[Publib] Re: Teacher Loan Cards

[James Casey]

S. Lynn Schofield-Dahl has raised some interesting questions.  For
raising such questions, I have often been lambasted by teachers and
school librarians for having the audacity to suggest that school
libraries should be better funded, better staffed and (this is what
makes unions angry) open longer hours. 

The academic model from higher education --- Community College through
University --- generally is more respectful and understanding of the
important role of Libraries in the learning process than that presented
by k-12 public school teachers and administrators. While academic
libraries are generally well staffed and have hours of service that are
quite often longer than those of the public library, k-12 school
libraries are only open when classes are in session and close promptly
at 3:30 PM on weekday afternoons.  The k-12 school environment permits
total elimination of school libraries with no affect on state standards,
while academic institutions know that maintaining strong library
services to support the curriculum is essential for basic accreditation.


K-12 Education emphasizes the classroom as the "teachable moment" and
undervalues learning outside of the classroom.  Academic institutions
emphasize independent study, research and learning beyond the classroom
as absolutely essential for students AND faculty (publish or perish).
You will find Ph.D. faculty, deans and scholars to be more respectful of
libraries than the ordinary 9th grade social studies teacher who clocks
out at 3:30 PM and doesn't have to publish peer review articles over a 6
year period to obtain tenure.  It isn't surprising that many thousands
of honors students who breeze through High School suddenly find an
enormous culture shock when they are suddenly expected to conduct
serious research and study in an actual, functioning library if they
want to avoid flunking out in their freshman year.  

Public libraries are having to bridge the gap between a K-12 Education
system that doesn't value learning outside of the "spoon feeding" of the
classroom and an Academic Education system that insists upon independent
study and library literacy.  And then there are the folks who never are
educated beyond High School and who might be inclined to believe any
tripe that a given politician or talk show host is trying to sell
without possessing the ability and/or inclination to search for truth on
their own in a place like the public library.  

James B. Casey --- My own views
Director of Oak Lawn Public Library
ALA Council Member 






-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Lynn Schofield-Dahl
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 12:20 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Re: Teacher Loan Cards


Which leads to.... just how far do the needs of the school-related-users
drive collection development/impact the budget, when public libraries
must also work to meet the needs of patrons who do NOT have access to
the school library media center for their information/entertainment
needs?   Perhaps the school systems should be given more encouragement
to develop library collections in addition to flashy media/computer labs
so they can take further steps in meeting the needs of the students as
well?  Maybe even they should be open before/after regular classroom
hours so the students have access to the collections?


S. Lynn Schofield-Dahl
Director, Matheson Memorial Library, Elkhorn, WI

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