Information Agencies: The Difference Between School and Public Library Systems

1. Information Agencies: The Difference Between School and Public Library Systems Alicia Francis LIBM 6320 Dr. Rickman

2. Two very different librariesin the same town CHSE MEDIA CENTER FAULKNER COUNTY LIBRARY www.cjhs.conwayschools.org Photo courtesy of Alicia Francis Photo courtesy of Alicia Francis

3. Information Agencies: Location, Hours of Operation Conway High East Media Center Faulkner County Library • Location: 1815 Prince Street, Conway, AR 72034 • Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM – 3:27 PM; No free flow on Wednesdays and Fridays 1,6,7 periods • Computer lab usage available only to teachers who reserve the computer lab in advance • Location: 1900 Tyler Street, Conway, AR 72034 • Hours: Monday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Tuesday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Thursday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

4. Information Agencies: Mission Statement Conway High East Media Center Faulkner County Library “The Conway High School East Library Media Center is to establish a partnership between students, teachers, parents, and the community to ensure that patrons can effectively use ideas and information, as well as select, access, and evaluate said information to enhance the development of skills for lifelong learning while supporting the philosophy, aims, and objectives of Conway High School East. • “The Faulkner County Library aims to guide people to the information they seek, regardless of platform, (audio/visual/text/electronic) and give them as many resources as possible so that they can gain access to something they didn’t have access to before.” (T. Nash, personal conversation, September 23, 2011) Photo courtesy of Alicia Francis

5. Information Agencies:Services Conway High East Media Center Faulkner County Library • Circulation • Typing • Read magazines • Researching using books • Researching using computers • Instruction concerning researching via WWW • Check out technology equipment to teachers • Some books in Spanish • Circulation • Typing/Printing • Copy papers • Read Magazines • Researching using books • Researching using computers • Instruction: computer classes, ebook instructions, Spanish classes, etc. • Interlibrary loans • Reserve services • Spanish collection • Braille collection • Government forms (i.e. tax forms) • Microfilm • DVD’s • CD’s • Summer Reading Club for Kids • Video game parties

6. Information Agencies: Special Services Conway High East Media Center Faulkner County Library • Banned book promotion • Battle of the Books competition • Professional Development space provided, if needed • Children’s story time-daily • Art shows • Book sale • Driver’s testing • Books on cassette/CD • Ebook lending • Book clubs • Concerts • Author signings Photo courtesy of Alicia Francis Photo courtesy of Alicia Francis Photo courtesy of Alicia Francis

7. Information Agencies:Populations Served Conway High East Media Center Faulkner County Library • 9th and 10th grade students • Faculty and staff of Conway High East Campus • Students must have a pass from their teacher for circulation/research as well as an ID card • All members of Faulkner County • Must have a library card issued in order to borrow books • Do not have to have library card present in order to check out books

8. Information Agencies: Organizational Structure Conway High East Media Center Faulkner County Library • Sherry Messmer, media specialist • In charge of all aspects of the library. • Travis Barrentine, CHSE principal, is her immediate supervisor • Each division of the library has someone who is in charge (i.e. Tom Nash is supervisor of cataloging; Wade Graham is supervisor of circulation.) • Ruth Voss, director, is supervisor of the following, descending in order of chain-of-command: • Director • Assistant director • Cataloging • Circulation

9. Information Agencies: Professional Training Conway High East Media Center Faulkner County Library • The Media Center specialist must have a master’s degree in Library Media Science and: • Passed Praxis II • Two years’ classroom experience • Ruth Voss, director, has a master’s degree in Library Media Science; however, all other positions vary in training. • All full-time paraprofessionals must earn 3 continuing credits per year. • Most employees have received on-the-job training as the extent of their professional training.

10. Information Agencies: Diversity Conway High East Media Center Faulkner County Library • Spacious layout for wheelchair accessibility • Elevator access since LMC is on top floor • Braille books available • Wheelchairs available • Wheelchair accessible (i.e. ramps, bathrooms, card catalog on top floor) • Large magnifying machine to help the seeing-impaired patrons. Photo courtesy of Alicia Francis Photo courtesy of Alicia Francis

11. Information Agencies: Surprises Conway High East Media Center Faulkner County Library • Paraprofessionals were removed from the all media centers 4 years ago, leaving all the workload on one person’s shoulders. • Donors and volunteers are what drives the Faulkner County Library. Recently, an anonymous donor gave a large magnifying machine for the seeing impaired, an expensive piece of technology. Photo courtesy of Alicia Francis Photo courtesy of Alicia Francis

12. References Conway High School East Campus photo. Retrieved September 23, 2011, from: http://cjhs.conwayschools.org/ Francis, A. (Personal Photographs). September 20, 2011. “Faulkner County Library”. [Photographs], Conway, Arkansas. Francis, A. (Personal Photographs). September 22, 011. “CHSE Media Center”. [Photographs], Conway, Arkansas.