Evans, Chap. 6

This chapter was interesting because I have read magazines all my life but did not realize the various  information about them. I am guilty of using all the words like journal and periodical interchangeably. I always thought of a journal as subject specific like a health or science journal that features articles related to research in the field. A magazine to me is like People or Newsweek or Sports Illustrated, something popular that comes out each week or month. It is a shame that this is another area where greed has taken over. I remember something in this chapter about a library paying a higher price than another library for a serial package if  the periodicals will be popular in that library. I was thinking of ASU while reading this chapter because of all the periodicals that library has. I bet they spend a small fortune each year for the print and electronic sources they provide.  

Evans, Chap. 5

I remember reading this chapter a while back but am now just reflecting on it.  I always thought publishing companies made a profit on what they printed, but apparently not all of the time.  Even they can't always determine what will be a "bestseller" and what won't sell much.  It amazes me how these companies reprint certain books every few years.  I would think there are enough of the old copies around in used bookstores and now on amazon and ebay that reprints of the Harry Potter series and many literary classic should not be reprinted. Book prices have gone out of reason over the last 20 years or so. I am one of those who prefers the paperback over a hardback even if I can buy the HB at a cheaper price like at a library book sale or on the Bargain table at Barnes & Noble. The best place to find books at really cheap prices is flea markets. Most of the ones I get are in excellent shape and cost a fraction of the price of a new one.  I wonder how much more the publishing companies could make if they could somehow cut down on the price.  That is part of the problem why libraries-particularly public libraries who buy lots of bestselling fiction--have to be extra picky with their dwindling budget funds of today.

Evans, Chap. 4

I thought it was interesting the descriptions of the various libraries and what their focus is concerning collection development.  I did not realize community colleges need more AV for their vocational programs than for their academic courses. I guess I never really thought about it but many of those vocational programs need those "How-to" videos.
It was also interesting reading about specialized libraries and how they have to get up-to-the-minute information for patrons.  I would not have thought there would be so much differences in developing and maintaining collections in all of the various libraries mentioned in this chapter. I think it just illustrates that libraries--all of them--are important and serve a purpose in society. There are lots of administrators out there who believe otherwise with all of the layoffs, cutbacks, and shrinking budgets over the last few years across the nation.
The part about selection tools reminded me of the project we did in class.  I had noticed the same thing about Library Journal--it seemed to focus mainly on fiction, which I thought was more for a public library and I was doing a middle school.

Weeding thingy

After looking at what books I could locate, I guess I am done with my service learning weeding project thingy.  I still need to email the list of titles marked for removal as well as my list of replacement titles to my librarian.  She is looking forward to getting it to see what I designated for removal.  I think she will probably use it too because she had told me that shelf space was becoming a factor.  While going through the 300s I could see what she meant.  It has been a process with this whole project but not too bad.  I can remember doing it when I worked as a media coordinator in a middle school years ago. Some things have changed, but still basically reviewing the new books available and deciding what will work in your media center for the students and faculty you have.

working at library

Spent sometime this am working at my selected library on various assignments.  One of them was talking with my librarian about the deselection project.  I told her I have all of the books examined for removal moved over to an Excel document and will email it to her. I need to add another column to put reason for removal. The crazy program wouldn't let me do that before for some reason besides it being possessed. Anyway, I have found replacements for ten of the examined books and I am pleased with my selections.  I will email that document to my librarian as well and she says she is most grateful for my help. She has been so nice letting me come in and pester her with my projects--I have a few in other classes also. It is a good feeling being able to do this project for a class and also helping out because my librarian said she just has not had time to do her 300s. I know she does stuff for the county as well as work in the middle school media center.  She has a full time assistant but that person is not certified or anything and cannot help with computer issues and things like that/

Evans Chap, 3

The information in this chapter can be very important as I found out from doing the service learning project. I was really surprised when I discovered that the school media centers here in my county apparently do not have a policy.  I only talked to a few of the media coordinators but they all told me the same thing: no they don't have one at the school but there is one for the county.  When I examined the one for the county, my goodness, does it lack lots of information. The three main procedures it does cover is Media Advisory Committees (appointed by the school principal), selecting and purchasing materials (done by this committee along with the media coordinator), and finally, guidelines for when an item is challenged.  This last one is not just for the media center; it covers any item in the school--media center, classrooms, etc. In a separate part of the Board Policy is where it talks about computer use in the schools--again, in the classrooms as well as the media centers.  There wasn't anything about "weeding" the collection, the difference formats between books and electronic sources, patron behavior, and lots of other things brought out in this chapter.
On a different note, I have had not heard of the Pacific Northwest model of classification.  I know ASU uses the LC, and I have been confused by it because it doesn't make any sense to me.  I have seen an outline of LC and I have examined a conversion chart like what is mentioned here so I understand the LC a little better but I still like the good ol' Dewey system.

Working on the weeding thingy. It is hard to decide which new book to use as a replacement because there are so many good ones out there. And I am only needing it for middle school age!  I narrowed my search to just the last five years and I still got several good titles, or at least they look good, but will have to find some reviews to determine how "good" they really are. It is also difficult when I can not find a book that is exactly like the one I want to replace. For example, I marked an oversize book titled "The Great Guns". It was published in 1971 but has lots of pictures--both B & W and color--of rifles, shotguns, pistols, etc.  That book has been through IT! Not surprising around here where boys learn to hunt and fish before they can barely walk. Trying to find a replacement has been difficult because most of what I am finding even related is books on Gun Control --lots of text but little pictures.  Besides, the boys want information about the various types of firearms all the way back to the Wild West. I guess I have to keep looking and go back a few more years although I don't want to get something more than a decade old.

Evans chapter 2

Okay back to what I was doing. I remember reading this chapter. It is like what we did for our community analysis project where we "survey" the community to decide what to purchase for libraries.  A library is only useful if it has the items the patrons want and need whether it is retired people reading newspapers or college students doing research. This chapter shares several methods to use to assess the community or the potential patrons a school or public library will have. It is probably crucial now more than ever with shrinking budgets because libraries have to be choosy about what they add to the collection.  Also, with the increase of technology libraries must decide what format they need to get due to what the patrons will use.  This is a very real situation that current and future librarians have to take time to think about. Hopefully, finances will improve in the future but for now determine the needs and to a point the wants of your patrons before purchasing materials.

textbook chaps,

Okay, so I have read most of the chapters in the textbook for this class but I just recently closely read the syllabus and noticed we are supposed to write something about the chapters after we read them. I guess I am late but better than not at all, I suppose.
Chapter one in the Evans book was interesting when it was talking about that virtual book winning McConnell prize.  When we say book everybody thinks of the bound item with pages made of usually paper.  It is funny how we say audio books and e-books and they aren't actual paper items either but it is accepted. Another thing I think is funny is how we continue to say a rock group released their album. That brings up images of the old vinyl record albums. An album is a collection sort of like a photo album so I guess the word fits.  I would have thought the term CD would have replaced album, and in some circles it has.
They still indicate a collection of songs performed by the music group.  Books are the same way in that it contains a story or poetry or whatever.

I disagree with the sentence about fiction, essays, poetry, etc. becoming "horses" in the future of libraries and even the author declares this idea is probably not going to happen. I want my fiction in book form for many years to come thank you very much! I agree, too, that the library without walls brought on by technology does not mean the end to acquisition.  Even if things go to automation, patrons will still want some things which they can hold in the hands.  A kindle would be an item for collection development. Buy several, add to the collection, and check out to patrons. Also, libraries still need a trained person to help patrons sort through and process the information they can access these days via the computers.

Spent about four hours at my selected library, WLMS, on Wednesday while I went through the 300 section of the media center.  Ms. Lyday is right, it does need weeding and bad!  I noted about 75 titles that could be removed due to various reasons--most of them are just plain out of date particularly the books about issues like divorce and teen problems.  I also found several books on government from the 1960s and 1970s that did not look pretty at all not even to me, and I like books. You know those middle schoolers are not going to want to check out any of those books.  Some of the holiday books are way too thick and mostly text, very little illustrations and what they did have are like ink drawings which do not look that great to start with.  I already know of about 5 or 6 titles that I am going to find replacements for and I will decide on the other 4 or 5 to get the 10. I showed Ms. Lyday my list and told her I would clean it up, my notes about book condition are everywhere, and email it to her. She said that would be such a big help to her. Later I will send her the list of replacements and she can do whatever she wants.  I think she may actually use some of my recommendations.

graphic novels

Enjoyed that article on graphic novels that I did for critique #2 so much that I checked out two of them from the public library. Am reading one of them, a Japanese translation, from back to front. That is a strange experience, for sure. Took a little bit to catch on how to read the panels but I think I have it now. As Spock from Star Trek would say, "Fascinating"

Been on the phone calling around trying to get a collection development policy from any school here in the county. It appears nobody has one, at least not written down. The school media centers use the policy that came from the county administrators. It is very broad in that it covers media centers as well as materials in the classrooms and to a point even textbooks. Got to find something to analyze for the project.

Comm. Analysis project

I sent an email to the librarian at my selected school to get some info. on the analysis project. I figured that would be better than calling and interrupting her. She can answer the email at her leisure. Just a few questions about the selected school and media center. I found most other stuff concerning the community around the school.

My school library for service project

I will be doing my service-learning project at one of the middle schools here in Caldwell County. I have already talked with the Media Coordinator and she is excited about getting help "weeding" through her 300s section. She said she just has not had the time! I think it will be beneficial to both of us. I will be clearly doing her a favor and she doesn't mind helping me with this 5010 class.