Report: School libraries in need of new materials Outdated information cited as a concern in presentation to board

Report: School libraries
in need of new materials
Outdated information
cited as a concern in
presentation to board

In response to a survey by a committee of media specialists regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the district’s media center program, a report has been presented to the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education.

Taylor Mills School librarian Joan Brady explained that the report noted improvements as well as some of the needs of the program.

The report was discussed when the board met on Jan. 8.

One significant item which was brought to the board’s attention was the need to constantly update the materials in the media centers.

"You really should be able to read one-fifth of the collection, one-fifth of all resource materials, every year and replenish," said Clark Mills School librarian Constance Hitchcock. "So at the end of five years you know that your collection is up-to-date."

Hitchcock said there are a lot of outdated books on school library shelves which need to be updated.

The librarian noted some older books which described weather forecasting equipment that no longer is used, books that had only white male figures in the pictures and books which contained a variety of outdated information.

"We have to take out a lot of this stuff, and the cost of books has not diminished," said Hitchcock. "Everything keeps rising and rising."

School staff members told the board the state recommends that there should be 25 books per pupil. Most schools have about half that number, they indicated.

Figures provided to the board indicated that the Clark Mills School has about 16,000 books, with 3,000 needing to be replaced for a multitude of reasons. It was suggested that each school should be examined, particularly at budget time, to realistically determine how many books need to be replaced.

At the Pine Brook School, the average publication date for library books at the school was 1972, according to librarian Nicole Midura.

"Pine Brook (which was converted from a junior high school to an elementary school several years ago) inherited many books," Midura said. "We have books that say, ‘We’ll land on the moon,’ with a Milford Brook School sticker inside."

At the new Wemrock Brook School, $110,000 purchased 7,000 books. When the school for fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders opens it is expected to house 500-plus pupils. The state recommendation of 25 books per pupil noted by the media center personnel would necessitate at least 12,500 books in that school.

It was noted by the staff members presenting the media center information that more funds will be needed to build up the collections in most district schools and that each school should be examined on an individual basis.

It was also noted that there is no full-time librarian at the Lafayette Mills School or at the Wemrock Brook School.

Board member Diane Padlo said she didn’t realize the libraries’ needs were so great and said she hoped the board would work to address the issue.

According to the media center personnel, other items that need to be replaced include old filmstrips. These need to be replaced by compact discs or videotapes which cover the same curriculum information, they said.

The report also included many positive aspects of the media center program in place in the district, including the purchase of new computers to run the new catalogue and circulation system; the complete automation of the library system; a network system to access the library media center catalogue from the classroom; CD-ROM towers providing materials for several classes simultaneously; an updated catalogue and circulation system; in-service training for media staff; and online resources provided by the Manalapan-Englishtown Education Foundation and the state.

The report also focuses on the merits of the media center/library programs. According to the program’s description, the acquisition of library skills enables students to become independent learners.

Skills are arranged sequentially through the grades as students learn to locate, evaluate and use the information. Some instruction areas include the automated card catalog, the Dewey Decimal System, print and electronic reference materials, report and research strategies, and use of periodical and biographical sources.

The report notes there is a media center in each of the district’s schools with areas containing an automated card catalog; reference materials, print, nonprint and electronic; and areas for individual study, group instruction, periodicals and work rooms for book processing and repair.

Areas are available in the elementary schools for storytelling, book talks and viewing videos. There are tables for writing and skill lessons.

Students learn to use a variety of information sources: journals, cassettes, CDs, laser disks, newspapers, periodicals, and electronic and on-line sources.

The media centers offer a variety of services to school personnel with special events, reading incentive programs and author visits. There is a professional collection available to staff members, topical bibliography lists, lists of specialized Web sites and database networking availability.

"The media specialists provide a tremendous amount of activities for the effective running of the libraries and their dedication and hard work is to be commented." said Sandra Butler, acting assistant principal, Taylor Mills School and interim library media supervisor. "Their efforts help to create an appreciation of literature among the students and they are also responsible for supplementing and complementing the established curriculum for all the students and faculty within their own buildings."

Board members agreed that the report revealed key information about the media centers.

In her first report to the board, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Maureen Lally congratulated Dr. Robert Weiner, assistant superintendent of curriculum, and Thalia Thompson, district math supervisor, who co-authored an article published in a recent professional journal. The editor of the journal is Lafayette Mills School Principal Scott Taylor.

During the public portion of the meeting, Donna Formoso, PTA president, Taylor Mills School, told the board the PTA is aiming to purchase additional televisions to be mounted in the classrooms. She noted that the Manalapan-Englishtown Education Foundation previously purchased 16 sets. That donation will reduce the cost of acquiring the needed additional sets, she said.

The PTA requested and received approval from the board to move ahead with the purchase.

In other business, the board is seeking a resident of Englishtown to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of Paul DeMarco, who stepped down from the panel in December.

The nine-member board is made up of eight residents of Manalapan and one resident of Englishtown.

The Englishtown resident appointed to the board will serve until April. At that time the term will be up for election.

The date of the annual school board and budget vote is April 16. Englishtown residents will elect one resident to serve on the board and Manalapan residents will elect three board members. The terms held by Manalapan residents Diane Padlo, Martin Spindel and Dennis Walsh will be ending in April. School board terms are for three years.