Week 5 Blog post

This week I found an article that involves schools and technology, but focuses more on how we can use school resources at home via technology. 'Checking Out' Library Books from Home includes information about a school district in Texas that has an electronic library system for "checking out" books from the school library. The days of your children coming home only to say "I forgot my library book at school, and I need it for a project due tomorrow" are over.

According to the article, "the school system did not have to buy any additional hardware and does not have to pay annual fees to provide the service." The collection is not limited to books for students. There are also many professional books that teachers can use for lesson planning.

It seems like now that the internet has become so popular and easy to use, students have strayed away from using the books in our library. With this online book system students can search using the computer and pull the information they need off of the internet, while having the security of knowing that the information is accurate.

This system can be accessed from any computer (at school or home) and is not limited to the students. Teachers and community members can utilize this system as well. The program will allow the user to print portions of an e-book, but will prevent someone from printing an entire book.

It sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? If this program doesn't cost anything extra as stated in the article, why isn't it used by more school districts? This article was written in 2002 and here we are 5 years later and I've never heard of anyone using this system....I wonder why that is?!

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Comment by Kristen Salamone on December 1, 2007 at 1:12pm: Michaelene,
Great blog! I wish that someone could answer your question about why this technology is not being used in other districts! I know that in my district the students would benefit greatly from this technology. Our library, at the middle school, is not very extensive. If the students could have access to the highschool library, the amount of research they could get done would be outstanding. Instead, I have them researching credible online sources. Thanks for bringing this option to light, maybe if the administration hears about this program, they will think about utilizing it! Great job!

Comment by Julie Fleet on December 2, 2007 at 1:24pm: Michaelene,
Wow, I can't believe that this program is free and no one uses it. At my school we make our seniors use library books as resources for their senior project. It is a requirement that they use at least two library books for information. It is crazy how much the internet is used for information, but half the time you are not sure if it is correct. This "Checking Out" library program sounds interesting and useful. I like the idea of being able to view library books online. It makes me feel that the information is more accurate. It is a shame no one really knows about it in schools or even uses it. Well, now that I know I am going to ask my schools librarian this week if she knows anything about this program!
-Julie

Week 5 Blog post

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