The School Library of Tomorrow Is Here Today
By: Dan Weber
As students around the world become increasingly tech-savvy and dependent on digital media for information, the idea of a traditional library, lined with thousands of textbooks and novels, is rapidly becoming a thing of the past.
Computers have been a staple in most libraries for the past couple decades as the Dewey Decimal System was transferred from paper cards to digital files, but it is only recently that the majority of the information contained in books is being kept on a hard drive instead of a book shelf.
Walk into just about any school library in America and you may have to stop to ask yourself the question, “Is this a library or a computer lab?” In many cases, the library area serves as both computer lab and library, but, oftentimes, the large number of computers found within a library is simply based on the need to replace books with digital resources.
When an entire collection of encyclopedias or your favorite series of novels can be stored on a flash drive the size of a key, it is easy to see why allocating more space for computers in a library and less space for bookshelves makes a lot of sense.
One sector of business that has seen an unexpected boom due to the digital switch is school furniture companies, specifically those that specialize in computer desks and tables.
The landscape of the library is definitely changing. Colleges and universities were the first to heavily integrate computers into the library environment, but K-12 was soon to follow. Libraries are now at the forefront of experimenting with and adopting new technology, and the role of books has become the supplement to the technology, rather than the other way around. The notion of a library as a strictly physical collection of books is no longer a reality.
Although there is no indication that books will be completely disappearing from schools and libraries anytime soon, the space being allocated for them is shrinking on a daily basis. While the increase in computer usage has boosted business for computer manufacturers and software developers, book publishing giants have had to adjust their business models to accommodate the change. It is increasingly rare to see any book, textbook or otherwise, that does not also include online resources or a CD-ROM.
Many schools are going as far as to provide students with popular e-book reading devices, such as the Kindle, instead of assigning five different textbooks and novels that have to be carried from one location to the next.
Not only does new technology open up new ways of learning, it also changes the way we collect and distribute information. A project that once may have required countless hours of reading reference guides while physically in the library can now be referenced online at home or anywhere a laptop can travel.
A Better Way to Learn
Studies have shown that digital resources—such as video clips, audio, animated images, and simulations—improve student learning to such a high degree that the transition from traditional textbook to computer-aided learning seems natural. Not only are supplementary resources available to complement the information found in the textbooks, but the books themselves are being converted into digital files that can be accessed by multiple users simultaneously.
The interactive nature of reading and learning on a computer has shown positive effects beyond the learning curve, too. Students tend to be more engaged, group projects are easier to coordinate, and the technology speaks to those who have been raised in an environment where computers are a part of everyday life.
When the same device can be used to research, read books, reference and communicate with peers, productivity and interest in learning tends to increase tremendously. The combination of Internet resources and information programmed directly onto the desktops of library computers has opened up an immense field of information for students who are willing to take advantage of the incredible resources.
New tools and processes have ignited creative content, specialized and personalized services for schools, and exciting new techniques for dealing with voluminous information flows. Now user-generated content in conjunction with new tools is shaping the way students learn and share information with others.
Teachers no longer have to worry about not having enough textbooks available to accommodate the amount of students because books can be accessed digitally and by unlimited users at the same time. Limited budget are less of a concern, as the need to purchase volumes of textbooks is no longer a requirement. With widespread adoption of the Internet as a forum to exchange lessons and information, the books that were once a requirement are quickly becoming an afterthought.
The overwhelming benefits of a library that doubles as an information-rich computer lab are clear.
The main concern still harbored, though, is the preservation of the books that still have a very serious and necessary place in schools, libraries, and society as a whole. It is easy to take for granted the amount of time and labor that goes into creating a volume of work when it can be accessed, condensed, transferred, and downloaded with the click of a mouse.
One aspect of a library that will not soon be replaced by a computer is the satisfaction of flipping through the pages of a much-used textbook or novel.
A balance of the utilization of new technology and respect for the steps in history that made it all possible will always have a place in the future of education.
Dan Weber is vice president of marketing for Versa Products, Inc., www.VersaTables.com.
Product Roundup
Buckstaff Cubix Table and Stools
The Buckstaff Company recently introduced its Cubix Table and Stools. This table and stool set is designed for the K-12 market, distinctive with contemporary styling and unique stool storage features. The table features several tabletop surface options, including game-top laminates or dry-erase laminates. The specially designed table features an X-base for stability and storage for the stools. The Cubix is designed for casual gathering, story-telling, and children’s reading areas.
www.buckstaff.com
Hi-Lo Carrel by Smith Carrel
The Hi-Lo Carrel by Smith Carrel is 30 inches deep by 31 inches wide and adjusts from a user-friendly keyboard height of 27 inches to a standing Kiosk height of 39 inches in 1-inch increments. It is available in three popular Wilsonart colors. It includes two 3-inch-diameter cutouts for wiring along with a CPU holder (shelf) located under the work surface, 9 inches deep by 29 inches wide, with 16 1/4-inch height clearance for large CPUs.
www.smithcarrel.com
New Display Tool from The Miller Group
The Miller Group has introduced large-format, wall-mounted frames for featured events and information. The panels are ideal for libraries and anyplace you want to draw the immediate attention of passers-by. Each sturdy steel frame provides an ample 48x84-inch display area with a choice of two display surfaces. The fabric option is available in nine attractive colors. Metal parts have a powder-coated finish in choice of silvervein, black, white, gray, reflective silver, or beige. Wall brackets allow panels to be positioned horizontally or vertically.
www.miller-group.com
Jonti-Craft Horseshoe Table
Jonti-Craft has added the horseshoe table to its expansive line-up of school tables. This design helps direct student focus on the teacher, encouraging enhanced attention and interaction. Like all of Jonti-Craft’s KYDZ Activity Tables, the horseshoe table is available in multiple color options – including new orange edgebanding as well as a maple laminate surface. These tables are available in three different adjustable leg heights that range from the smallest of children through adults.
www.jonti-craft.com
furniture4schools
furniture4schools, a division of J.R., Inc., has been in business for more than 36 years and is a leading supplier of furniture to public and private schools all over the country. They carry all the most popular manufacturers and offer outstanding customer service, pricing, and warranties. They carry a full line of library furniture, including shelving with either wood or metal shelves, magazine and newspaper shelving, card files, book trucks, tables, chairs, circulation desks, and lounge furniture.
www.furniture4schools.com
Norsons Genuine Wood Bookcases
Norsons Genuine Wood Bookcases offer the natural beauty of the Contemporary bookcase series in California Oak featuring square edge styling, furniture finished and veneered on all visible surfaces. You have a choice of adjustable NOVACORE shelf, rated at 100-pound capacity, or the Excalibur (lumbercore) shelf, rated at 150-pound capacity per shelf. They are available in five standard genuine wood veneer finishes: Walnut (WB), California Oak (COB), Natural Oak (OB), Mahogany (MH), and Medium Cherry (MC).
www.norsonsindustries.com
