Cathy Nelson’s Professional Thoughts

I wish I’d had more participation, but alas, it is what it is.  I was thinking I was so bad off, but after reading through these, I’m better off than most, even though we currently offer no mobile devices.  I can at least seat a whole class at a computer in the library, and often two full classes. I’m stunned at the results and wonder how many of us teach info literacy, DISCUS, or collaborate for tech integration or project based learning with limited access to computers. Information is digital these days.  Research is digital.  Wow.  The questions or various headings form the survey are followed by information and at times analysis.  I’m still processing much of this.

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Estimated School Population

Largest participant – 3500;  Smallest 118

What best describes your school level? 

Not including mobile technologies, how many workstations or desktops are available for student use in your library?

18 average

Largest # found in a school library = 96

Smallest # found in a school library = 2

• 20 schools were in the single digits 2-9
• 21 schools had between 10-20
• 4 schools between 21-30
• 4 schools between 31-400 schools between 41-50
• 1 school between 51-75
• 1 school between 75-100

Not including desktops, how many mobile devices (i.e. laptops, ipads, ipods, etc.) are offered through your library program?

Largest number – 200 mobile devices available from the library

Smallest number – 2 mobile devices

• 6 schools – 10 or less mobile devices available from the library
• 2 schools – 11-20 mobile devices available from the library
• 4 schools – 20-29 mobile devices available from the library
• 1 school – 30 mobile devices available from the library
• 3 schools – 40-49 mobile devices available from the library
• 4 schools – 50-59 mobile devices available from the library
• 4 schools – 60-69 mobile devices available from the library
• 2 schools – 80-89 mobile devices available from the library
• 5 schools – 90-120 mobile devices available from the library
• 1 school – 200 mobile devices available from the library

If you have mobile technologies (iPad, iPod, laptops, etc.) do you allow students to check them out? *

Of the 33 who have devices, 29 allow checkouts, 4 do not.  *checkouts may be limited to inside the school.  I should have clarified checkout as taking home or off campus.  So Im not sure of the validity here.

Does your library have wifi available for: 

• Faculty & Staff: 42 schools
• Visitors: 24 schools
• Students: 29 schools
• Other: 12 schools

Please list forms of technology your library offers for student use:

(I probably should group many of these.)

• Digital Cameras
• Flip videos
• Scanners
• Color nooks
• camcorder
• Playaways
• Audiobooks
• Kindles
• Ereaders
• SMART Boards
• Laser printers: b/w and color
• Green Screen Video set up
• Video Conference Codec Unit
• audio recorders
• Classroom performance system student response pads
• LCD projectors
• HD TV with Blu-Ray player
• listening station
• VBrick System
• USB drives

Is there anything about your school or library that you would like to share that goes beyond the survey questions?

Many used this space to rant, and rightfully so IMHO.

Two schools said they are one to one with laptops or ipads being issued to every students.  (Thanks for making me even more jealous!!)

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I shared the survey results in more detail with any who participated. I’ve asked for one more day of contributions.

Survey is still open for my SC peeps. And I’m still trying to process.  If there is enough response, I will take time to break it down by subcategories, like school size or grade level. Right now I’m not optimistic that I will get much of a response at all. Survey is located here.