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The knowledge and technology explosions bring new challenges and opportunities for library collection development. The ability to provide students with access to information resources beyond the physical collection within the library is both a dream come true as well as a major impact on funding resources. Libraries "without walls" through the use of telecommunications networks such as the Internet provide students 24-hour access to a "global library" authored by a "global community." The challenge here is to teach students how to access reliable information and to know when they have found it. Teaching evaluation skills is a top priority. Also, another challenge is to ensure that "all" students have access. The digital divide is still with us. Along with the "free" information found on the Internet, are commercial online resources that provide students access to a wealth of authoritative information. The challenge here is to be able to afford this luxury in a day and age where library budgets are declining. District level library agencies have responded by negotiating district level pricing and lobbying for State supported access to these commercial resources. The information landscape provided to a digital generation of students is changing. In the 19th century the quantity of information that one could encounter in a lifetime was encompassed in one edition of the New York Times. Today the quantity is exponential. |
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 Class Activity |
Embedded in the paragraph above are critical access and fiscal issues facing the library media profession. Which one is the most important and why? How would you suggest we begin to resolve all of the issues, not just the one you selected? | |||||||||||||||||||
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Components of Fiscal Access
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Licensing Acquiring Digital Content The digital revolution has resulted
in an important, and sometimes daunting, change in the way libraries
procure, access and store information available for use by their
patrons. In the pre-electronic days, libraries regularly purchased
and owned print copies of materials for their collections. We
are now witnessing a revolution in how information is acquired,
stored and accessed. Librarians have become negotiators and interpreters
of legal agreements. Examples of
Maryland Resources Through Licensing Agreements Examples of State Models Through Licensing Agreements Licensing
Resources Licensing Issues. ALA |
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Funding The Maryland SAFE Grant has provided school libraries in Maryland the opportunity to upgrade library print and nonprint collections, including electronic access to commercial databases. Through the SAFE Grant in Baltimore County, a licensing agreement with Electric Library has been made possible for the past 4 years. The K-12 Maryland Digital Library Project hopes to garner support of the Maryland State Department of Education to provide all Maryland students access to a selected core of digital information. See State Models. |
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Electronic
Access Accessing information through
telecommunications networks has also brought new responsibilities
for teachers and students. Safe and appropriate use of the Internet
are critical issue for institutions serving school-age children.
School systems have instituted Board policies and rules, acceptable
use policies, and guidelines for school webpage publishing. |
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| Internet, Media Center Websites, and Virtual Reference Services |
onLINE:
The Librarian' Information Network for the Essential Curriculum School
Libraries on the Web See links in Licensing section. Advanced Reference Course Website - Link to Virtual Reference Services
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Baltimore County Public Schools | Baltimore County Public Library Howard County Public Schools | Howard County Public Library |
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Class Activity |
Use the Directory of Library OPACS Around the World to access several OPACS. What do they have in common? What features make the OPAC user friendly? | |||||||||||||||||||
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Resource Sharing The
Maryland Interlibrary Loan Organization |
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| Back to Contents |
ISTC 615 Media Selection and Evaluation Towson University April 2002 |