AASL Standards for Initial Preparation of School Library Media Specialists:
Standard 5: Program Management and Administration: Candidates plan, develop, implement, and evaluate school library programs, resources,and services in support of the mission of the library program within the school according to the ethics and principles of library science, education, management, and administration.
5.1: Candidates evaluate and select print, nonprint, and digital resources using professional selection tools and evaluation criteria to develop and manage a quality collection designed to meet the diverse curricular, personal, and professional needs of students, teachers, and administrators. Candidates organize school library collections according to current library cataloging and classification principles and standards.
Artifacts Description: ISTC 615 Collection Development - NYC Public Schools (NYCPS) Selection Policy Analysis. The collection policy for this school system, with over a million students in 1,700 schools, provides a model for the LMS. The paper described a process for selection and deselection of materials, considerations of access to materials for physically impaired, and a table of the policy criteria. ISTC 789 Practicum & Portfolio - Genre-fication project artifact. During my practicum the head librarian at the local high school initiated a genre-fication project which sorts fiction into genre, hoping for higher circulation. The images here appear on the labels to enable proper shelving. I will input location information into the computer catalog to enable lists-making within each genre and work with students and a para-educator, Mrs. Mitchell, to identify, label, and move materials.
Relevance: ISTC 615 Collection Development - NYC Public Schools Selection Policy Analysis. Collection development is a large part of the Library Media Program. Factors to consider when ordering and weeding materials include: allowing for resources that are print and non-print (format), being selective about materials that allow windows to and mirrors of experience for student readers (diversity), and allowing for resources that support instruction as well as those that students want to read. Checking the reviews and surveying student interests and faculty needs are also considerations before purchase. The American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights is contained the the NYCPS document. More information is available at NYCPS online presence at Rules and Policies site. ISTC 789 Practicum & Portfolio - Genre-fication project description. Although students generally have access to the computer catalog, they often prefer to browse. The LMS can make materials available to browsers by categorizing fiction materials by genre and putting foreign language materials together. Books need to be labeled and appropriate signage is important. The project is relevant because the LMS seeks to manage and organize the collection so that materials are accessible. Higher circulation statistics will show the value of the new organizational system.
Analysis/Reflections: The LMS works to bring readers into the library to use resources and encourages readers to select non-book materials online. Collection policies like the NYCPS Selection Policy provide information for purchase, acquisition, and weeding of materials. The Library's program of advocacy and access provides a welcome space to all users. When the LMS evaluates, selects, and purchases materials in consideration of all users, she is meeting AASL standard 5.1.
The NYCPS Selection Policy analysis reviews a large city's materials policy and criteria. It is just one example of the resources available to guide the LMS when building and maintaining a collection. I plan to refer back to this policy, but also to use the AASL Toolkit for School Library Media Programs. Checking the reviews and surveying student and faculty interests and needs are required considerations before purchasing materials. Within a local school system where I am working, librarians have written and made available steps to weeding the collection to update materials. This is an ongoing process to keep the circulation up and the collection current. As LMS in a small school library, I would set aside time each week to weed and develop a list of new materials.
During the ISTC 789, Practicum & Portfolio experience, I reviewed the fiction collection of 10,000 titles within the high school library collection and sorted many into genre for horror, mystery, classics, historical fiction, romance, sports, fantasy, realistic fiction, science fiction, and story collection. With the help of a para-educator and student volunteers, we were able to label and shelve the fiction section into genre sections. Even as we began the process, students noticed. I would run circulation numbers to see if circulation increased during this time.