Evaluation Plan of Reference Services:

Our school has not been weeded very well over the last 20 years, so in turn our reference collection is also quite dated. I have weeded the non-fiction collection, which eliminated some of the older reference materials.  

All staff at my school engages in technology but at different degrees. However, not every teacher is familiar or utilizes the online reference sites our school subscribes too. I have been introducing the students to the sites, but with limited library instruction time some classes get more exposure than others. 

Our geographical resources are dated at our school. The newest Atlas we have is from 2003; two from 2000 and remaining are from 1996 and older. They do not have barcodes to be checked out and located in a dark corner of the library up high on a shelf. The books are very heavy, some looking fairly old with a brown plain covers and others looking slightly better yet with outdated information. I have purchased a globe for the library, which have been quite popular. 

We currently hold a varied collection of dated/ripped dictionaries. The teachers that usually use dictionaries have class sets in their classrooms that are a bit dated. Our encyclopedia collection included a set of world book from the 2000’s and some Canadian picture nature book set form the early 90’s. Both are not catalogued or barcoded to sign out. However, our non-fiction section is current, fun and has updated specific encyclopedia on space, cars, mammals, dogs, extreme weather, almanac, Guinness world book records etc. 

Areas Which Need Change and Rationale. 

Encyclopedias:

• The books have not been used since I arrived in September and the information is outdated. The text is small; the photos look old along with the feel and smell. When students browse the collection they should have confidence they are getting current and updated information. There is also an online version of world book, which is more interacted, appealing and easier to use for students. According to some of Reildings evaluation the collection does not meet the accuracy, format scope and objectivity criteria. Especially some of the articles referencing indigenous people and beliefs do not have objectivity. 

• Our atlas collection very similar to our encyclopedia collection does not meet Reildings evaluation and selection criteria. Especially under currency, all atlases at our school show do not have currency. Eastern Europe is not accurate, and most do not even have Nunavut as a territory. For example, as student wanted to take out an atlas about two months ago and there was no barcode on it, it was really big and not accurate. Students of all ages love looking at maps, atlas and globes. The information should be correct. Now with Google maps, national geographic atlas and the geography section in world book, we do not need class sets as we once did. So a few updated Atlases for check out to students with online options being utilized would address the learning needs of students.  

Atlases: 

Online Reference materials/sources: 

As our print materials become outdated quicker and quicker and are more expensive to update as often as they need to be online reference materials become a better option for our students and staff. Online reference materials our district subscribes to are easy to access and use. They have audio options articles at variety of reading levels, lots of pictures and videos along with links to creditable websites to gain further information. 

As students are doing more projects and inquiry, which require research, with all the options available to students we also want to guide students to “good” sources and a starting point. I often tell students by using the databases I recommend I am doing the some of the sifting for them opposed to Google where they have to do all the sifting themselves through different sources.

Action Plan: 

For the updates on encyclopedias and dictionaries I will begin by wedding the collection based on Reilding Evaluation criteria. This will eliminate a large amount of the materials. This should take only a couple hours because I have a pretty good idea of what materials need weeding. I will then purchase new atlases for example “ When on Earth” By: Rob Hoston, Canadian, and world atlases. At first these item would be promoted to classes as new non-fiction reference materials that can be checked out. (This also promotes them to teachers). Before book talking the books, I would show some online Atlas resources with national geographic and world book (again to promote to staff). The change will communicate through the promotion of online and new print materials. World book will not be replaced in the same way, so I will continue to promote the online version of world book in the library by continuing to show different features of the site online. I would be the only person involved making the change however staff and students would be aware of it from communications. Often with admin, when they are in the library area and not too busy I pull them in and show them a bit of the changes happening, they seem happy to be in the loop of what’s going on and why.  I am confident that this change can take place before June, as the time to do the task is reasonable and I have a budget that is very generous this year with money still available. The one consideration, which would take a bit of time, is after clearing the space moving the collection around to utilize the space and be less crowed. 

Online Reference materials/sources: 

I will continue to promote our online reference collection on an ongoing basis. The classes I teach computers to and have longer library blocks with are easier to teach the site to, because their teaching can be paired with projects and activities we are doing together. Having the staff buy into the online reference materials more would also help promote them to the students as well. Next month I am having our district library consultant give a lunch time pro-d talk at our school on some of the databases. Sometimes it is nice for the staff to hear another voice. 

References:

Library, QUT. "1.7.1 Reference material." QUT | Library | Study Smart | 1.7.1 Reference material. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2017.

Rachel "Make Your Own Moon Sand - Aka Moldable Mess!" Kids Activities Blog. N.p., 04 Sept. 2011. Web. 07 Apr. 2017.

Riedling, Ann, Reference skills for the school library media specialist: Tools and tips, (Third Edition). Linworth

"Welcome to School District #38." Welcome to School District #38. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2017.


"When on Earth? | Hardback." DK Publishing. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2017.