Process for Gathering Information for Technology Expenditures
How should a group of Librarians go about determining how to spend money for technology?
Assume a Bond has passed and approximately $100,000 was available for Elementary Libraries, $200,000 was available for Middle School Libraries, and $300,000 was available for High School Libraries.
What process could be used to gather input from all stakeholders?
This information gathering would NOT be groups planning exactly what will be added to any one particular Library, but an attempt to gather suggestions and ideas from stakeholders. The final allotment would be an accumulation of all the information as tempered by the Library Information Services Department.
Should Librarians talk to teacher to ask them what technology they would like to see in the Library? Should Librarians ask informally or put together a formal committee to discuss the options? Maybe these are the questions the Librarians could ask the teachers:
- What technology would you want to see used by students in the Library?
- What would you want students to be able to do with technology in the Library?
- To meet the flexible technology needs of the students in the Library would you rather see students use laptops or desktops?
- What multimedia would you like students to be able to create in the Library?
Should Librarians gather input from parents, volunteers, and/or community members about the expectations of technology and its use in the Library? If so, should Librarians gather this information informally or ask to present at a PTA meeting or ask the PTA to form a Library Technology Recommendation Advisory Task Force?
Should Librarians gather information from students? Should Librarians ask students informally or create a Student Library Technology Recommendation Advisory Task Force?
Should Librarians meet in small grade level groups (HS, MS, Elementary [east and west]) with the Director to discuss the options for technology?
Should anonymous online surveys be made available to Librarians to be able to express their opinions with out any hesitancy?
Or should all the above be the correct answer? Are there more ways to gather information?
If all the above were used, could the information be gathered and reported by Spring Break?
What other questions need to be asked? What other methods of information gathering aught to be used?
Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated?
Thanks in advance.
December 6th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Hmmm… interesting questions. I’m all for a survey. I love those things. I don’t think meeting East and West is good. It makes things seem divided, even if they aren’t. Just my personal opinion. Asking teachers is interesting, but I bet you’d get some great answers and some cruddy ones, depending on how the teacher sees the library at their particular school. I definitely think the info could be gathered by Spring Break. I already know what I think I need – I probably don’t even know what I want. That’s what a trip to TCEA is for!!! Except I didn’t get asked to go this year. Bummer. I look forward to commenting on what I think we need and don’t need! Again, I’m on the laptop if you can still get me the 10-key!
December 7th, 2007 at 10:41 am
I think asking the teachers and the kids is important though I might be selective. I would propose informally gather info and then, if the answers are too widespread, a formal committee could winnow it down. I might get more info in person than a survey might yield but one doesn’t preclude the other. I don’t look at east/west as divisive but as a way to split a very large group. It can split another way if that is more palatable but ALL of elementary talking togther may not work. I thin Principals need to be queried if only to establish that things are going to start changing and that they will need to allow teachers to incorporate technology in their days. Perhaps a survey and then speaking to a few that are pro-tech or at least open to it. Anyway, without their buy in, it won’t matter how much $$ you have put into the library technology.
December 10th, 2007 at 8:14 am
I fear if I ask my teachers they will all say “what’s the point – it won’t work and when it breaks there will be no one to fix it”.
Cyncial but unfortunatly very true.
December 10th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Seperate meeting by grade level or content
teachers – users, techno savvy, non-users
show and tell the actual technology and business people -what is needed in the work place for the why – video presentation
small group discussions
parent meeting – long range planning group – PTA committee – informal at library family night
librarian meeting before parent meeting
meetings with students
HCC & UH what do they want the kids to know when they graduate
Foundation
Principals