A rural school district shows how one new service in 1992 put in motion a steady wave of library support

By George Bishop, Information Center Director, Ovid-Elsie Schools

Our small, rural school library serves 900 students in grades 7-12 in the farmland of central lower Michigan, and offers significant services for all patrons. Our library budget and services were modest in the early 1990s, with a total budget of about $4,000. Since that time, expanded library services have made the library a very relevant and essential part of the infrastructure of the entire school. It is important to note that our school is not located in an affluent community, yet our current annual budget has increased to approximately $100,000.

The earliest and most significant first step to making this happen was our focus on using our interlibrary loan service (ILL) and providing access to a variety of databases. On the first teacher day in the fall of 1992, all 100 teachers, administrators and student were told two things: “that they would have access to all the resources in the world’s libraries” and “if you or your students need it, we will get it for you…period.” Many teachers were very skeptical at first. During that year there were many specific examples of students and teachers who found the materials that they needed using our ILL service. In that first year, we passed the ILL “litmus test” and were well on our way to making our small, rural library a significant provider of information to our patrons. We delivered on our promise and put in motion a 14-year flow of new services, increased funding and greater recognition.

Satisfying these needs quickly built a teacher and student support base. Our budget gradually increased over the next few years, and services were expanded. Every time a new service or database was added, there was curriculum integration. Integrating services and databases into the school curriculum is one of the keys to success. Faculty and students must become “dependent” on these resources. In doing this the library increases visibility and relevance. Every satisfied “customer” potentially becomes an advocate for the library.

Increasing a library’s state and national visibility also can help to increase the budget. Many administrators like to have several “gems” in their school district. Our library won some major library awards in Michigan. In 1994 our library was awarded the Michigan Association of School Boards’ “Excellence in Education” award. That same year we also were awarded the Michigan Library Consortium“Citation of Excellence” and the Michigan Association for Media In Education “School Library Media Program of the Year” award. In 1995 Ovid-Elsie was runner-up for the American Association of School Libraries’ School Library Media Program of the Year. By the end of 1995 our school library quickly became one of these school “gems.”

In 1995 we passed a local bond proposal to build a new middle school and a new “information center.” Our service-oriented reputation allowed us to make significant gains in both the budget process and have a voice in the“infrastructure” of the new facility. We used some of our bond money to acquire a new library automation system (Innovative Interfaces) with greatly expanded capabilities, a security system and a self-checkout system. Today, over 90 percent of all library checkouts are done through selfcheckout, and our students love it.

Quality customer service is another key to success for our library. Our goal is to make the total customer experience satisfying, pleasurable and resulting in an end-product that meets or exceeds their expectations. Students should always feel welcome.

Other services offered to our students and faculty include:

• A multitude of electronic databases and 23,000 cataloged eBooks

• MP3 players available for patron checkout with a new downloadable audiobook program in place for this fall

• Training on how and when to use Google™ versus other electronic sources

• 52 computers on the technology island

• 30 wireless laptop computers

• Digital motion and still cameras for student checkout

• Laptops for student checkout

• 22 TVs that feature news and weather programs

• Cyber café with food and beverages (including Starbucks® coffee)

• Meetings with faculty each summer to review the library’s offerings

• Teacher-required usage of books, eBooks, ILL materials, databases and other library materials in courses

• Annual collection purchases that focus on selecting the most intriguing titles and materials

• School lunch cards that have a dual purpose: purchasing food and doubling as a library card

• Ariel® document delivery of all journal articles to desktops

In order for small libraries to succeed, they need to think big. Here are some suggestions:

• Develop an innovative strategic and tactical plan. Work on one tactic at a time, and eventually, you will accomplish your goals.

• Network with other libraries, especially other library types (i.e., academic and public). School libraries can learn from other library successes.

• Make the most of your ILL capabilities

• Purchase more electronic content and use local and state consortia, including your OCLC network.

• Consider adopting the customer service motto, “we want to serve you,” and mean it.

• Be more visible to your patrons by applying for library awards and grants.

• Ingrain your services into your patrons’ world so that they cannot live without you.

• Finally, promote your services. This seems simple, but otherwise students and faculty will not be aware of your expanded services.

When you have a program that is exceeding expectations, you have the foundation for success. Empowering the patrons will empower your library.

To a temporary place in time | Check nearby libraries