Lesson no. 11 The Library Catalogue

I feel like this blog is starting to sound a bit like 'Anica's Lamentations'.  There so much work needed to be done in our library to get it up to date that it's a little overwhelming.  As I mentioned in Assignment 3 our OPAC is definitely lacking in many areas.  The former librarian did not feel comfortable with technology and was afraid to change programs.  Now that I'm on the scene, I'm hoping my administrator will support my requests for updates and changes in technology.

Our current OPAC has been doing the most basic of jobs in identifying, locating and collating the resources.  However it is not very user-friendly and is far too basic.  After having done some investigating on different OPAC systems I'm even more convinced that we need to change and the sooner the better.  In our lesson it was said that an OPAC should be a tool to help students master information literacy skills. I can't see myself using our current OPAC system for improving these skills.

I found the information below from our lesson to be quite interesting and plan on sharing it with my administrator.

            Automated library management systems can support resource-based learning and teaching and student information literacy by:

• Providing access to all learning resources in the system.

• Allowing students and staff to use a variety of search strategies to find appropriate resources

• Promoting effective circulation of resources and resource sharing.

• Encouraging staff and students to access a broad range of age/grade appropriate print, non-print, electronic and digital resources from a variety of sources

• Providing an effective option for identifying and booking or reserving learning resources from other parts of the school or from home.

• (Excerpted from: Achieving Information Literacy)

Unfortunately my OPAC meets very few of the criteria listed above.  For me, the main goal of my OPAC is to help students and teachers to feel confident in searching for books themselves.  The previous librarian didn't want anyone messing up her shelves so she took all the non-fiction books out herself and handed them out.  Now I'm running into problems with trying to get the teachers to come to the library themselves to choose books.  There have been some pretty heated moments as some teachers in my school feel that it is my job to pull books from the shelves.  I'm convinced that with proper signage and a proper OPAC system in place, the teachers and students will be willing to learn how to access the appropriate information and to feel comfortable to come themselves to find what they need.