Jun 08 2006
Collection Mapping and evaluation
Today I wrote my professional goal for next year. Instead of formal evaluation/observations, I am requesting the “Self-Directed Growth” option. I was flipping through some of the books I had nearby including The Information Powered School and found a chapter on collection mapping. I’ve been interested in curriculum mapping but still need to find the means to get onto that job in my district. I figure in the meantime, I can examine my collection and try to develop a plan to make it better and meet the needs of my teachers and students.
I did some quick searching and found a few possibilities for resources which I will include in another post (when I have the time to get cover images, etc.). I also posted a request to LM_NET for resources that members there recommended. In my plan, I listed two potential books to be purchased, but they’ve got older copyright dates. I’ve found a few things online as well. It was interesting to me to see the responses to my target that came in quickly… they both recommended Follett or Sagebrush’s collection analysis tools. I think that is a great place to start, but I don’t think that they will give me the detailed information I think mapping requires. My understanding at this point is that the difference between analysis and mapping is that mapping takes a look at the curriculum and school community needs (meeting the diversity of population, reading levels, etc.) where analysis just looks at what is and what could be purchased to meet “exemplary collections” or something along those lines.
I think the mapping will be beneficial to me because I’ll be able to really examine what teachers think is important in their curricula and can see where the library is and is not supporting those needs. I expect this plan to be long-term with analysis/mapping taking place this year and developing a plan to update the collection as the needs are identified.
I’m excited about my goal and hope that it will be approved. Wish me luck!
