Valerie BaartzLIS 773October 20, 2007

A Tale of Two Libraries

Early 1900’s Classroom collections were borrowed

from public libraries

1915 – School Library Section of ALA and NEA

1920’s & 1930’s – School librarians become more aligned with teachers

School Public Library

Mildred Batchelder 1936 – 1966 at ALA headquarters Worked to unite two professions of

librarians

Great Depression All agencies desperate for funding

AASL established in 1951 Grandma B fired Public librarians viewed this shift

negatively

1950’s & 1960’s 1965-72 Elementary and Secondary Education

Act Public libraries not as welcoming to students Total divide between school and public

libraries

Age of technology Age of collaboration and common

goals

To provide different but complementary services

To achieve common goals To keep up with teaching technology

and information literacy To stretch funding dollars

School Libraries Public Libraries

Close proximity to students; ease of access

Extended hours and days beyond school library

Frequent librarian-teacher interaction

Frequent librarian-parent interaction

Structured information literacy instruction

One-on-one information literacy instruction

Library collection and instruction connected to curriculum and school goals

Library collection and programs connected to community needs

Ziarnik, Natalie R. School & Public Libraries: Developing the Natural Alliance. Chicago:

American Library Association, 2003.

Ultimate source in generalBibliography Prepared for AASL/ALSC/YALSA

Joint Task Force on School/Public Library Partnerships

Ultimate source for practical applicationsALSC/AASL/YALSA Joint Task Force of

School/Public Library Cooperative Activities Ultimate source for background information

School & Public Libraries: Developing the Natural Alliance by Natalie Ziarnik

Buyer beware – articles are typically written from the perspective of one side or the other and frequently “slant” the information

Grant writing (ex. The Giant Step Award)

Shared resources Summer reading programs Assignment alerts Book talking Book clubs Author or illustrator visit Children’s literature morning Librarian teacher tea

StatsHoward County Library & Howard County

Public School System in Columbia, MD2002 established A+ Partners in

Education Purpose

Formalized program to promote scholarship, assist with eliminating student achievement gaps, & expand academic opportunities for students

Program basicsPublic library card drive for kindergartenSummer reading programPublic librarian attends Back to School NightCurriculum related public library field tripsPublic library family night hosted by PTAAuthor programs at the schoolsAssignment alertsAccess to databases at library, school or

homePersonal on-line tutors for after school timeA+ teacher library cardsCollaboration assistance for teachers

Using the A+ example, in a full scale program such as this one, how does the role of the school media specialist change? What would you do as a school media specialist in this district to collaborate effectively?

Do you see collaborative efforts with public libraries as complementary or as infringing on roles?

As the role of technology changes the scope of information literacy for students, do you see public libraries being a more integral part of life long learning? Or do you see the role of public libraries fading in time?