Current Reference Collection and Services
My school learning commons has not had a physical reference section for some years. Before our current Teacher-Librarian, another Teacher-Librarian weeded the reference section and either placed the books within the shelves of the entire collection or moved them to a spot in our art and teacher resource room. There are a few dictionaries placed near the library computers, but the rest of the reference books have been mixed into the shelves. Many of our remaining reference books are also twenty or more years old.
Riedling suggests certain considerations when evaluating reference resources. Riedling lists content scope, accuracy, authority, and bias, arrangement and presentation, relation to similar works, timeliness and permanence, accessibility/diversity, and cost. Since much of the collection is quite old, it will be important to consider if the information in these books is still relevant and accurate, and if the format is accessible and interesting for the student population.
Based on Achieving Information Literacy, I'd say our physical reference collection is below standards. Two of the statements, under below standards, definitely reflects our physical reference collection; "Materials are catalogued, inventoried, organized, and circulated through the school library, but are not available to all users. Resources are generally not current and may be in need of repair or replacement" (Asselin, p. 26, 2006).
Despite not having a proper physical reference section, we have an extensive online reference collection. We have access to a variety of online programs, and databases, that can be useful for different grade levels. When searching our online reference collection, you can look at links for K-3, 4-7, and 8-12, to help make your search easier.
Online Reference Collection
- Canoe Kids
- Consumer Health Complete
- Directory of Databases
- English Search
- Recherche francasie
- Middle Schools Explora
- Secondary Schools Explora
- Flipster
- General Magazines
- Kids Magazines
- Teen Magazines
- NoveList K-8 Plus
- Canada In Context
- Global Issues In Context
- National Geographic Kids
- Power Search
- Science In Context
- Know BC
- My Blueprint
- Worldbook Advance
- Worldbook Discover
- Worldbook Early Learning
- Worldbook Decouverte
- Worldbook Kids
- Worldbook Science Power
- Worldbook Student
- Worldbook Timelines
Since these are online databases, they are regularly updated with new, current, and accurate information. Many include engaging images, are accessible to different ages, grade levels, and reading levels, and they were created by credible sources. The online reference collection is at least acceptable. With some more resources added, it could head towards exemplary, based on the CASL's Achieving Information Literacy.
What Needs to Change
While I think we have an excellent online reference collection, I think we could add some more sites to the list, like True Flix, to help facilitate student learning. Since we are severely lacking in the physical reference section, it is good to have a variety of resources online to help students get the chance to use a wide range of sites to research and complete inquiry projects.
Adding a couple new sites to our online reference section is high on the list, but I think updating some of our physical reference books, and creating a small reference section in the learning commons, is even more important. There cannot be just online reference materials. Rielding states that "reference services revolve around the basic principle of maximization of information resources in all formats" (Rielding, p.3 2019). There needs to be a variety of formats, of resources, in a school library learning commons to support all students' learning.
The school has over 400 students, and only has access to four Chromebook carts and one cart of 27 iPads. The Chromebook carts are designated for the eight intermediate grade classes, and used regularly, and the iPads are shared among eight primary divisions. There is no longer a computer lab, and there are only a couple computers in the library for searching Destiny and printing assignments. The school's Teacher-Librarian rarely has access to the Chromebooks, and iPads, for learning in the learning commons.
The intermediate classes could potentially make good use of the online reference collection in their classroom, but will not have the opportunity to use it, easily, while in library. The primary students, on the other hand, have little to no chance of using the online reference collection, since they do not have access to Chromebooks. Our computer lab was only dismantled a few years ago, due to the growth of the school and the need for another classroom. There just is not enough technology to properly support the use of the online reference collection, therefore, a physical reference collection is needed to fill in the gap.
The Plan
How the Change Will Take Place
To begin the development of a new reference collection, we first need to see what we have. While some of the old reference books have been placed in the art and resource room, they are still included in the Destiny Catalogue. If someone wanted to use one of them, they would need to know they are no longer in the library. I suggest, that first, all reference books are pulled out of the art and resource room. The age of many of these resources is at least twenty years old, so then they need to be assessed. We need to consider content scope, arrangement and presentation, relation to similar works (especially newly purchased books), accessibility/diversity, and the cost to replace it with a newer edition.After going through the books, from the art and resource room, we can then look at the reference books that are still included in the main collection. We will need to consider the same things when assessing these books. Once we know what should be kept, and what should be weeded, then we can start to consider what we'd like to purchase for the collection.
Who Will Be Involved
For this endeavour, I believe we need the support of the entire school. This change will need to be discussed with admin and the teaching staff. It will be important to get their feedback on what they'd like included in the new physical reference collection. It is also important to connect with the students, learn their interests, and find out what kinds of reference books they'd like to see, and would use, in the library learning commons. This can be done with a discussion at a staff meeting, first, and sharing what reference books we currently have, then by distributing questionnaires and asking for suggestions of books, themes, and topics. It's important to know if teachers want new dictionaries, atlases, or new encyclopedias, or other reference resources.A Timeline for Improvement
While only a small portion of the learning commons budget has been used this year, it will take time to build a new reference collection. Reference books can be expensive. In January, assessment of current reference books should be started. Once the reference books have been collected and assessed, then we can begin weeding some. By March, hopefully we can begin discussing with the staff which resources they would like added.While discussions with the staff and administration are happening, a few new reference books could be purchased to replace some of the old, weeded, ones. As decisions are made, hopefully a few more can be purchased before the end of the school year. I think, realistically, next school year would be a good time to really start to update the current physical reference collection. If there are certain, extremely expensive, resources the teachers are interested in having, then a plan could be made for saving a portion of the budget for that, as well as fundraising for the new resources. Improving the physical reference collection is important, but some of the library budget also needs to be used for updating the other books in the library. Much of the school's learning commons is outdated. New non-fiction books, pictures books, and chapter books are also important to have in the main collection.
Communicating the Change
The school has a monthly staff meeting. Every staff meeting, there is a time to share about the library learning commons. This is the perfect time to share what the plans are for creating a new physical reference collection. Later, emails can be sent to staff with questionnaires and inquiries about what kinds of reference books they'd like to see included. During the staff meeting, is also a good time for asking if anyone would like to help facilitate this change.Conclusion
The biggest need in the learning commons, for the reference collection, is a need for a new physical reference collection. There is no longer one in the library, and some of the reference books are not even housed in the learning commons space, so they are not really accessible, at all, despite being still in the Destiny Catalogue. What reference resources we have are also outdated, for the most part, and rarely used. While we have an excellent online reference collection, they cannot be the only reference resources we rely on. With a lack of technology, it's just not feasible to only have an online collection.While it is a big, and expensive, endeavour, I believe it is a necessary one for supporting student learning. The library is a space to learn, and as Rielding puts it "the role of reference services in the school library is to help students to use library resources to obtain relevant and credible information that meets their needs" (Rielding, p.3, 2019). Not all students have access to the online collection, and many of the younger students will just be beginning to learn how to research. Physical texts are a great starting point, and an important skill for them to learn. For some, it is also easier to use a physical book, rather than an online site. Some students do not yet have the skills to easily research online, since they may still be learning to sign in and find a website. A physical book is a much easier starting point. With support from the school staff, input from the students, and some time and money, I believe this is a accomplishable and important goal for the school library learning commons to have.
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