US:PA-1: Week 1 Assignments
Week 1 Assignments
Lawrence E. Silverstein (les@iu27.bviu.k12.pa.us)
Thu, 18 Sep 1997 15:27:41 -0400 (EDT)
1. "What are the one or two most pressing needs of your PA school or
library for the implementation of effective and sustainable
telecommunications programs?"
The obvious answer is funding for either school or library, so let's move
beyond the obvious.
When the Public Libraries in Beaver County received the Atlantic Bell
grant for Internet hookup, it was hard to find people that were
enthusiastic about it in the communities. The general populace had a "so
what?" attitude, or "That's nice." Occasionally the news brought more
in, but when showcased by the local papers in February, we were lucky to
get five people per day (or less) using the Internet at the District
Center.
IMHO, the public need to be educated more about what the Internet (and
other telecommunications) can do. The other end of the spectrum includes
the junior high school student that plugs into the Internet and expects
his homework to be done for him in two shakes of a mouse's tail. The
libraries have always been centers of research and study, and have
functioned very well without the Internet for over 200 years; we need to
define what the changes will bring, and what the changes are that we want
it to bring.
2. "How do the needs of schools and libraries differ, and how are they
complementary?"
One respondant is a Consultant Librarian, married to a teacher. I'm a
Consultant Librarian, with over twelve years experience as a teacher, in
both public and private schools, and a few years' experience in the PA
public libraries. It's good to be able to see more than one side of the
issue.
Schools and libraries both dispense information; schools in a more rigid,
formal capacity in classroom settings, and libraries in a more open-ended
situation, often one-on-one with a Reference/Research Librarian assisting
the patron or with a patron acting alone to acquire the information
necessary. The needs for accurate, timely information are the same; the
methods for dispensing the information are different. Schools and
libraries complement each other in the formats and methods chosen for
that service. The telecommunications/e-rate/computer technology will
assist in that service ONLY if the school or library can effectively use
it correctly and well; TRAINING has to be part of the package, or it will
fall apart.
3. "How do the needs of rural schools and libraries differ from those of
schools and libraries in urban areas?"
It's more than economics. It's also a way of life. Part of the apathy
about the Internet noted above comes from a "rural mentality" even though
the District Center is listed by the state in an "Urban" suburb of
Pittsburgh. In the further reaches of our "urban" district, there are
more cows than people; in the two cities of our district, there are gang
wars and drive-by shootings. How do schools and libraries meet the needs
of both communities? On an individual basis. The rural communities have
informational needs just as valid as the urban; but on different topics.
And yes, there are Internet sites where you can learn about bovine
mastitis and its treatments.
Lawrence E. Silverstein e-mail: <les@iu27.bviu.k12.pa.us>
Associate Director/ phone: 412-375-2900
District Consultant Librarian
B. F. Jones Memorial Library "Public Libraries will get you through
663 Franklin St. times of no money better than money will
Aliquippa, PA 15001 get you through times of no libraries."