Emily Jubert-Sand

September 22, 2016

LM-5030-OL Reference and Research

Reference Collection Analysis Middle School Media Center

Authority:
All of the reference sources in this middle school library are from reputable companies.
Some of these publishers include World Book, Grolier, Gale, CultureGrams,
Encyclopedia Britannica, Dorling Kindersley, and National Geographic.
Curriculum demands:
The reference print collection in our library supports MOST of the curriculum demands
of the school. There are far more encyclopedic references to support American History
(a solely grade 8 subject), and Life Science (which crosses two grade levels). There
are dictionaries and atlases in Spanish, as well as Portuguese. Many types of atlases
are contained in a separate section, including items that coordinate with particular
classroom instructional units, an example being National Geographics Historical Atlas
of the United States. We also have a large print atlas. Also, there are class sets of
almanacs for use with large groups, and three sets of encyclopedias for general
reference.
Not all subjects are covered, a general weakness being with Economics and current
resources regarding careers and job outlook. Although there are much for resources in
the collection, too much of it is outdated. We still have Whites Latin Dictionary 1960,
and The All American College Dictionary 1964.
Subscriptions:
Students have access to EBSCO, CultureGrams, Groiler online Encyclopedia and
NoodleBib for citation help. Within the EBSCO umbrella, a new research interface
called Explora has been introduced. This reference resource is essentially a one stop
shop for middle school students, allowing students to access encyclopedia references,
videos, sound clips, maps and articles in one source. The library also subscribes to the
local newspaper. These subscriptions offer translation, text to speech, and web links,
videos and related articles. There are also titles available in EBook format from Gale,
such as The Industrial Revolution reference library. Students will certainly use these
electronic resources to get the most current information in this library.
Currency and Balance:
Much of the print collection is outdated, and needs weeding. The most current print
encyclopedia was acquired in 2002, and the most current behind that is from 1998 and
1996. The class set of almanacs is from 2008 and the newest individual almanacs are
from 2011. We do have a few individual titles that are were printed within the last 5
years that students use often, such as National Geographic Kids United States Atlas.
We have a total of 367 reference items, and the average age is 1994. This area will be
weeded this year, so number of titles will drop dramatically.
The collection is balanced with regards to access to information about cultural, religious,
demographic, and spatial diversity. There are many digital resources that students can
use to find information, and a few specific texts to support from a historical perspective.
With relation to current events, students rely on electronic sources and newspaper
articles.
The subscriptions are maintained to be current, and have proved to be a students first
point of reference.
Age Appropriateness
The collection is geared toward a middle school audience. The content of the print
sources contain age appropriate illustrations, maps, and graphics. We also have some
books that are classified as grades 3-6, and 5-10 to serve all levels in a school where
there are so many different audiences. Electronic references are geared towards
grades 5 and up.
Physical Characteristics:
The print reference section contains more old texts than new, and some books show
wear from years of use. The encyclopedias have begun to yellow. Books that have
been repaired too many times are weeded and replaced.
How do we choose?
Database selections are based upon curriculum demand and teacher request. A pilot
program is set up, and selection is based on student and teacher feedback. Print
reference materials are chosen based on our district policy, and media specialist choice.
The media specialist will conducted ongoing updating of materials on a consistent basis,
and decide which major, focused updates need to be made yearly.
Budget and Space:
This middle school library has an overflow of sets of encyclopedias, so shelf space is at
a minimum. It is necessary to weed the reference collection, which will free up space.
It is unrealistic to plan to replace all reference sets due to budget constraints, however
focused purchasing over the next few years will build the collection. Purchasing new
electronic reference materials will be imperative, especially as we introduce new
computers to the library and expand after hours times. It is also more cost efficient than
purchasing new print reference resources every few years.
Next Steps:
The reference section in this library is in serious need of weeding. Also, new databases
and electronic resources need to be chosen, tested and piloted to bring currency to the
collection with the most cost effective means. All materials need to be continued to be
evaluated for physical condition and accuracy.

References:
Donham, J., (2013) Enhancing teaching and learning: A leadership guide for the school
librarian (3rd ed) Chicago: Neal-Schuman

Harper, M., (2011) Reference sources and services for youth New York: Neal-Schuman