Ensuring Accessibility for All Patrons with Automation Systems
Studies show that the use of technology enhances student learning. Students benefit from it in several ways such as; “the promotion of critical thinking skills, the development of writing skills, enhanced opportunities for language development, and an increase in student motivation” (Thomas, 2004). Research also shows that student learning is enhanced in the areas of oral and written language development as a result of computer use. In 1990studies indicated, “that on-line searching requirescareful and logical query description in order to avoid difficulties in language development” (Thomas, 2004). The mission of the library media program is to ensure that all members of the learning community are effective users of information. This mission is accomplished by providing intellectual, physical, and organizational access to material in all forms. The library media program provides intellectual access to information. Intellectual access is the finding, evaluating, and using of information. Intellectual access ensures patrons freedom to access information. Intellectual freedom is the right of every individual to seek and receive information from all perspectives. It provides for free access to all expressions of ideas. Intellectual freedom encompasses the freedom to hold, receive and disseminate ideas. It is based on our democratic system. Intellectual access ensures that we are well informed. Libraries provide many varieties of formats ideas and information, which allows people to inform themselves. The library media program provides physical access to information and resources for learning. Physical access is the plans, policies, and procedures developed by the library media specialist with the help of others to ensure that the program has adequate space, equipment, and flexibility in scheduling. The school library media specialist organizes and facilitates an environment designed to meet the learning and information needs of students. Plans, polices, and procedures are designed by the library media specialist to ensure that the program has adequate space, equipment, and flexibility in scheduling to provide full access to information and learning resources. The library media program provides organizational access information. Organizational access organizes information through automated systems and circulation procedures. It also defines acceptable use polices for the Internet, licensed databases, and copyright issues.
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Physical Access
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Intellectual Access
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Organizational Access
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Automation systems provide flexible access to the media centers resources through the Online Public Access Catalog (for example; patrons may check items on loan, request items, and build bibliography list).
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Automation systems allow patrons to create bibliography lists for educational purposes.
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Automation systems keep patron status up-to-date.
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Automation systems provide flexible access to the media centers resources through the WebOPAC at home or any computer with Internet access (for example; patrons may check items on loan, request items, and build bibliography list).
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Automation systems allow patrons to perform quick and easy research for information for educational purposes.
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Automation systems provide patrons with secure access to their own personal information requiring a pin number for security.
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Automation systems allow libraries to send patrons correspondence through e-mail such as; overdue, fine, and reserve notices.
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Automation systems provide patrons with resources for learning that represent a diversity of experiences, opinions, and social and cultural perspectives.
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Automation systems stores patron’s checkout history.
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Automation systems provide physical access to information through carefully organized collection of diverse learning resources.
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Automation systems support the idea that intellectual freedom and access to information are requirement to successful and reliable residency in a democratic system.
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Automation systems keep patron’s information private.
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Automation systems provide a systematic procedure for acquiring information through mechanisms such as networks, interlibrary loans, and accessing remote information in a variety of formats.
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Automation systems allow patrons to access information by subject to enhance learning of content standards.
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Automation systems allow patrons to look up information in the library media center’s collection in the library or at home.
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Automation systems provide full access to information and learning resources
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Automation systems allows patrons to seek, receive, hold, and disseminate information from all points of view, without restriction, including those ideas that might be highly controversial or offensive to others.
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Automation systems keep circulation dates current.
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Automation systems provide access to information through multiple computers linked to the library’s system such as a computer lab.
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Automation systems encourage patrons to use the information services provided in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.
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Automation systems allow patrons to renew books.
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Automation systems provide students with access to the libraries resources all day through classroom computers linked to library’s computer.
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Automation systems ensure that all patrons have equal access to the library’s information services.
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Automation systems allow media specialist the option of charging fines or not.
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Automation systems can be modified to accommodate students with disabilities to ensure access to the library’s resources such as; screen magnification devices, voice input devices, etc.
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Automation systems provide help instructions on how to access information is available to all.
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Automation systems keep checkout statistics.
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Automation systems can accommodate seating for students with disabilities for example; seating for OPAC should be at least 27 inches high, 30 inches wide, and 19 inches deep.
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Automation systems provide free access to the library’s resources.
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Automation systems provide patrons with help procedures for using computers to access the library’s information.
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Automation systems promote and protect intellectual freedom for all people by allowing them to select, produce, provides access to, identifying, retrieving, organizing, providing instruction in the use of, and preserving recorded expression regardless of the format or technology.
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Automation systems ensure that resources are available to all individuals or groups requesting their use.
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Automation systems provide privacy to patrons using the OPAC services.
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Automation systems ensures circulation records and other records that identify the names of patrons are confidential.
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Resources
Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. (1998). American Library
Association: Chicago and London.
Thomas, Nancy Pickering (2004). Information Literacy and Information Skills
Instruction. Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited.
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