It’s been a fast and furious semester at OSU this semester—at least for me! Now as we begin the New Year, it’s always fun to reflect on our accomplishments. Because my “year” in the CML actually began in August, I can only reflect on what I’ve accomplished but I also need to be sure to recognize the accomplishments of my predecessors, Donna Schwarz (CML Librarian from 2001-2008) and Amie Allen (CML Library Tech Assistant). During the summer, both Donna and Amie moved on to other adventures — Donna is now enjoying the retired life of an “always-active” librarian and Amie is now the Director of the Child Development Lab here at OSU. I know that they are both enjoying their new lives — you can see it in their smiling faces— and they have been sure to check-in with me to make sure that things are running smoothly. It is because of their love of the CML and what it provides that my transition and return to the CML has been so wonderful.
As the new CML Librarian at OSU, my adventures began in August when I literally “hit the ground running”— (I was hired two weeks before the new semester began—yikes!) Aside from re-acquainting myself with the people, procedures and the resources available, I also needed to hire a new CML Tech Assistant to help me with the many statistical, analytical, and supervisory activities. This was accomplished when I hired Leslie Echalk , a former Special Collections library assistant and “display specialist”—I still feel a little bit guilty for “stealing” Leslie from the Main Library, but you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do! Thanks to Leslie’s patience and willingness to work around my often “scatterbrained” activities throughout this semester, we have been able to continue to provide the services that both faculty and students expect from the CML. In addition, we have also been able to draw student and faculty interest to many of the resources available within the CML by providing some unique displays that highlight a few of our best resources. (Leslie’s experience working in Special Collections has brought an additional creative touch to the CML, so expect a wide-variety of new and exciting projects in the future!)
Once the staff was hired and we began evaluating what we had to work with, our next challenge was to determine what materials could be removed from the “regular-use collection” and what materials just needed to be replaced. After evaluating the Picture Book collection, we pulled many older titles that aren’t generally used in the regular school library and placed them in our “Historical Collection.” (This collection is still housed within the CML but is not regularly circulated due to the physical condition of the material, the outdated information contained within the resource, or other criteria which might limit use by pre-service teachers or librarians.) We then began removing worn titles and replaced them with more attractive copies to encourage continued use. The result has been a fresh, new face to the Picture Book collection, allowing users to quickly locate the resources that they frequently request and need for lesson plans and projects.
Our next accomplishment / adventure began when an elementary science teachers’ class visited to locate materials on a wide-variety of topics. Based upon their comments and the recommendations of their professor (as well as the requirements of the assignment given), it was decided that the information books within the CML should also be updated to reflect new technologies, trends, research, and topics used in areas of science and technology. Using the criteria for selecting materials for the CML (as well as K-12 school libraries), we began adding new materials to the 500 and 600 sections of the CML (those area include Natural Science –500’s— and Technology—600’s). Using one of my favorite lists— the Outstanding Science Trade Books which contains books reviewed and selected by those experts in K-12 science— we began adding those titles to the CML collection. In addition, we added an “Outstanding Science Book” label to those titles within the collection to ensure that users will be able to quickly identify those materials that meet the criteria for science and technology instruction in K-12 grades.
Another area of accomplishment this year included the removal of several outdated audio-visual materials within the AV collection. In addition to removing some of the educational kits and games that were a bit outdated (most were from the 1960’s and 1970’s), we also began to evaluate the need to add more DVDs to our media formats and replace worn video tapes with newer formats if they were available. Based upon the comments of students and faculty who use the CML, we discovered that many of our users no longer own video tape players which actually restricts them from utilizing many of the video resources in the CML— unless they use our video tape player here. (Ah, the pains of technology!)
Other smaller accomplishments include:
- the adjustment of the Big Books from their previous location within ”big book bags” —which were a constant frustration for the students and the CML workers — to a portable Big Book bookcart which provides an organized shelving of the 300 different titles while also providing a display shelf on top to use for sharing a Big Book with a group or displaying a Big Book for browsing.
- the addition of signage within the collection to allow for easier browsing and quick location of resource materials; shelf range labels now allow users to find books on specific subjects (such as “dinosaurs” or “cars”) by not only providing the Dewey Decimal number but also the Subject Heading on the shelf label.
- updated CML Subject Bibliographies now provide materials that are more current and reflect the instructional objectives found within the K-12 educational curriculum; books listed within these Bibliographies now include only those titles which are considered “Core Collection Materials” for school libraries (based upon the H.W. Wilson Catalogs, as well as current professional library selection tools including Horn Book, Booklist, and School Library Journal). Resources found now within these Bibliographies will be those titles that will most likely be available within today’s school libraries, ensuring currency and accuracy for those pre-service teachers who utilize these resources for lesson plans or student research activities.
Another unique accomplishment has been the addition of the CML Wiki (and, of course, this Blog) to the technology resources we want to make available to keep our students and faculty aware of new CML resources and activities. The OSU-CML Wiki includes resources that specifically address the assignments of those classes that visit the CML for research projects and bibliographic instruction, new materials added to the collection, lists of 2.0 technology resources for use within the classroom, and more. Through the CML Wiki, we hope to be able to supplement the CML’s website through the ability to quickly add or edit information that can be used immediately by students or faculty. Additionally, the CML Blog is just our way to connect with our patrons to provide more lengthy explanations, lists, resources, or ideas that might be used within the 21st Century classroom.
As our New Year begins, there are other accomplishments that will be revealed during the beginning of the Spring Semester. Our hope is to make the CML more than just a “place”…we want it to be an “experience!” This experience, we hope, will extend beyond the walls of beautiful Willard Hall and encourage our users to continue to utilize our resources regardless of location. Stay tuned for more updates to our collection and services to make your visit more rewarding!
Happy New Year 2009!
