Benton Library Media Center End of Year Report 2010

benton library media center

2009-10 End of Year Report

BENTON LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER END OF YEAR REPORT SECTION 1: INSTRUCTIONAL INITIATIVE

Beginning with the 2009-10 school year, it is a goal of the Library Media Specialist to conduct information literacy instruction in at least one classroom of every teacher. As of this date, 9 academic departments at Benton High School have been reached, with approximately 30 total teachers conducting a rigorous research assignment with at least one class.

These instructional sessions usually consist of a period of information literacy instruction, including lessons on how to search (basic vs. advanced searches) as well as where to search (Google vs. databases). The appropriate resource is chosen and customized to fit the needs of the learners within the scope of the lesson.

Each lesson has been correlated with three sets of standards. First, DESE’s Information Literacy CLEs (currently under revision) are used. As well, the American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) Standards for the 21st Century Learner are correlated. Finally, ISTE’s National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS-S) are used, as all of these lessons involve the use of technology.

Following this listing of instructional sessions are detailed database usage statistics for the approximately 30 databases owned by Benton High School. While many of these databases are provided by MOREnet at no cost, specialized subject databases have been chosen to meet the needs of our learners. In glancing at the statistics, it is clear that usage is high among all databases.

Following most instructional sessions, database usage spikes for the database chosen for the lesson. This displays the need for these specialized resources within the classroom, even following an instructional session.

Note that besides subscription databases, other freely available websites and tools have been used, along with other purchased products. For instance, if websites fit the assignment requirements better than a subscription database, a guide was built using either Jog the Web (free) or LibGuides (purchased).

DEPT

SOCIAL STUDIES

TEACHER

LESSON

STANDARDS

K. Dickkut

Change in history throughout the Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.7 ISTE: 3b, 3c

M. Tabor

Change in history throughout the Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.7 ISTE: 3c

B. Nash

Change in history throughout the Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.7 ISTE: 3c

D. Sherard

Book review assignment for dual credit history course

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.8 ISTE: 3b

J. Keith

Issues in Latin American countries

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.7 ISTE: 3b, 3c

RESOURCES

DEPT

COMM ARTS

TEACHER

LESSON

STANDARDS

A. Miller, K. Lock

Topic of student’s interest and choosing

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.2.2 ISTE: 3b, 3c

Shakespearean R. Chamberlain characters across genres

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 2.1.1 ISTE: 3b, 3c

K. Snyder, L. Laipple

Personal history project

CLE: 2A, 3A, 4A, 5C AASL: 1.2.2, 1.2.3 ISTE: 3a, b, c, d

K. Turner

Housing prices graphing assignment

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.6, 2.1.2 ISTE: 2b, 3b, 3c

S. Naber

Housing prices graphing assignment

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.6, 2.1.2 ISTE: 2b, 3b, 3c

M. O’Dell

Housing prices graphing assignment

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.6, 2.1.2 ISTE: 2b, 3b, 3c

T. Gach

Housing prices graphing assignment

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.6, 2.1.2 ISTE: 2b, 3b, 3c

MATH

RESOURCES

DEPT

TEACHER

LESSON

STANDARDS

S. Nash

Shark cartilage as an alternative treatment for cancer

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B, 4C, 4D AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.7 ISTE: 2d, 3b, 3c

J. Kelly

Characteristics of biomes and endangered species

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.7 ISTE: 3b, 3c

E. Nash

Various species of arachnida and their characteristics, endangered status

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.7 ISTE: 3b, 3c

B. Jones

Researching differences between acids and bases and current research on each

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.7 ISTE: 3b, 3c

S. Fowler, A. Paolillo

Researching/ synthesizing information on oil spill, food webs, genetic disorders

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.7 ISTE: 3b, 3c

A. Roseberry Various health B. Goodwin resources for use PE/HEALTH B. Hubbard, in PE, Health, B. Stackhouse ROTC courses

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.7 ISTE: 3b, 3c

SCIENCE

RESOURCES

DEPT

BUSINESS

TEACHER

LESSON

STANDARDS

C. Liles

Careers assignment investigating job outlook and salary

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.8 ISTE: 3c

V. Gaiser

Marketing assignments investigating financials of companies

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.7 ISTE: 3c

T. Talbot

Stock market research concerning buying of stock in one company

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B, 4C, 4D AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.7 ISTE: 3c

CLE: 5C, 6B Redesigning school AASL: 4.2.1, 3.4.1, 3.4.3 website with Adv. ISTE: 1c, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, Web Design 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d J. Hays CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B, 6B Studying AASL: 2.2.4, 3.3.4 typography with ISTE: 1c, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, Web Design 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

T. Punzo

Spanish-speaking countries assignment concerning demographic and geographic data

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.7 ISTE: 3c

RESOURCES

DEPT

FACS

TEACHER

LESSON

STANDARDS

H. Ezzell

Research concerning FCCLA history

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.7 ISTE: 3c

B. Taliaferro

Medical issues surrounding pregnancy

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.7 ISTE: 3c

T. Allen

Foods unit concerning American and Italian recipes

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.7 ISTE: 3c

L. Davis

Studying a 20th century American artist and their contributions

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B, 6B AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.7 ISTE: 3c

R. Reigert

Studying a 20th century American artist and their contributions

CLE: 2B, 3A, 3B, 6B AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.7 ISTE: 3c

ART

RESOURCES

DATABASE SEARCHES AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB Academic OneFile Agriculture Collection

APR

MAY

AVG

865

865

4

545

313

165

82

48

3

4

368

675

675

N/A

411

264

102

86

48

3

4

290

87

353

1987

112

1774

92

3

4

1194

Biography 2538 2536 Resource Center Business Economics and Theory

MAR

709

709

N/A

443

263

102

82

48

3

4

2321

Business and 674 Company ASAP

674

N/A

425

246

98

82

48

3

4

288

Business and Company 865 Resource Center

865

N/A

580

280

98

82

33

3

4

354

Communications and Mass Media 668 Collection

668

N/A

411

254

106

86

48

3

4

287

660

660

N/A

411

246

102

82

48

3

4

283

664

664

N/A

411

250

102

86

48

3

4

285

659

659

N/A

411

245

100

82

49

3

4

291

691

691

N/A

425

263

102

97

50

3

4

297

Fine Arts and 1022 1022 N/A Music Collection

411

608

102

419

73

3

4

464

411

246

102

82

48

3

4

283

411

258

114

82

48

4

4

290

684

59

7

15

N/A

1

258

425

Criminal Justice Collection Culinary Arts Collection DISCovering Collection Educator’s Reference Complete

Gardening, Landscape, and 660 660 N/A Horticulture Collection General OneFile 672 672 N/A Global Issues in N/A N/A 564 Context

DATABASE SEARCHES (cont.)

AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR Grzimek’s Animal Life Health Reference Center Academic Health and Wellness Resource Center History Resource Center: US History Resource Center: World Home Improvement Collection Hospitality, Tourism, and Leisure Collection

AVG

69

34

10

4

6

2

25

678 678 N/A

429

246

102

82

48

3

3

288

578 578 N/A

354

221

98

81

33

5

74

322

N/A N/A

7

845

261

122

97

33

164

9

290

N/A N/A

11

453

240

103

81

47

164

9

190

660 660 N/A

411

246

102

82

48

3

4

283

664 664 N/A

411

250

102

86

48

3

4

285

664 664 N/A

415

246

102

82

48

3

4

285

348

260

96

103

52

3

0

111

N/A N/A N/A

353

353

0

257

96

3

0

135

186

128

41

19

82

15

158

4

223

1411 1411 N/A

942

462

119

90

89

27

21

614

Small Business 571 571 N/A Resource Center

349

219

96

81

33

3

4

247

Student Edition: 662 662 N/A InfoTrac

418

245

101

82

48

3

4

284

464

1401

1238

98

51

3

8

418

Literature N/A N/A Resource Center LitFinder for Schools Opposing Viewpoints Popular Magazines

Student Resource Center: Gold

6

N/A N/A

12

MAY

5

Informe!

N/A N/A

APR

5

10

3

BENTON LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER END OF YEAR REPORT SECTION 1I: EXAMPLE SHOWING DEPTH OF INSTRUCTION

The following lesson has been chosen to demonstrate what the depth of a typical instructional session and the collaboration between LMS and teacher.

TEACHER

LESSON

STANDARDS

S. Nash

Shark cartilage as an alternative treatment for cancer

AASL: 1.1.4, 1.1.7 ISTE: 2d, 3b, 3c

PROMPT: Conduct a mini-debate over the use of shark cartilage as an alternative treatment to cancer using information sets provided by teacher. Continue discussion online using freely available Internet resources as evidence.

RESOURCES

COLLABORATION: Mr. Nash and Mrs. Corey discussed the prompt and the objective of the lesson - to introduce peer-reviewed sources into student research. As well, the online discussion served as a starting point for the lesson, including the “shades of gray” comment made by Mr. Nash.

FACE-TO-FACE LESSON: A slideset was constructed using annotated screenshots of student’s Internet resources.

Search techniques and the peer review process were covered in depth. Complete slideset is included in display.

ONLINE COMPONENT: Supporting blog posts were provided to continue the lesson outside of the classroom. These blog posts included extra resources as well as a supplementary discussion concerning issues that were brought up during the face-to-face lesson.

SUPPORT: Continued instructional support was provided in the form of a screencast video demonstrating persistent linking in databases. As well, support was provided via continued online discussion concerning issues covered during the original face-to-face lesson, i.e. evaluation of information.

BENTON LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER END OF YEAR REPORT SECTION II1: LITERACY INITIATIVE

Benton High School has multiple SIP goals relating to supporting and promoting literacy among students as a means of raising test scores and closing the achievement gap. As a result, the library began an initiative to raise the circulation rates of the print collection beyond the levels of previous years.

In a manner similar to celebrity posters, the LMS created a Read @ Benton poster campaign. Both students and teachers volunteered to participate in order to promote reading in general as well as popular print titles. In the end, 14 students, 15 teachers, and 1 alum participated.

However, this initiative, while creative, must be supported by data. In reviewing the book checkouts for the period prior to (Aug-Oct) and following (Novpresent) the poster campaign, there is a definite increase from 1000 checkouts per month to 2000 checkouts per month.

ENTIRE SET: flickr.com/bentonlibrary - Read @ Benton set

BENTON LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER WALKTHROUGH DATA SECTION 1V: REFERENCE/TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE

Finally, one goal of the library is to extend assistance to students and teachers both inside and outside of the school building.

Teachers have the opportunity to visit with the LMS on Tech Tuesday, held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month. Tech Tuesday began in February and is an opportunity for teachers to extend troubleshoot problems, learn new methods of using technology, and collaborate on ideas for their classroom.

Students have also found that research and technology assistance is available while the LMS is in the school building as well as outside of it. As both the LMS (@melissacorey) and the library (@bentonlibrary) are active on Twitter, students have the ability to ask questions via a simple reply. This method has been used multiple times this school year by a variety of students and teachers. Examples are included below.

BENTON LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER END OF YEAR REPORT SECTION V: PHYSICAL USAGE/COLLECTION USAGE

Benton Library saw astronomical usage compared to previous years. Not only were levels high for usage by individual students, classes used the library extensively. As well, checkouts of both books and laptops reached unheard of levels.

Circulation of the print collection was at a record level. Alexandria shows the circulation of books for YTD to be at 8500 for the 2008-2009 school year. This was prior to the weeding project, so that figure reflects a collection of 12,000 units.

This year, the physical collection (minus warehouse checkouts) equals approximately 6,000 units. With this collection, the circulation statistics neared 15,000. This statistic can be reflected in a few ways.

With a physical collection of 6,000 units, this would mean that each book in the collection checked out 2.5 times during the 2009-10 school year.

With a student population of 900 students, this would mean that each student checked out approximately 17 books during the 2009-10 school year.

Regardless, it is clear that for a library of our size, these circulation figures are astonishing! Clearly, it is the QUALITY of the collection and not the QUANTITY of the collection that is attracting students.

As well, we cannot deny that the environment of the library has a large effect on usage. With a friendly, helpful staff and book marketing techniques taken from commercial bookstores (such as using an eye-level shelf for facing out of books for display, marketing books via Twitter, etc.), our library has the ability to not only SERVE students’ reading needs but to also ENTICE them to read more.

Beyond these statistics concerning the print collection are many other promising statistics concerning usage of laptops and the facility itself.

PRINT COLLECTION CHECKOUT AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 581 1365 1232 2036 1964 5 146 157 171 399 176 227 266 213 589 241 533 526 433 681 159 459 283 1219 295

TOTALS Seniors Juniors Sophomores Freshmen DAILY AVERAGE

65

65

56

113

123

JAN 2580 439 701 1039 401

FEB 1979 352 589 764 274

MAR 2182 261 618 1002 301

APR 488 63 58 135 232

143

124

95

24

MAY YTD 185 14592 16 2009 8 3445 55 5409 106 3729 12

82

LAPTOP COLLECTION CHECKOUT TOTALS In School Overnight (est.)

AUG SEPT OCT NOV 184 794 1053 859 184 794 943 719

DEC 1479 1479

JAN 997 974

N/A N/A

DAILY AVERAGE 20 38 (In School) DAILY AVERAGE N/A N/A (Overnight)

FEB MAR APR N/A 1744 1136 N/A 1671 1101

MAY 1164 1123

YTD 9410 8988

110

140

N/A

90

N/A

95

35

41

511

43

38

92

46

N/A

73

60

64

48

5

7

N/A

4

N/A

4

2

1

5

STUDENT VISITS TOTALS DAILY AVERAGE

AUG SEPT OCT NOV 53 601 1061 970 4

29

48

51

DEC 622

JAN 306

FEB N/A

39

15

N/A

MAR APR MAY 819 689 451 36

33

22

YTD 4432 30

CLASS VISITS AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC TOTALS (For Books) TOTALS (For Projects) DAILY AVERAGE

JAN

FEB

MAR APR MAY

YTD

17

16

25

23

6

27

N/A

20

27

6

134

2

21

9

11

4

21

N/A

14

7

37

82

2

2

2

2

0.6

2.4

N/A

1.5

1.2

2

1.6

BENTON LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER END OF YEAR REPORT SECTION VI: COLLECTION ANALYSIS

Two collection analyses are presented here to display the shifting nature of the collection.

First, a collection analysis of current holdings is presented in tabular and graphical format. This collection still reflects many books weeded during the 2008-09 school year. However, we can see a 50-50 split between fiction and non-fiction.

These numbers mean little unless we also look at the fact that 447 units have been weeded this school year alone. This means that we are still finding books which have non-use, ancient copyright dates, and the like.

However, when we look at the collection analysis for new items, we can see the emphasis on leisure reading via fiction and 700s (graphic novel) purchases, which is in line with our SIP goal to increase literacy.

As well, it is clear to see that the library is still focusing on providing an up-todate, well-rounded collection in all Dewey areas.

DISCARD

PRINT COLLECTION ANALYSIS - CURRENT HOLDINGS TOTALS FICTION

4167

NON-FICTION 000s 100s 200s 300s 400s 500s 600s 700s 800s 900s

4143 140 198 83 1118 11 121 468 1064 316 624

PROFESSIONAL

64

WEEDED

447

Fiction!

000s!

100s!

200s!

300s!

400s!

500s!

600s!

700s!

800s!

900s!

Professional!

PRINT COLLECTION ANALYSIS - NEW ITEMS TOTALS FICTION

611

NON-FICTION 000s 100s 200s 300s 400s 500s 600s 700s 800s 900s

430 11 10 3 39 2 26 29 265 8 37

BIOGRAPHY

74

PROFESSIONAL

28

Fiction!

000s!

100s!

200s!

300s!

400s!

500s!

600s!

700s!

800s!

900s!

Biography!

Professional!

BENTON LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER END OF YEAR REPORT SECTION VII: PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

As a way of showcasing exactly what Benton Library is all about, we can provide a snapshot of an important purchase made in the past year.

One product purchased that is not a traditional database or print item is LibGuides, a product from Springshare. LibGuides is an excellent tool for research libraries. However, more and more school libraries are jumping on the bandwagon and adopting LibGuides.

LibGuides allows librarians to build subject-based guides for usage by classes interested in just about any topic. LibGuides is a web-based product that cost only $550 a year for school libraries. With LibGuides, a librarian can add and reuse “boxes” to a guide, control the look and feel, and even receive feedback from users.

These “boxes” can be filled with a variety of content. Videos can be embedded.

RSS feeds can be automatically loaded. Links from Delicious can be imported via tag or username. Links and images can direct users as to how they will perform searches and conduct research.

The strength of LibGuides lies in its extensibility. It can be used to deliver database or free web content. As well, it is an excellent alternative to static webpages or even the library Ning. Because of the “box” model used by LibGuides, information is easy to scan, understand, and use.

When reviewing the purchase of LibGuides, we can remind ourselves of this quote:

“It’s not information overload. It’s filter failure.”

-Clay Shirky, September 2008, Web 2.0 Expo NY LibGuides allows librarians to filter information for students. However, it is NOT a spoon-fed approach. See below for how LibGuides allows students control over their own research destinies via CHOICE.

Search boxes for Google, Google Scholar, Google Books

Direct links to subject-specific databases or portal pages

Contact info Delicious linkroll

Feedback box

Instantly loading RSS feed for up-to-

Interactive links, including Google

date information on the fly

Maps and YouTube videos