http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/3356581.htm

http://www.globeandmail.ca/servlet/RTGAMArticleHTMLTemplate/C/20020529/wxlibr?hub=homeBN&tf=tgam%252Frealtime%252Ffullstory.html&cf=tgam/realtime/config-neutral&vg=BigAdVariableGenerator&slug=wxlibr&date=20020529&archive=RTGAM&site=Front&ad_page_name=breakingnews

They might as well just eliminate the library from my old high school... back when I was a student there, I could count on one hand the number of times in a given year the students could visit the thing. You had a place where the teachers would very occasionally decide that the students needed a trip to the library, and if the students didn't need it, you'd spend the whole class period listening to a lecture, and doing classwork until the end of the period. There was no research time set aside in the school day at all, and if you were a bus rider, then forget after school visits too.

I agree with drexle. my High school library was the same way- it wasn't bad for a school library, but good luck finding time to go. Are you going to tell a teacher "can I skip your class to go do research in the library, since after all, we're not doing anything important today"?

school libraries are a relic from the time when there were actually "study halls" and "free periods". as such, I'm all for gutting them. it's like having a gym with free weights and a personal trainer that you can't use during gym class, but is nonetheless "there for you".

I once tried to burn down a school library.
actually I just burned one book but they said I was trying to burn it down.

I actually wouldn't mind a return to things such as free periods during the day for students. Let the ones who want to actually do their school work do it and have the chance to do it right, and the ones who don't want to work probably aren't doing it in class or at home anyways, so how is an extra chunk of unstructured time set aside going to hurt for them?

As it stands though, Libraries in high schools are just dead weight... either work for a real solution towards incorporating them into the students' day, or take a wrecking ball to them. Either one would be a better idea than just letting them sit stagnant like they do.

Part of the problem is that school libraries are pretty limited in terms of size and resources. It would be interesting if they designed new schools such that the library is actually the public library as well (separate outside entrance, etc.). But that probably brings up all kinds of issues in terms of safety of the kids, etc.

Library use was definitely emphasized in my school (and we had the free periods to use it) but the town library had much better books, by an order of magnitude.

In reality, it probably makes sense to move toward online libraries. The technology is certainly there, it just a make it happen.

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It would be interesting if they designed new schools such that the library is actually the public library as well (separate outside entrance, etc.). But that probably brings up all kinds of issues in terms of safety of the kids, etc.

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Wow, very interesting. It's good to see they're trying something. Especially since taxpayer $$ pay for both schools and libraries. If they can get the boards to agree on something, that would be amazing.

My HS library was odd. They had an immense periodicals collection, about 6 shelves of regular books and two shelves of reference books. It's obvious every head librarian has a different idea.

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It's obvious every head librarian has a different idea.

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I used to hang out in my high school library during lunch. For National Library Week, I mixed a little promo thingie that we played over the school PA during the morning announcements. I still have the card the librarian gave me in appreciation.

Then I hit 11th grade, got a girlfriend, and started sneaking off campus to eat lunch at McDonald's and Taco Bell. But I still loitered in the library as much as possible.

I guess I just don't understand this concept of not visiting the library.

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I agree with drexle. my High school library was the same way- it wasn't bad for a school library, but good luck finding time to go. Are you going to tell a teacher "can I skip your class to go do research in the library, since after all, we're not doing anything important today"?

school libraries are a relic from the time when there were actually "study halls" and "free periods". as such, I'm all for gutting them. it's like having a gym with free weights and a personal trainer that you can't use during gym class, but is nonetheless "there for you".

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Info they need? What about books they want?

Reading has always been an enjoyable pastime. (Of course, when the book IT came out, I picked it up from the public library and carried it to class with me, much to the sneers and jeers of my classmates, who only read when forced.)

Ah... memories....

I remember reading Heinlein's "Stranger In a Strange Land" or "Time Enough For Love" during study period in 7th or 8th grade, and having some particulary dumb girl make fun of me for reading "monster books." Since her reading level was probably a few grades behind mine (to say the least), this was irritating, to say the least.

Actually, here is something worse. They just printed up new business cards for everyone in my company, and everyone (myself included) who had been a "Principal Engineer" was suddenly a "Principle Engineer." When I pointed it out I was given all kinds of guff until I showed them the dictionary definitions. And even then they tried to explain it away with "common usage." But they are ordering new cards.

We're all about to get beat up, aren't we?

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Info they need? What about books they want?

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Principle Engineer

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We're all about to get beat up, aren't we?

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I used to hang out in my high school library during lunch.

Then I hit 11th grade, got a girlfriend, and started sneaking off campus to eat lunch at McDonald's and Taco Bell. But I still loitered in the library as much as possible.

I guess I just don't understand this concept of not visiting the library.

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