Curriculum+Base+Collection+Development

CURRICULUM BASED COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT There are curriculum rich book collections in all of the preK-12 library media centers. In the past excellent materials budgets have allowed our libraries to build exemplary print collections. For the last few years this materials budget has shrunk to nearly nothing. The video collections within individual schools were merged into a single district video collection housed at the TPS in 2006-07. A professional development library is being developed at the Highschool Library to support the teachers and administrators. These successful initiatives promote equitable access to the district’s professional and video collections among all schools.

Internet connectivity and a thriving database budget once allowed the library media centers to select online electronic databases that would increase access to relevant information. Materials have been carefully selected to support the curriculum and independent reading as well as individual needs, abilities, and interests of the students. However, in the past few years the budget for the districts libraries has decreased significantly as a result of district wide financial problems. In 2009-10 there was no room in the slashed library budget for online databases at all. Similarly the budget for print resources has also deteriorated to very little. These collections need to be carefully assessed to determine current strengths and weaknesses especially in light of the lack of money for new books the past few years and ongoing weeding demands. The library staff must continue to weed their collections and also determine which materials need to be replaced because of the condition of the books due to heavy usage. Materials are also available through interlibrary loan throughout the district’s libraries. For the past few years in this district, the focus on MCAS testing has monopolized the spotlight. Under the direction of a new Superintendent the district’s educational focus has shifted away from teaching to the test back to basics, state standards, the Big 6 research model, lifelong literacy skills, 6 + 1 Writing Traits and 21st century literacy skills. As the school system realigns its district curriculum with the state frameworks, the library media centers need to be actively involved in this process. This will insure that their collections will continue to play an integral role in the instructional process by meeting the information and independent reading needs of the library users. 8. Type in the content of your page here.