Assignment3ReporttoAdministration

** Library resources to support the Grade 5 Social Studies Curriculum **
 * Report to Administration **

In working with students and talking with staff members it has become apparent that library resources related to the Grade 5 Social Studies Curriculum are not meeting the needs of either staff or students. Both staff and students have answered questions related to their use of the available school library resources. Additionally, I have observed students as they make use of resources for their work. Quantitative data has been collected using the available reports generated through our library automation software as well as reports available through our technical services department. I am providing brief highlights from the data collected and if any points need further clarification the full reports can be made available.

· Staff is generally not satisfied with library resources · There are a limited number of library resources available · Staff make use of public library resources as the access is more convenient and the resources are more appealing and current · Staff make use of classroom resources as they are more convenient
 * Highlights from conversations with staff regarding library resources:**


 * Highlights from conversations with students and observations of students:**
 * Students are not engaged with many of the present library resources
 * Format of resources is not in keeping with current research instruction ie. resources lack helpful text features
 * Resources lack informative illustrations
 * Students prefer internet research
 * Students use public library resources as they are more convenient

Note : Key topics in the Grade 5 Curriculum were identified and reports were run based on the correlating Dewey areas in the library.
 * Qualitative Data gathered from generated reports:**


 * Curriculum subject || Correlating Dewey number || Number of items in the area || Average age || Number of circulations in this year || Total number of circulations ||
 * Geography of BC & Canada || 917 || 40 || 1990 || 2 || 45 ||
 * History of BC & Canada || 971 || 169 || 1996 || 28 || 335 ||
 * Forestry || 634 || 13 || 1993 || 2 || 16 ||
 * Energy Resources || 621 || 35 || 1991 || 0 || 0 ||
 * Minerals || 552 || 17 || 1995 || 5 || 59 ||
 * Canadian Government || 320 || 5 || 1997 || 3 || 4 ||
 * Railroad || 385 || 4 || 1994 || 2 || 10 ||
 * Immigration || 305 || 17 || 1997 || 1 || 10 ||
 * Immigration || 306 || 18 || 1996 || 1 || 2 ||

**Collection Mini Map** South Meridian Elementary School Total Student enrollement – 250 February 20,2011
 * Curriculum subject || Correlating Dewey number || Number of items in the area || Average age ||
 * Geography of BC & Canada || 917 || 40 || 1990 ||
 * History of BC & Canada || 971 || 169 || 1996 ||
 * Forestry || 634 || 13 || 1993 ||
 * Energy Resources || 621 || 35 || 1991 ||
 * Minerals || 552 || 17 || 1995 ||
 * Canadian Government || 320 || 5 || 1997 ||
 * Railroad || 385 || 4 || 1994 ||
 * Immigration || 305 || 17 || 1997 ||
 * Immigration || 306 || 18 || 1996 ||

**Total number of books related to Grade 5 Social Studies – 283** **Total number of Students in Grade 5 - 35** **Total number of books available per student – 8** **Average age of all books to Grade 5 Social Studies – 1994 (17yrs.)**

**Highlights from quantitative data:** · The resources on average are old · The resources we do have are not being used · We have limited resources to address all curriculum content areas

**Concluding comments:**

Based on not only qualitative data but also quantitative data it is clearly evident that the library resources are currently not meeting the needs of either staff or students.

We need to look into purchasing resources that compliment current teaching practice regarding information retrieval. Additionally, we need to purchase resources that will meet the visual literacy needs of our students.

In addition to the short comings of the collection it has become apparent that lack of access to the collection has become problematic for both staff and students. This is an issue that I believe is the result of funding cuts to library staff. The library is only available 2.5 days of the week and during that time the library is being used to cover prep. classes. Intermediate students have scheduled access for book exchange. However, in that time there is limited time for discussion related to research topics.

Ultimately, if the resources were more appealing hopefully both staff and students would be more motivated to make time to use the school library.