Return Your Library Books!

A variety of pictures/posters to encourage the return of library books. Or create your own at this website.

Australian Book Review Online

I was going to write about paradigms for this post but when I read about this on the National Library of Australia newletter. National Library member can now access Australian Book Review Online for free! Membership to the library is free so this is a great bonus.

A description from the website:
Australian Book Review (ABR) is Australia's oldest literary review. Created in 1961, it publishes reviews, essays, commentaries and creative writing. It has a national scope and is committed to highlighting the full range of critical and creative writing from around Australia. ABR Online can be read on any device with web-browsing capabilities, including desktop computers, laptops, iPads, tablets and smart phones. It offers full access to digital content, including back issues, extended information on contributors and an index that currently covers issues back to 2000. Selective coverage of articles back to 1994/95 is available in APAFT. Indexes for older issues can be found in the print version of ABR, and it is also indexed in AustLit and APAIS. (ABR, 2012)

This is a great resource for librarians to use to select items for their collection. You can search directly for a particularly resource, or browse topic categories or the A-Z resource list. While browsing I found things such as the Australian Dress Register (an online project about dress in NSW pre-1945), and the Atlas of Living Australia (providing info on Australia's biodiversity). You can access newspaper achives and geneology databases, as well as Ebsco and Informit databases.

Happy searching!

Facebook

Are you a facebook fanatic? I've just finished this easy-to-read interesting "biography" about the founders of facebook. The movie "The Social Network" was based on this book. I would recommend it to TLs mainly because it gives you a little bit a background info about facebook and it might gain you some kudos with the "digital natives" if you know a bit about it. I also think it would be a good book to buy for a secondary library.

I Want One!

Book Lover Kit: "The perfect gift for any bibliophile, the Book Lover taps into a world of endless new chapters, compelling characters and evocative poems with words like desire, epic, inspire, magic, and mystery."

This would be fun to have in the library. Who knows, it might even encourage students to read more!

Evidence Based Practice

The next part of our studies on the role of the TL looks at accountability, evidence and research. This is important for TL students to look at as it's the way all schools are going in the wake of the current economic climate. If the TL as a species wants to survive, then we have to prove how we make a difference in student learning.
In the next few posts I'm going to jot down some important ideas that I've gained from various articles on EBP.

The Evidence-Based Manifesto - Ross Todd (School Library Journal, April 08)

• Evidence-based school librarianship is an approach that involves examining research-based evidence, school-librarian observed evidence and user-reported evidence. The TL uses this evidence in order to make decisions about programs, resources and services that aid the achievement of a school's mission and goals.


• As the goals usually centre of student achievement and quality teaching and learning, EBP should focus on these as well


• School librarian ship derives its mandate from a diverse body of theoretical and empirical knowledge and active engagement with this knowledge is what enables the profession to continually transform and improve.


• All students can learn through engagement with school libraries.


• The value of a school library can be measured.


• Accountability is an essential component of sustainable development of the school library profession.


• Accountability is a commitment to growth through examining process and practice.


• It involves a move from a "tell me" framework to a "show me" framework.


• It's not about survival of TLs, it's about survival of our students.


• EBP recognises multiple sources, types of evidence and ways of gathering evidence - this develops stronger claims.


• EB school librarianship uses research derived evidence to shape and direct what we do.


• School libraries need to systematically collect evidence.


• There are 3 dimensions to EBP in school libraries: evidence for practice, evidence in practice, evidence of practice.


• TLs need EBP to show why school libraries matter today and how they help students learn.


• EBP validates that QL outcomes can be achieved though the school library and that the school librarian is an important instructional partner.


• EBP means a shift from information inputs to knowledge and skills outputs.


• "Standards For the 21st Century Learner" (AASL) provides a framework for the evidence that should be generated. http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/AASL_LearningStandards.pdf


• There are challenges of EBP. We need to make it accessible and applicable so it can be integrated into practice.


• Locally generated evidence could be presented as a portfolio.


• EBP is no about scrambling to find additional time. It is about establishing priorities and making choices about the importance of school libraries and learning.
  

My personal thoughts on EBP:

EBP is essential for all TLs.It must be done looking at a variety of evidence types from a variety of sources. TLs must have a good understanding of the school's goals and mission and make sure their EBP follows along the same lines. Gathering evidence must be ongoing - not a one off. It must be about what is best for the students.

Full-metal dust jackets and wi-fi in uni's space age library.

This article was in todays SMH.

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/fullmetal-dust-jackets-and-wifi-in-unis-spaceage-library-20110801-1i88g.html

The article is about the new library at Macquarie University and the automated storage and retrieval system that will save space while allowing them to keep all their books. The library will definitely be on my "places to visit" list next time I visit Sydney (which isn't very often, mind you, as I am 10hours away).

Busy, Busy, Busy

In between washing, cleaning and packing for a trip away on the weekend I've been fiddling with my blog (organising widgets, links etc), checking out websites, reading and making notes.

I'm gradually getting used to the idea of having a blog and adding bits and pieces to make it mine. I am really looking forward to seeing other students blogs as well.

I applied for a library card from the National Library and checked out Pandora, Australia's online web archive. What a fabulous resource it is! DH (Dear Husband) was most impressed when I found him some interesting info on Jack Brabham. (Other car nuts will understand this.) The website finds info to do with your search from all different websites, books and so on. I can't believe I have got this far in life without having come across it before.

Currently I am reading "Ch 5 National, State and Territory Libraries: information for the nation". This is one of the readings in the introduction module. What I've got most out of this reading is the fact that these libraries are incredibly important in collecting, preserving and enabling access to Australia's documentary heritage. They collect all kinds of items as well as books and more increasingly, digital resources.