Increasing Database Usage at Oak Park River Forest High School

Library Erin Linsenmeyer

About the SchoolOak Park River Forest High School is located

in Oak Park, IllinoisOnly school in Oak Park River Forest School

District 2002011 school population of 3,241 Graduation rate of 94% Average class size of 19 students Operating budget of $80 million

Source: Illinois Interactive Report Card

About the library2 librarians and 3 assistants.Space has been reduced to one level of the

building for circulation, reference, and teaching.Staff size has been reduced as well, placing

extra work on remaining school librarians. 2011/2012 school year: 6,871 books checked out24,153 total visits to library pathfinders957 classes came to the library

Source: Oak Park River Forest High School Library 2011/2012 Annual Report

The ProjectAmber Hooper, school librarian, reported that

database usage could improve. A review of monthly library reports shows

certain databases being used in higher volume, while others are not.

Consistent use: JSTOR, Gale History/World History in Context, Gale Science in Context

Lacking: CQ Researcher, Gale Global Issues, Oxford African American Studies, Oxford/Grove Art Online

Source: Oak Park River Forest High School Library Monthly reports, found at: http://www.oprfhs.org/library/Library-Monthly-Reports.cfm#.UCQWfqC4q7s

The approachUtilize new subscription of LibGuides

Utilize social media/Web 2.0

Improve web presence

Increase teacher involvement

Utilize new subscription to LibGuidesOak Park River Forest High School Library

has just subscribed to LibGuides for the new school year, eliminating pathfinders.

Librarians can create LibGuides on database instruction.

Target LibGuides to either teachers (Mesa Public Schools) or students (University of Washington)

Mesa (Arizona) Public Schools

University of Washington Sample

Benefits Allows students/teachers to learn at their

own speed on their own time

Gives greater visibility to LibGuides and sends traffic that way.

Takes pressure off of librarians when they are unable to meet a class face to face.

Logistics Librarians could split up the databases to

author LibGuidesCost would be negligible, since library

already has a subscription to LibGuidesSince certain databases are in high use,

thodr LibGuides can wait while librarians author little used ones to boost traffic.

Barriers include alerting students and teachers about the new system and ensuring LibGuide doesn’t cut out role of librarian.

Utilizing social mediaOPRFHS Library currently has a blog and a

facebook profile. 527 ‘likes’ on facebook. Blog numbers

unknown. Blog reports on book reviews, book trailers,

and monthly reports. Facebook posts about monthly reports, book

reviews, events for teens in the area, and news in the library.

Blog found at: http://www.oprfhslibrary.blogspot.com/Facebook found at: http://

www.facebook.com/pages/Oak-Park-and-River-Forest-High-School-Library/143215332378831

Social MediaSince facebook has updated on technology in

the past, posting information about the databases wouldn’t be much of a surprise.

Blog entries allow for more details and greater explanation.

Key for social media is to make it interactive, hosting monthly trivia using the databases or a scavenger hunt to push kids to databases is an option.

Benefits Teenagers love social media and can access it

anywhere, anytime.Trivia with small prizes makes learning fun

and gives students incentives. Information can be straight to the point and

students can give immediate feedback, another form of assessment.

Logistics Librarian who updates blog and facebook

could write posts for databases.Since library already has free sites, the cost

would be the prizes given away for participating.

Number of databases means one could be highlighted each month.

Deterrent is the short format blogs/facebook posts are written in. May serve as more ‘commercials’ for databases rather than actual instruction.

Improving web prescenceDatabases are easy to find on the website.

Come with a description of the database

Website is practical and easy to navigate with plenty of options for the research process.

Improving web presenceClean up dead links, ensure that everything goes where it is

supposed to go.

Database descriptions aren’t engaging for students. Using language that the kids use, or that is found in their assignments will help them better understand.

CQ Researcher: “lengthy single-topic reports on contemporary political and social issues primarily in the U.S.; published by Congressional Quarterly (select the PDF version for printing).”

Example of dead links: http://www.oprfhs.org/programs_and_services/library_services/Library_Services/Databases.html#.UCQSpaC4q7s (after clicking on ‘research tools’ on the sidebar, and then clicking on ‘subscription databases’

http://www.oprfhs.org/programs_and_services/library_services/Library_Services/researchtools.html#.UCQStqC4q7s (on the first page, the ‘research tools’ button)

BenefitsEasy fix with needing to devote little time or

energy.

Saves frustration for students and teachers who are looking for databases.

Makes website more user-friendly and focused.

LogisticsThe person who updates the website (IT

department or librarian) would be responsible.

Longest time would be needed for coming up with new descriptions for databases.

There should be no cost involved.

Deterrent may be the time it takes if work is not done by librarians, and if the databases have descriptions subscribers have to use.

Increasing teacher involvementAmber Hooper reported that science and

history classes are very involved in the library and using library resources.

This is evident by the numbers of the databases in the annual report—science and historical databases are frequently used.

Other departments should be reached to improve usage and research skills for students.

Increasing teacher involvementAmber is set to become English department

liason Library can host Lunch and Learns or

breakfast sit-ins featuring databases.Librarians should attend department

meetings and give brief demos of databases. Librarians should attend new teacher

orientation to talk about library services and tools.

Library can also host ‘awards’ for best collaboration, highest class percentage using databases, highest department.

BenefitsTeachers are the ones who set the

assignments and the requirements for the assignments.

If they don’t believe in the library, the students will not seek out the library for help.

Teachers may not know about the databases at all, and so any exposure is good exposure.

Targeting new teachers means that you could have an advocate in the school for a long period of time.

LogisticsBoth school librarians should split up the

departments based on who buys for whom and target those departments.

By far, the most time consuming. Library staff may have to sacrifice their own before-school, lunch, after-school, and department meeting time.

Costs would include what library chooses to give away, lunch, coffee, snacks, prizes. Could be costly depending on how many they choose to do.

LogisticsDeterrents include staff who do not support

the library and will never change their minds.Increased collaboration between library and

teachers mean librarians are cutting into the little time they have for teaching.

Teachers are busy as well and may not feel they have time to sit for an hour long demonstration, or may feel that their students are capable of learning on their own.

OverallMost suggestions have little costs because

the department budget has already been established.

Viral suggestions don’t put more on the already stretched schedules of the librarians.

There are many things OPRFHS Library is doing correctly, with small tweaks program could improve even more and database usage will rise to satisfactory levels.

Works Cited "Health Sciences Subject Guide." University of Washington Health Sciences Library,

n.d. Web. <http://guides.lib.washington.edu/health>. Hooper, Amber. "Library Monthly Reports." Oak Park River Forest High School

Library, n.d. Web. <http://www.oprfhs.org/library/Library-Monthly-Reports.cfm#.UCQWfqC4q7s>.

“Illinois Interactive Report Card Oak Park River Forest High School." Illinois Interactive Report Card. Illinois State Board of Education, n.d. Web. 03 Aug. 2012. <http://iirc.niu.edu/>.

"Oak Park and River Forest High School Library." Blogspot. Oak Park and River Forest High School Library, n.d. <http://www.oprfhslibrary.blogspot.com/>.

"Oak Park River Forest High School Library." Facebook.com. Oak Park River Forest High School Library, n.d. Web. <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oak-Park-and-River-Forest-High-School-Library/143215332378831>.

Sears, Laura. "Exploring Instructional Databases." LibGuides. Mesa Public Schools, n.d. Web. <http://libguides.mpsaz.net/exploringinstructionaldatabases>.