Access to Resources

I consider myself an advocate of intellectual, physical, and digital access to resources by staff and students. We do not charge fees for printouts. However, we do not have a photocopier in the library. If students want to photocopy a page out of a Reference book, we allow them to do so at the office. We do not usually sign out dvds to students very often, but if a student asks to sign out a video resource, we usually allow it. Students have access to resources before and after school, and at lunch. They are allowed to sign out as many books as they can carry in their packsack. All grade nine students have a library Orientation at the beginning of the new school year. Students have physical access to all learning resources. There is some restriction, such as if there are two or more classes working on a similar project and needs access to the same material, there is a time limit of a few days where students may not sign out the materials. They are put on a trolley. After a reasonable amount of time in the library, then students are allowed to sign the books out for personal use. Excellent access to digital resources is supported. There is a computer lab with access for one class in the library and there is a mobile lab with 32 netbooks. Classes may use the netbooks in the library along with print resources or in the classroom.

LIBE 467 has definitely helped me improve reference services in my school library resource centre and has enhanced my perception of the important role of the teacher-librarian. I am also very appreciative to the professor for bringing to my awareness even more resources to enhance life-long learning and critical analysis for students and staff.