TEXAS LIBRARY JOURNAL TLJ contents Volume 85, No. 1 Spring 2009 4 President’s Perspective Melody Kelly 90.1 6 Editorial page 4 Gloria Meraz 8 What’s It Worth? The Value of Library Services 92% as an Advocacy Tool page 22 John Pecoraro 10 Lone Star: 20 Years of Creating Middle School Readers 20 page 10 Jennifer Smith 14 Librarian on Board! Online Classroom Library Services to Distance E-Learning Students: A Service Analysis page 30 Using Survey and Interview Research Techniques 1930s Elizabeth Figa and Tonda Bone 20 Evolve Your Research Guides into the Web 2.0 Ecosystem 2.0 Charles Allan page 20 22 Texans Have Spoken: Texas Library Association Public Opinion Survey Gloria Meraz 100 page 35, 40 30 Voices from the Past: Librarians on Libraries during the 1930s 32 From Indifference to Making a Difference © Texas Library Association Jennifer Anthony Texas Library Journal (ISSN 0040-4446) is published 34 Successful RFID Conversion Tips quarterly in spring, summer, fall, and winter Todd Humble by the Texas Library Association, 3355 Bee 35 The Texas PTA: SMART on Literacy Cave Road, Suite 401, Austin, Texas 78746- Stacy Glover 6763. Periodicals Postage Paid at Austin, Texas. 40 Newsnotes POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Texas Library Journal, 3355 Bee Cave Road, Suite 401, Austin, Texas 78746-6763. Subscription price: to members of TLA, 94 cents, included in annual dues; to nonmembers, $20 per year for domestic, $25 out-of-country. Single issues: $5. Texas Library Journal • Spring 2009 1 President’s Perspective by Melody Kelly Musing on the Numbers ith my last president’s column I affected by famine, global warming, etc. Wmust confess to being an NPR These numbers from numerous surveys (National Public Radio) junky. I’m and reports keep haunting me; they As I write this column, I have the not looking for a 12-step program to are unrelenting, so distressing, and so survey report website up, and I’m kick my habit, although these days beyond my immediate ability to make flipping through the red spiral-bound my family wishes I would as they are a difference. “Texas Library Association: A Pocket Guide to 21st Century Libraries.” From subjected to more information than As I lay in bed one night, I thought of these sources (which include data from they want to know. My local station Carl Sagan’s vast expanse of the universe ALA’s Libraries Connect Communities), (90.1 KERA) is on 24 hours a day (in when I heard the phrase “billions and several numbers leapt out and gave me my home, in my car, in my office); it billions,” and I whispered out loud immediate comfort. is the background noise of my life and to the dark, “Have you any numbers takes me from my own life and local other than a billion?” “Yes,” was the • 99% of Texas voters believe school community into the wider American reply from the radio, “Trillions!” I libraries are essential to education experience. Then, after 10 pm, when next whispered, “Oh, where can I turn and will vote in support of them; the station changes to BBC World, to find comfort in numbers?” But no • 74% of Texas libraries report my background noise has an reply came from my radio, and the they are the only provider of international focus. cats expressed their annoyance at being free Internet access in their Sadly, these days the air waves are filled disturbed from their slumbers by my communities; outbursts. with numbers, and the numbers aren’t • Over 75% of Texas public libraries good: the number of unemployed, the Now, I have found an answer and must report they regularly help users number of foreclosed housing stock share it with you. The Texas Library understand and use e-government available, the number of bank failures, Association Voters Survey [www.txla. services; and the latest numbers on the cost of war, org/html/pr/survey.html] is out, and • 65% of Texas libraries provide the figures for the economic bailout/ the report from this survey does provide services for job seekers, including stimulus package, the cost of health comfort in numbers and demonstrates assistance in resume building, job care, the number of boomers delaying that librarians can and do make a searches, and enhancing job skills. retirement, the number of people difference. And the survey proves that voters respond to these services: 83% of Texas voters believe public libraries support the economy through job skills training, career and job information, and resource for local businesses. While we all struggle professionally to stretch our budgets to meet our community’s needs, we can find comfort in these numbers, because our fundamental mission is valued by our community – particularly in difficult times. After all, Texas libraries create and sustain communities. J Editorial by Gloria Meraz Where the Rubber Meets the Road Here are just a few of the many recent • “More folks checking out the headlines about libraries. Library,” Austin American- remember Statesman, February 16, 2009: • “When times are tough, the our discussions about Google and borrowing business booms,” Increase in circulation reported by libraries in Travis and Williamson Midland Reporter-Telegram, counties, Round Rock, and Austin our concern that people would March 8, 2009: Midland library cardholders on the rise When the rubber meets the road, a minimize the role of the library • “Recession Means Both Feast, library is so much more than the sum Famine at Libraries,” DFW of it parts. Yes, libraries are about at this threshold of seemingly NBC, March 4, 2009: Arlington, programs, services, books, the Internet, circulation is up 20% and resources. But the traction that has carried libraries from century to century, unlimited information access? • “Longview Library Use Up,” CBS from generation to generation is the 19, March 3, 2009: Story time is up uncorrupted equality, access to learning, by 38% and hope libraries provide. Our libraries While we must still strive to be fully • “Libraries seeing usage and are not just a collection of resources; circulation grow, budgets shrink,” they are institutions that bear out the competitive in all information areas Star-Telegram, March 13, 2009: civic responsibility of a government Fort Worth libraries have seen to sustain its people, to invest wisely (and the competition is pressing), a 20% increase in library cards; for the betterment and safety of Mansfield has seen a 12% increase citizens, and to serve as a sentry against in circulation and library card ignorance and a partner for achieving the current state of economic holders; Haltom City reports a 30% prosperity. increase in visits Google is just Google. affairs has brought attention back • “Library usage on the rise,” The Even as budgets are cut, libraries – by Terrell Tribune, February 24, 2009: sheer demand of those millions who to the power of libraries. Riter C. Hulsey Public Library need them – produce more, circulate reports double-digit increases in more, serve more. I don’t know of many patrons using the library other industries that can say the same. And the overwhelming • “Libraries face cuts, as users As we fight for our libraries, our increase,” Khou.com, February 22, budgets, our hours, our staff, we are need for them. 2009: Circulation is up 16% at armed with the powerful proof of public Plano Public Library demand. Libraries are needed more • “Economy drives traffic to libraries,” than ever. In this time of stress, libraries Reporter News, February 20, 2009: should be open longer and offer more Abilene Public Library reports services to the people of Texas. increase in circulation and visitors If you haven’t shared your own library’s • “Tyler Public Library Use Increased story with those who make decisions 23 Percent in Spend-Thrift about your library, tell them – when it Economy,” Tyler Morning Telegraph, comes to helping people find jobs and February 18, 2009 get through tough times, a library is where the rubber meets the road. J The spreadsheet template isn’t the only format available for libraries eager to share their value information with funders ? and other stakeholders. If you are more comfortable with a narrative format, try composing a letter demonstrating the impact of your library on the community. You can find an example of a letter from a library director to the mayor and What’s It WorthThe Value the library’s trustees on WebJunction.2 The format of the value of library services report is no $$$$ problem. Librarians don’t have to reinvent the wheel; the of Library Services work is already done. The problem comes in determining the worth of specific library services. The report Economic as an Advocacy Tool Impact of Libraries in Indiana refers to this conundrum for economists, “Libraries provide valuable services to the by John Pecoraro community, most of which are free, and hence, have no observable price.”3 To determine a cost-benefit ratio, there am not an economist. I don’t fully understand the concepts must be a cost. Of course there is a cost. Nothing is free of cost-benefit ratio, return on investment,or contingent in government, and libraries are government-supported Ivaluation. What I do know is that all types of libraries for the most part, be they city, county, or library district provide services whose value far exceeds their budgets, and public libraries, public school libraries, or public colleges that this is important information that should be shared with and university libraries. Government-supported equals tax- library stakeholders. supported, and we all know who pays the taxes. If library For the past two years, I have prepared reports for the 43 services are not free, what do they cost? Librarians have to public libraries in the Big Country Library System (BCLS) be able to explain to their customers the price of things: detailing the value of the services they provide.