Montana School Library Media Information

Essential Learning Expectations Documents are linked at www.opi.mt.gov/Accred/cstandards.html and under the Content Standards tab on this page.

Check out the Presentations tab for PowerPoint files from recent workshops.

Montana Library Association SLMD Listserv – let me know if you would like to be added to this low volume, but highly informative listserv. Just email cbartow@mt.gov

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Montana Library Association, School Library Media Division NEEDS YOU!!  Please join or renew your subscription.  See www.mtlib.org for membership information and forms.  School librarians used to be the largest division, but our numbers have decreased.  Help your professional organization provide better support through your membership.   

FRAMING SUCCESS:  Show Me the Data!!!

I think it is important for school librarians to concentrate on our core responsibilities:

We collaborate and coordinate to teach information literacy skills and processes.

We are managers of information and resources.

We are advocates for reading.

If we are successful in meeting these responsibilities, students will have the skills to be confident lifelong learners and competent contributors to workplaces and communities.

How will you measure your own progress toward meeting these core responsibilities?

This will be a major theme as we continue to work on implementing the revised Information Literacy/Library Media and Technology Content Standards.

One program assessment strategy that I encourage each library to consider is collection analysis.  It is amazing how effectively collection analysis data can help guide collection development, planning for instruction and meeting students' reading and research needs.   Average copyright data, Dewey coverage, percentage of fiction in the collection and other data sets provide a clear picture of a library collection.

One collection analysis tool for automated libraries is Follett's Titlewise.   While it is free to use the Titlewise service, even to non-Follett libraries, you must first sign up in Titlewave (www.titlewave.com)  Non-Titlewave users will need to go to  http://www.titlewave.com/login/  and go to the "New to Titlewave" link to request an account.  Schools are encouraged to call the Titlewave Help Desk at 1.888.511.5114 if they need assistance. 

Bound to Stay Bound also offers a collection analysis service.  If you are interested in this service, please visit the Bound To Stay Bound Books Online Bookstore. Go to www.btsb.com and choose Collections.

I would like to encourage as many libraries as possible to perform a collection analysis.  It is not required for school libraries to participate in this opportunity and the opportunity is only for libraries that have automated library systems.

It is my responsibility to assist school libraries, schools and districts as they implement 21st Century learning through the Montana Standards-based Framework. Contact me with any questions you may have about school library curricula or programs.

Please be in touch.

Informationally yours,

Colet (rhymes with Olé)

Facebook:  Colet Bartow