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Role of school libraries changing in 21st century
By Jim Kilpatrick, Staff Writer
As technology has grown in the Coppell ISD the role of the library and librarians has changed.
“Our libraries are very busy places,” said Debra Marshall, Wilson Elementary School and head librarian for the district. “The roles of librarians have changed dramatically over the last 20 years.”
She said that the librarian is no longer a clerical keeper of the books, but a curriculum specialist co-teacher and collaborator.
According to a report made Marshall to the CISD Board of Trustees the job of the librarian is now as an information coach, learning consultant and reading guru.
“As an information coach, we teach students and faculty how to use the Internet, databases and online information tools,” Marshall said. “And as a learning consultant, we work with the teachers to plan higher level learning and real world experiences.”
As the reading guru she said librarians have to keep abreast of current literature and publishing trends and at the same time provide collections and programming to encourage students to do “recreational reading.”
According to Marshall, usage in the school libraries continues to grow.
“With the click of button you can gather information online for reporters,” Marshall said. “We a have the Gale Virtual Library and One Search which are both heavily used by students.”
Gale Virtual Reference Library is a collection of information ebooks available through the library and Destiny Webpages, used for research. One Search is another research program.
“What we are teaching the kids is that Google is this big vast knowledge of data bases maybe academic, or not, and some are authentic and some are not,” Marshall said. “By using the ones we have, they get exactly what they want, that is related to the research they are doing.”
She added that Gale and Search One are trustworthy.
The librarians also bring in authors to speak to students. They have also hosted fall book fairs held on the various campuses, many supplementing library budgets. They have also sponsored the Teen Read Week celebrations, bringing kids and books together.
Contact Jim Kilpatrick at jkilpatrick@acnpapers.com.
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