Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Denying Access

I have been trying to avoid posting a rant, really I have. But today, several items came across my desk that just set this off. I will not elaborate on the confluence. Suffice to say, they were tiny pieces of sand that rubbed me wrong and thus produced the rant (no pearl, sorry).

I keep hearing about cutting school libraries in terms of books in favor of a collection of eBooks. Those of you who know me understand that I love technology. I read books on the iPad and Kindle and even my iPhone. I have access, though. I wonder how many students do nationwide (here is something you can tackle, Mr. Duncan, as you collect useless data from test scores, why not ask how many kids have limitless online access outside of school?)? I can look around the district in which I reside and tell you right now that I would estimate about 30-40% of the students more than likely have to get access at school or at the public library. ACCESS is key when it comes to eBooks. I have access. But for those who do not, the digital divide grows wider as does the achievement gap.

It is more than that, though. Some books are perfect fodder for eBooks. I recently read and reviewed P*TAG edited by Vardell and Wong. It was designed to be an eBook and is perfectly suited to the format. Ditto the latest from Fontichiaro and Hamilton on school libraries. Immediate distribution (and heard today it has been downloaded over 3000 times in a little over a week). There are other books, though, better suited to traditional text, especially those books with diagrams, charts, etc. that deserve a large page and clear print. And, quite frankly, I still enjoy curling up with a book. I love the feel and smell of books (and if you are reading this blog, I bet you do as well).

More to chew on: if school libraries will be all eBooks, will there actually be a physical place in the school? Will the librarian be outsourced? I can see that happening (and it is already). Another loss as research indicates losing a school librarian leads to a DECREASE in test scores. I see the loss of a place to study, to do research (thanks, Holly, for pointing that out), to gather. I see the loss of someone uniquely educated to assist students in searching. More importantly, I see yet another loss of someone who might connect kids to books.

Since I posted a small tweet before this rant, I have heard from several school librarians who are echoing these same concerns. Of course, theirs are not the voices we hear. Instead, the architect (and gee there is someone with school experience) or someone outside of the day to day operation of the school is making decisions like this. It is frustrating to these folks with experience and expertise who have to sit and watch someone dismantling what has taken them forever to create.

I am all for using technology and for extending the definition of books and reading. However, until we can find a way to ensure that everyone has access to literacy in all its forms, we should be making choices based on ACCESS and what is BEST not which is most expedient.

15 comments:

  1. Thank you for ranting. Agree, agree, agree.

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  2. I agree. We are so quick to go along with the next new thing completely, without thinking it all the way through. This is so typical of the education field. :(

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  3. In the name of trying to move into the technological future, we risk losing the abilty to socialize and question face to face. Losing the "public" space of a library in schools deprives students of interactions, socialization, and of learning opportunities. To be engaged, students need variety. Technology is not the only type of variety out there. We need to embrace both worlds.

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  4. Well said. The library space is as important as the classroom, if not more. My purpose as a school librarian is to instill the love of reading in my students and encourage self-selection. They don't necessarily get that in the classroom or anywhere else. Especially not a computer or e-reader screen.

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  5. I completely agree with you. I come from a school district that is very low income and many students don't have access outside of school. Personally, I have a Nook and I love it but that doesn't stop me from purchasing books from my local book store. I LOVE the smell of a new book and know many students that love to go into the library to relax and leave their worries for a later time. Technology is great but nothing beats a good monograph!

    Nallely LS5385.07

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  6. You are correct. At least in our school, many of our students dont have access to computers at home/and parents can't afford to drive them to the public library(tough times). Our school library is the only place where these students have access to books. I can't even afford an ebook. So if our school libraries ever convert to ebook libraries many of our economically disadvange students would not have access to these ebooks. One can just imagine how this will affect the people and commuinty.

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  7. I meant to say above that, I can't even afford and ebook reader/ebooks.

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  8. I work in a Title I school, and I am constantly worried about the digital divide. Having all this technology on hand in the school building is lovely, but what good is it if the students have no access before and after school to practice and use it...such as in the school library. Literacy is the root of education, including information literacy, and oftentimes it is the library that is the garden for both to take root and grow...

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  9. Like Chris, I also work in a Title I school. The library is a safe haven for my students to go before and after school. They don't have access to technology 24/7. I am a lover of technology, but I still cannot read books on a screen. My eyes just don't like it!

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  10. After reading this blog, I informally polled my 60 fourth graders to see who had Internet access outside of school (excluding iPhones). Response: Twelve! TWELVE!!!

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  11. I work at a Title I School. Many of our students live in horse stables and ranches. Go figure...

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  12. I agree. The library is a very important place for anyone to go. Even the people with access to the internet still benefit from libraries. I have a kindle which I love, but I still can't resist purchasing a book whether at Barnes and Noble or at Half Price book store or even just checking some out at the public library. I also agree about some forms of books with diagrams. I would much prefer to read those in print form. I may love technology and to be able to carry many books at one time, but I also still love having a bookshelf with my favorite books that people will be able to see.

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  13. LS5385
    I can't believe that this is happening at times. As I'm taking this class, sometimes I even have to use the knowledge of librarians. In relations to whether we should have books or kindles, I would take a book 100% of the time.

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