The 2003–2004
Library Media Center Report

Library Use Statistics

The number of students using the Library Media Center reached an all time high this year of 18,249.  These statistics reflect the number of students scheduled into the Library Media Center during class time for curriculum-related activities.  They do not include students who use the library before and after school, during study hall, or during testing situations.

In the last 10 years, student library use has more than doubled; we had 8389 students scheduled in 1993.  We attribute our increase in use to several factors:

  • additional computers with Internet access

  • increased electronic and print resources

  • more teachers incorporating Library Media Center resources into their curriculum

  • teachers’ interest in developing information literacy skills in their students

  • interest in WebQuests and other online activities

  • the availability of library personnel to instruct students in the use of the card catalog and other electronic databases

 

Circulation Statistics

4,886 – number of books
checked out in 2002-2003

9,875 – number of books
in our library collection

12,223 – number of English
Department books that cir-
culate through our library

 

Some people question whether in today’s computer world students are still using books.  The answer is a resounding “Yes!”  Fortunately, our teachers realize that, at this point in time, only a relatively small percentage of human knowledge has been put online.  Students who only use the Internet for their research restrict themselves to a limited, fragmented portion of the knowledge published on their subject.  For this reason, most of our faculty require students to include print resources in their research papers and projects.



Resource Sharing

For the last eight years the McNicholas Library Media Center has belonged to a library consortium.  All of these school libraries are automated on the same system, allowing our students to check books out from other member libraries.  Students view the book collections online and place holds on the materials they need.  The books are then delivered to and picked up from McNicholas through the City Dash delivery system.  This kind of resource sharing allows us to better serve the information needs of our students by supplementing our collection with materials from other high school libraries.  It also provides students the opportunity to learn how to order materials from remote locations.

During this school year, our students ordered over 100 books from other schools.

 

Goals for 2004 – 2005

In a recent survey, local college and university representatives identified research skills they feel students need to succeed in the college environment.  My goal is to help our students develop these skills:

  • to use an online card catalog
     
  • to order materials online from a remote location
     
  • to understand basic database searching techniques, e.g., subject, keyword, Boolean operators, etc.
     
  • to understand the difference between the Internet and Internet delivered materials, i.e., commercial databases on our library webpage
     
  • to evaluate a website
     
  • to develop basic research strategies relevant to particular information needs
     
  • to demonstrate a respect for copyright laws

 

 Consortium Schools
Elder
Hamilton Badin
McAuley
McNicholas
Moeller
Purcell –Marian
Seton

 

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