"RESOURCES" SECTION OF SCHOOL LIBRARY PROGRAMS - STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR TEXAS (adopted May 19, 1997)

Full text available at: http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/LD/pubs/schoolibstand.htn

 

Resources

Resources available in and/or accessible through the school library provide students and faculty opportunities for research, reading, and life-long learning; support and enrich the curriculum; and meet students' diverse needs and interests. Library materials must be cataloged, inventoried, and disseminated through the library and be available to all users. These materials should be current and in good repair, selected according to district-adopted, board-approved selection policies, and must reflect an appropriate balance among print, software, and electronic resources. In addition, an exemplary library program's collection should reflect the unique needs of the specific school population. Outdated and worn library materials should be regularly discarded, according to guidelines generally accepted by the library profession. Provisions should be made for access to information resources beyond the campus via interlibrary loan (within the district and outside the district), telecommunications, and technology.

Program Profile

An exemplary school library program will:

• provide a balanced collection of at least 12,000 books, software and electronic resources at the school library program level (school library programs with enrollments exceeding 600 ADA must provide a minimum of 20 items per pupil);
• offer real time access to t Internet, electronic databases, and full participation in statewide information sharing projects;
• provide periodicals for students and staff (at least 45 subscriptions for elementary campuses; 50-125 subscriptins at middle school campuses; and 75-150 subscriptions at high school campuses);
• offer access to a full text periodical database; and,
• provide students and staff with one local and at least one state or national news source, and access to a full text news database.

Learner Impacts

The learner will, through one-on-one or group instruction:

• access information easily as needed almost all of the time, from a wide variety of sources in multiple formats;
• evaluae the validity, relevancy, and accuracy of information available;
• use information in the synthesis of ideas and development of products; and,
• make meaningful connections between classroom learning, information skills, and real-life situations.

Recognized School Library Program

Resources

Resources available in and/or accessible through te school library provide students and faculty opportunities for reading and life-long learning, support the surriculum, and meet most students' needs and interests. Library materials must be cataloged, inventoried, and disseminated through the library and be available to all users. These materials should be current and in good repair, selected according to district-adopted, board-approved selection polies, and must reflect an appropriate balance amongprint, software, and electronic resources. In addition, a recognized library program's collection should provide some materials that reflect the unique needs of the specific school population. Outdated and worn materials should be regularly discarded according to guidelines generally accepted by the library profession. Provisions should be made for access to information resources beyon the campus via telecommunications and technology.

Program Profile

A recognized school library program will:

• provide a balanced collection of at least 10,800 books, software, and electronic resources at the school library program level (school library programs with enrollments exceeding 600 ADA must provide a minimum of 18 items per pupil);
• offer real time access to the Internet, electronic databases, and participation in statewide information sharing projects;
• provide periodicals for students and staff (at least 35 subscriptions for elementary campuses; 45-70 subsriptions at middle school campuses; and 55-125 subscriptions and access to a full text periodical database at high school campuses); and,
• have access to one local, one state or national news service, and access to a full text news database.

Learner Impacts

• be able to easily access information as needed most of the time, from a variety of sources in multiple formats;
• evaluate the validity, relevancy, and accuracy of information available;
• use information in the synthesis of ideas and development ofproducts; and,
• make meaningful connections between classroom learning, information skills, and real life situations.

Acceptable School Library Program

Resources

Resources available in the school library provide students and faculty some opportunities for reading and learning, provide limited suport for areas of the curriculum, and meet students' basic needs with minimal support for additional interests. Library materials must be cataloged, inventoried, and disseminated through the library and be available to all users. Basic level materials should be current although supplemental materials may be somewhat dated. All library materials are in good repair, selected according to districted-adopted, board-approved selection policies and must reflect some balance among print, software, and electronic resources. Obsolete and worn materials should be regularly discarded according to guidelines generally accepted by the library profession. Some provisions are made for access to information resources beyond the campus.

Program Profile

An acceptable school library program will:

• provide a balanced collection of at least 9,000 books, software, and electronic resources at the school library program level (school library programs with enrollments exceeding 600 ADA must provide a minimum of 15 items per pupil);
• offer entry-level access to the Internet, electronic databass, and participation in statewide information sharing projects;
• provide periodicals for students and staff (at least 20 subscriptions for elementary campuses;40-70 subscriptions at middle school campuses; and 45-75 subscriptions at high scvhool campuses);
• offer access to a periodical database; and,
• provide one local and one state or national news source, and access to a full text news database.

Learner Impacts

The learner will:

• access information easily and frequently, from a number of sources in multiple formats;
• evaluate the validity, relevancy, and accuracy of information available;
• use that information in the synthesis of ideas and development of products; and,
• make meaningful connections between classroom learning and information skills.

Below Standard School Library Program

Resources

Resources available in the school library provide limited opportunities for reading and learning. Few areas of the curriculum are supported by current materials and resources rarely fully meet student needs and provide little materialfor student interests. Library materials are cataloged, inventoried, and disseminated through the library but may not be available to all users. Resources are generally less current and may be in need of repair or replacement. Library materials are gerally purchased from library jobber collection lists and catalogs. Library materials are culled infrequently. Little balanced is reflected among print, software, and electronic resources. Few, if any, provisions are made for access to information resources beyond the campus.

Program Profile

A school library program that is below standard:

• provides a collection of at least 7,200 books, software, and electronic resources at the school library program level (school library programs with enrollments exceeding ADA must provide a minimum of 12 items per pupil);
• provides periodicals for students and staff (at least 15 subscriptions for elementary campuses, 30-50 subscriptions at middle school campuses, and 50-70 subscriptions at high school campuses); and,
• offers access to one local and one state or national news sources.

Learner Impacts

The learner will:

• access information only occasionally and with some difficulty, from a limited number of sources in limited formats; and,
• lack information literacy skills.