparing it to my own. I can see what is to come to my elementary school and library.

Community Analysis Project

After going through our collection analysis from Follet's Destiny program, I was surprised to learn our average age was 1988. That's 20 years old! It's hard to believe that a school with such success has an aging collection. I'm anxious to learn more about the weeding process and what that would mean for our collection. I've always been a hoarder by nature, so I think this would be the most difficult part of the process for me. Can't wait to see what it entails!

Controversial Group Reflection

I met with my group tonight to discuss our controversial issue: Hate groups. Initially I thought it would be somewhat difficult to find information about the subject. Boy, was I wrong! The ALA and ADL are excellent resources. We discussed some information we found and the hot button issues that would make for an excellent presentation. I never realized that libraries were allowed/required to shelve books representing both viewpoints. I think the "Holocaust Denial" debate is extremely interesting. We are going to do some further research and meet on Tuesday with books from our own libraries. It will be interesting to see if we carry any "hate speech." We also discussed our methods of presenting our information to the class. I think we have all agreed on an interesting/different approach! I'm looking forward to working with my group; I think we will be great together : )

A True Rabbit

After reading and hearing more about the production/rabbit personality, I am certain that this is me! I am driven, focused and slightly OCD! : ) I felt more of my inner Rabbit surfacing through class with each task and new technology thrown my way. I am ready for a semester of learning and I am excited to work with the Poohs, Eeyores, Tiggers and Rabbits of the library world this semester!