Digital Library Services for Children:Digital Library Services for Children: 13,000 students tell their story13,000 students tell their story

Dr Ross J ToddDr Ross J ToddDirector of Research CISSLDirector of Research CISSL

Rutgers, the State University Rutgers, the State University of New Jerseyof New Jersey

rtodd@scils.rutgers.edurtodd@scils.rutgers.eduwww.cissl.scils.rutgers.eduwww.cissl.scils.rutgers.edu

www.scils.rutgers.edu/~rtoddwww.scils.rutgers.edu/~rtodd

Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries

Students on the WWWStudents on the WWW According to Apple ComputersAccording to Apple Computers ... ...

From the days when paper replaced From the days when paper replaced slates in schools, our children have slates in schools, our children have

been flag bearers in the onward march been flag bearers in the onward march of technology. Today they’re at the of technology. Today they’re at the forefront of the computer revolution forefront of the computer revolution

and taking it all in their stride ….and taking it all in their stride ….

The Information EnvironmentThe Information Environment

from print from print digital digitalfrom local from local international internationalfrom secure from secure uncertain uncertainfrom poverty from poverty overload overloadfrom service from service empowerment empowerment

WHY DO WE HAVE DIGITAL WHY DO WE HAVE DIGITAL LIBRARIESLIBRARIES

INFORMATIONINFORMATION

KNOWLEDGEKNOWLEDGE

Developing knowledge and understanding

The Information-to-Knowledge ChallengeThe Information-to-Knowledge Challenge

Now I am really

confused!

The Information-to-Knowledge ChallengeThe Information-to-Knowledge Challenge

NoWonder

I amlost!

The Moon or a Studio in the Nevada The Moon or a Studio in the Nevada Desert?Desert?

http://www.primeline-america.com/moon-ldg/http://www.primeline-america.com/moon-ldg/

Can we believe what we see?Can we believe what we see? http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blphoto-wtc.htmhttp://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blphoto-wtc.htm

Key QuestionsKey Questions

What is an effective library?What is an effective library?

How do libraries help people?How do libraries help people?

How do effective school How do effective school libraries help kids?libraries help kids?

13123 students tell us!13123 students tell us!http://www.oelma.org/studentlearning.htmhttp://www.oelma.org/studentlearning.htm

““Student learning through Ohio Student learning through Ohio School Libraries”School Libraries”

Key question:Key question: How do effective school libraries How do effective school libraries helphelp students? students?

Provide statewide data on Provide statewide data on best practicesbest practices in school in school libraries in the information / technology age libraries in the information / technology age

Encourage Encourage continuous improvementcontinuous improvement in school in school library serviceslibrary services

Get school communities Get school communities talkingtalking about the value of about the value of effective school librarieseffective school libraries

““Student Learning Through Ohio Student Learning Through Ohio School Libraries”School Libraries”

Funded by State Library of Ohio ($80,000)Funded by State Library of Ohio ($80,000)

39 “effective” school libraries chosen39 “effective” school libraries chosen

Students from Grades 3 – 12 completed surveyStudents from Grades 3 – 12 completed survey

Web-based data collection Data collected from 28Web-based data collection Data collected from 28thth April to early June 2003April to early June 2003

13,123 valid student responses13,123 valid student responses

879 teacher / administrator responses879 teacher / administrator responses

Getting The DataGetting The Data

2 Instruments2 InstrumentsImpacts on Learning Survey (Students)Impacts on Learning Survey (Students)Perceptions of Learning Impacts (Faculty)Perceptions of Learning Impacts (Faculty)

Students asked to rate 48 statements about how the school library Students asked to rate 48 statements about how the school library helps themhelps them ☺☺☺☺ = most helpful (you think you got a

great amount of help) ☺☺☺ = quite helpful (you think you got a good

amount of help)

☺☺ = some help (the help you got was OK, so so)

☺ = a little help (you think you got just a bit of help)

If you do not know an answer, or if something does not apply to you, click the box "Does not apply".

Write a small story about one instance of help they got Write a small story about one instance of help they got from the school libraryfrom the school library

STORY: Critical IncidentSTORY: Critical Incident

““Now, remember one time when the Now, remember one time when the school library really helped you. Write school library really helped you. Write

about the help that you got, and what you about the help that you got, and what you were able to do because of it”were able to do because of it”

10,315 Stories10,315 Stories

7 Sets of “help”7 Sets of “help”48 “helps” statements48 “helps” statements

1.1. how helpful the school library is with getting how helpful the school library is with getting information you needinformation you need

2.2. how helpful the school library is with using the how helpful the school library is with using the information to complete your school workinformation to complete your school work

3.3. How helpful the school library is with your school How helpful the school library is with your school work in general (knowledge building, knowledge work in general (knowledge building, knowledge outcomes)outcomes)

4.4. How helpful the school library is with using computers How helpful the school library is with using computers in the library, at school, and at homein the library, at school, and at home

5.5. How helpful the school library is to you with your How helpful the school library is to you with your general reading interestsgeneral reading interests

6.6. How helpful the school library is to you when you are How helpful the school library is to you when you are not at school (independent learning)not at school (independent learning)

7.7. General school aspects –Academic AchievementGeneral school aspects –Academic Achievement

EXAMPLES OF STATEMENTS

11. The school library has helped me know the different steps in finding and using information

14. The school library has helped me know when I find good information

21. The school library has helped me know how to use the different kinds of information sources (such as books, magazine, CDs, websites, videos)

24. The school library has helped me put all the ideas together for my topics

38. The school library has helped me figure out my own opinions on things

44. The school library has helped me search the Internet better

45. The school library has helped me be more careful about information I find on the Internet

51. The school library has helped me find stories I like

52. The school library has helped me read more

67. The school library has helped me when I have a personal concern or issue

71. The school library has helped me do my school work better

72. The school library has helped me get better grades on my projects and assignments

73. The school library has helped me get better grades on tests and quizzes

Sample CharacteristicsSample Characteristics

Boys 48.0%Boys 48.0%Girls 51.1%Girls 51.1%Ages 7 – 20Ages 7 – 20

Grades 3 –5 17%Grades 3 –5 17%Grades 6 – 9 45%Grades 6 – 9 45%

Grades 10 – 12 38%Grades 10 – 12 38%White 78.5%, African-American 5%White 78.5%, African-American 5%Urban/Suburban 81%, Rural 10 %Urban/Suburban 81%, Rural 10 %

BLOCK MEAN F MEAN S RANKS

1 GETTING INFORMATION

3.2103 2.535 1S 2F

4 COMPUTERS 3.3081 2.529 2S 1F

2 USING INFORMATION 2.7420 2.251 3S 3F

3 KNOWLEDGE BUILDING

2.5080 2.070 4S 6F

7 ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

2.5283 1.966 5S 5F

5 READING 2.6553 1.907 6S 4F

6 INDEPENDENT LEARNING

2.3119 1.772 7S 7F

Comparison of Mean Scores

Block 4. How helpful the school library is with using computers in the library, at school, and at home

Mosthelpful

Quitehelpful

Somehelp

A littlehelp

Does not

apply

41. Computers in the school library have helped me do my school work better.

41.6 24.0 14.3 12.5 7.6

42. The school library has got me more interested in computers.

24.9 20.5 18.2 20.2 16.1

43. Computers have helped me find information inside and outside of the school library.

49.0 21.4 13.8 10.1 5.7

44. The school library has helped me search the Internet better.

33.2 23.0 16.9 16.5 10.4

45. The school library has helped me be more careful about information I find on the Internet.

24.8 22.7 18.9 19.2 14.3

46. Computer programs (like PowerPoint, Word, and Excel) in the school library help me do my school work.

39.7 20.8 14.3 12.7 12.5

47. The school library has helped me feel better about using computers to do my school work.

29.5 22.3 17.0 17.0 14.2

The School Library as a Digital Library: The School Library as a Digital Library: Dynamic Agent of LearningDynamic Agent of Learning

1.1. Providing access to Providing access to information resources:information resources: understanding navigation between databases, understanding navigation between databases, portals, individual sources portals, individual sources (Lost in Cyberspace)(Lost in Cyberspace)

2.2. Providing access to Providing access to multiple viewpointsmultiple viewpoints from from diverse contexts and in diverse formats diverse contexts and in diverse formats (Access (Access to multiple viewpoints)to multiple viewpoints)

3.3. Engaging students in an active process of Engaging students in an active process of building their own understanding and knowledge building their own understanding and knowledge through use of technologythrough use of technology. .

4.4. Instructional interventionInstructional intervention: Classes in information : Classes in information skills and creating knowledge, and developing skills and creating knowledge, and developing technical skills with use of technologytechnical skills with use of technology

5.5. Library as Library as rescue agentrescue agent for technical problems for technical problems

INFORMATION LITERACYINFORMATION LITERACY

The intellectual scaffolds for effective The intellectual scaffolds for effective engagement and utilisation of engagement and utilisation of

information in all its forms (electronic, information in all its forms (electronic, print, popular culture) and for print, popular culture) and for

constructing sense, understanding and constructing sense, understanding and new knowledge.new knowledge.

These are skills, attitudes, values;These are skills, attitudes, values;cognitive, behavioural, affectivecognitive, behavioural, affective

INFORMATION SCAFFOLDSINFORMATION SCAFFOLDSKnow all the steps of doing good research, being a Know all the steps of doing good research, being a good researcher and navigating both print and good researcher and navigating both print and digital formatsdigital formatsFinding, locating, selecting, organizing and Finding, locating, selecting, organizing and evaluating information – from print and digital evaluating information – from print and digital environmentsenvironmentsTechnical skills of web searching and evaluating Technical skills of web searching and evaluating web informationweb informationNote taking, sorting ideas, structuring knowledge, Note taking, sorting ideas, structuring knowledge, presenting ideas and using technical tools to presenting ideas and using technical tools to facilitate thisfacilitate thisEthical use of information: “manipulating” rather Ethical use of information: “manipulating” rather than “transporting”than “transporting”

INDEPENDENT LEARNING: INDEPENDENT LEARNING: “Self-Help”“Self-Help”

““Helps” match Users’ needs: “I need to do this Helps” match Users’ needs: “I need to do this assignment in this kind of way and I need to get a good assignment in this kind of way and I need to get a good grade” grade” Access to resources: diversity of ideas, and finding ways Access to resources: diversity of ideas, and finding ways around and through diversity of ideasaround and through diversity of ideasAccess to pathways for locating diverse resources – Access to pathways for locating diverse resources – search by perspective, viewpointsearch by perspective, viewpointAccess to searching strategiesAccess to searching strategiesAccess to tools to evaluate informationAccess to tools to evaluate informationAccess to tools to produce information productsAccess to tools to produce information productsAccess to production “tips” eg Powerpoint: tips to Access to production “tips” eg Powerpoint: tips to creating a “good “ presentationcreating a “good “ presentationAccess to “help” / “rescue” expertiseAccess to “help” / “rescue” expertise

KEYS TO SUCCESSKEYS TO SUCCESS

Mediation: “human intervention to assist information seeking and learning from information access and use. … A mediator implies a person who assists, guides, enables, and otherwise intervenes in another person’s information search process” (Kuhlthau, 2004, p 107).

Intervention: centers on the way in which “mediators become involved in the constructive process of another person … in information seeking and use” (Kuhlthau, 204, p. 127).

Student VoicesStudent Voices

1532 The school librarians don’t help me at all like they make 1532 The school librarians don’t help me at all like they make me do all the stuff myself and wont tell me where the things me do all the stuff myself and wont tell me where the things are even when I already looked – they show me and make me are even when I already looked – they show me and make me learn how to find the stuff myself and its hard work!!!! You learn how to find the stuff myself and its hard work!!!! You gotta use your brain, they saygotta use your brain, they say

1015 I I would have never have found the sources I needed for 1015 I I would have never have found the sources I needed for the paper if not for the school library, the public library, and the paper if not for the school library, the public library, and the helpful people who staff those places. They even showed the helpful people who staff those places. They even showed me steps to work through to do the research and complete it. me steps to work through to do the research and complete it. They ran some classes specifically for us and they were very They ran some classes specifically for us and they were very very very helpfulvery very helpful

1075 Well one time was when we had to do a report on 1075 Well one time was when we had to do a report on Animals and I had no clue how to find information about my Animals and I had no clue how to find information about my animal. So Mrs. X helped me find the information on the animal. So Mrs. X helped me find the information on the computer. On the internet if its true or false – to learn that is computer. On the internet if its true or false – to learn that is very important at school.very important at school.

The Students’ VoicesThe Students’ Voices33 the school library helped to teach me about the internet. I 33 the school library helped to teach me about the internet. I learned how to surf faster and more proficient than I ever learned how to surf faster and more proficient than I ever accomplished before hand. I learned about citing pages and what accomplished before hand. I learned about citing pages and what to look for when surfing to make the most of what little time I have to look for when surfing to make the most of what little time I have to spare, which in the long run helps out with research projects to spare, which in the long run helps out with research projects and getting better grades for them.and getting better grades for them.

1491 When we came in the library in the beginning of the year and 1491 When we came in the library in the beginning of the year and had a little review lesson about the computers, that really helped had a little review lesson about the computers, that really helped me do my school work. Even though I already knew how to use the me do my school work. Even though I already knew how to use the computers, it really made it even easier to do my word even better computers, it really made it even easier to do my word even better than before I had this class as I learned about good and bad web than before I had this class as I learned about good and bad web sites. A couple of weeks ago when I came in to get some science sites. A couple of weeks ago when I came in to get some science information, I was able to get my information very fast and easy.information, I was able to get my information very fast and easy.

Students’ VoicesStudents’ Voices8057 We have had some classes on using the computers in the 8057 We have had some classes on using the computers in the library to search for information on the web and also using the library to search for information on the web and also using the CDs. This is extremely helpful to me as it ensures I have the CDs. This is extremely helpful to me as it ensures I have the best info to do my assessment projects and papers and get best info to do my assessment projects and papers and get good grades on them which is important for my futuregood grades on them which is important for my future

5572 One time when I was in the library and they helped me find 5572 One time when I was in the library and they helped me find information about Native Americans. I don’t have a computer at information about Native Americans. I don’t have a computer at home, and feel bad because I’m not good at using them like home, and feel bad because I’m not good at using them like some others. The library lady has taken the time to show me some others. The library lady has taken the time to show me how to use them better and that makes me feel better toohow to use them better and that makes me feel better too

7761 my brother thinks I am lousy at the computer and so I 7761 my brother thinks I am lousy at the computer and so I come to the library to find out how to use them better and faster come to the library to find out how to use them better and faster and not feel bad about itand not feel bad about it

Students’ VoicesStudents’ Voices2116 When I had a paper for US History on the 2116 When I had a paper for US History on the 1950's, the different search engines that we were 1950's, the different search engines that we were able to access through the school library able to access through the school library computers were very helpful. We were taught how computers were very helpful. We were taught how to use them, and I was able to get lots of to use them, and I was able to get lots of information to help make my paper the best that it information to help make my paper the best that it could have been and do the paper more quickly. could have been and do the paper more quickly.

8034 It helped me to finish an essay on genetics. I 8034 It helped me to finish an essay on genetics. I could search the web for a heap of information, and could search the web for a heap of information, and the librarian taught us how to be good information the librarian taught us how to be good information detectives in getting the good stuff rather than the detectives in getting the good stuff rather than the rubbishrubbish

Students’ VoicesStudents’ Voices1236 The one time I remember when the school library 1236 The one time I remember when the school library helped me is when we learned about places you can go helped me is when we learned about places you can go on the internet for information. They told us some sites on the internet for information. They told us some sites to go to like the Infonet or infoOhio. They taught us to go to like the Infonet or infoOhio. They taught us that we can even do this at home too which I often do that we can even do this at home too which I often do now. This is how the school library has helped me.now. This is how the school library has helped me.

6582 Our library is phenomenal at culling online 6582 Our library is phenomenal at culling online resources. We subscribe to many online collections of resources. We subscribe to many online collections of magazine and newspaper articles. In addition, the magazine and newspaper articles. In addition, the school library has opened up many possibilities school library has opened up many possibilities available through online resources at the local public available through online resources at the local public library, such as EBSCOhost or Proquest. These library, such as EBSCOhost or Proquest. These resources have been invaluable in many projects, resources have been invaluable in many projects, when called upon to justify the credibility of an author when called upon to justify the credibility of an author or book.or book.

The Students’ VoicesThe Students’ Voices3442 It was when I was working on my research project for I think my 3442 It was when I was working on my research project for I think my eleventh grade English .The library teacher guided me through certain eleventh grade English .The library teacher guided me through certain websites to find what I was looking for. Our classes have helped us find websites to find what I was looking for. Our classes have helped us find internet stuff easier. We learned about how the different search engines internet stuff easier. We learned about how the different search engines work and to know they work differently and it is not just putting words in work and to know they work differently and it is not just putting words in and pressing buttons and pressing buttons

3863 The library has helped me learn how to use the internet better and 3863 The library has helped me learn how to use the internet better and when my printer at home is broken, its nice to come to library and print the when my printer at home is broken, its nice to come to library and print the paper fast and easy. I would say I have used the library for research paper paper fast and easy. I would say I have used the library for research paper and essay which has helped a great deal by teaching the ways to do good and essay which has helped a great deal by teaching the ways to do good research.research.

7447 The library has helped me most with the internet. The library has 7447 The library has helped me most with the internet. The library has taught me how to limit my search and has shown me some neat websites.taught me how to limit my search and has shown me some neat websites.

Some Interesting Challenges for Some Interesting Challenges for Digital ServicesDigital Services

1. Girls consider school libraries more helpful than boys in most 1. Girls consider school libraries more helpful than boys in most of the categories. of the categories. Boys and TechnologyBoys and Technology

2.2. Helps are strongest in the elementary school, with a decrease Helps are strongest in the elementary school, with a decrease shown in mean scores as students progress through shown in mean scores as students progress through schooling. schooling. Starting earlyStarting early

3.3. African American students find the school library to be African American students find the school library to be

significantly more helpful when they are learning away from significantly more helpful when they are learning away from school, and in terms of the overall perceptions of achievement.school, and in terms of the overall perceptions of achievement.No Child Left BehindNo Child Left Behind

4.4. Rural schools clearly value the help provided by school Rural schools clearly value the help provided by school libraries in relation to access to information technology libraries in relation to access to information technology through the school library in and beyond the school, as well as through the school library in and beyond the school, as well as the instructional intervention in the development of technical the instructional intervention in the development of technical literacy. literacy. Information anytime, anywhereInformation anytime, anywhere

““It is hard to set in It is hard to set in motion what is still, or motion what is still, or

to stop what is in to stop what is in motion”motion”

Cobham Brewer 1810–1897Cobham Brewer 1810–1897Dictionary of Phrase and Dictionary of Phrase and

FableFable