The Access Gap: Poverty and Characteristics of School Library Media Centers

Tipton, Katy

Pribesh, S. s., Gavigan, K. k., & Dickinson, G. g. (2011). THE ACCESS GAP: POVERTY AND CHARACTERISTICS OF SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA CENTERS. Library Quarterly, 81(2), 143-160.

This article is about the disparity between school libraries in poor areas and school libraries in more affluent areas. As someone who started her career at a school where every student received free lunch and breakfast, this article served to reinforce what I had gathered from personal experience. 

Through surveys and studies of demographics, the authors seek to prove what they call the "access gap" - "namely, the differences in school library characteristics (staffing, books added to collection, schedule, and number of days closed) in schools with various concentrations of students living in poverty." (Preibesh, Gavigan, & Dickinson, 2011) Their findings are sobering and reinforce the need for libraries in schools.

Making Friends and BUYING ROBOTS.

Tipton, Katy

Kvenild, C. c., Shepherd, C. c., Smith, S. s., & Thielk, E. e. (2017). Making Friends and BUYING ROBOTS. Knowledge Quest, 45(3), 62-69.

This article is about a school library system navigating the pitfalls and ultimate success of integrating robot building kits into their maker space.

This is a very detailed read - almost a how-to step-by-step. It's fascinating to follow the librarian's, teacher's, and student's progress as they figure out how to best supply and execute the program. Great information for those of you planning to implement something like this in your own school library. Plus, ROBOTS!!!!😁

Ergonomics in the Library

Blair, K., Eaton, V., Sandage, K., & Van Goey, A. (2016)..  Oregon Library Association, Ergonomics in the library, Bend, Oregon.

http://b8f.645.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Ergonomics-in-the-Library.pdf

            This is a document from the Oregon Library Association’s 2016 conference. I found it very useful because it is geared towards the library employee rather than the patron. We often focus so much on our work and the well-being of our users that we forget about our own well-being.

            This slide presentation offers tips on posture, sitting, standing, computer use and breaks and hydration. The last slides include a useful list of references for use if necessary.

Tags: library staff, ergonomics, self-care, employee, health, posture, stress, well-being

A Part of Our Lives: A People’s History of the American Library

Weigand, W. A. (2015). Part of our lives: A people’s history of the american public library. New York, New York: Oxford University Press.

            This short 270-page book about the history of American libraries. After reading this I felt invigorated and proud to be part of the library system. It covers the origins of the library from Benjamin Franklin to Harry Potter. The transformation and evolution of the library system in the United States is impressive and agile. It will fill anyone with hope for the library’s future relevance and perseverance.

            I was taken by surprise to learn about the exclusion of women in libraries and the viewpoints on literature in the early days of the library. Many topics covered professionally and academically are included in this history from icons like Pura Belpre, the first Puerto Rican librarian to the principles of the American Library Association (ALA) like the Library Bill of Rights.

            I recommend this book to all library students and library supporters.

Tags: library, American Library Association, public library, history, Library Bill of Rights