Catalyst Grant Final Report
“The Mobile Reference Station”
Please provide a brief narrative explaining your project and its outcomes.
Our project was aimed at giving our students more access to the online catalog than they currently have, and to make it wireless–capable of being moved around the library as needed for reference. Our current OPAC could only be found on one hardwired computer, where you sat with your back to the rest of the library.
The proposal was to buy 2 lightweight, lockable stands and 2 IPADs we could lock into them so students would be able to have the OPAC right at the shelves when searching for a book.
When we received the grant and bought the stands and IPADs to go on them, the district managed to find enough money to allow us to make one of the IPADS a larger screen, so that students with vision problems could more easily read the screen than using a traditionally sized IPAD. We removed the hard-wired computer and table, and used the space to create a “Guest Librarian” shelf, and now we invite students to apply to create a display of library books they loved reading, to share/recommend their favorites with the rest of the school. This has been a great promotion and a wonderful side-benefit; we have 2-3 guest student librarians recommending library books each month.
The project has been a success; we find fewer students waiting to ask us to look things up’ even teachers are using them when down here with classes.
The only obstacle we had was trying to split the screens, so that our electronic pass system could be used as well as our OPAC. After having the Tech department try for a month to get the IPADs to run SMARTPASS, we finally decided that it made more sense to use another (Chromebook) for the pass system, and devote the IPADs on stands to ONLY the OPAC. This had the side benefit of making students more comfortable using them; with only one screen expected to be there, they were no longer trying use other IPAD features (camera, Google search, etc).
What is the most remarkable accomplishment or finding of your project?
The project worked as expected, which is probably the most remarkable thing. We do find students favor using the larger screen, even though they know they can use two fingers and expand the view on the regular IPAD. The number of students who use it of their own initiative is a great plus; one of our major problems in the past has been a minor “learned helplessness” when it comes to finding their own materials–more are now happy to try managing on their own.
How did your project differ from what you originally proposed?
The project did not differ, except we were able to buy one larger IPAD, and we used the extra space we gained to develop a student-oriented display space.
Please provide a brief summary of your evaluation activities and/or results, if available.
Results were anecdotal based upon observations.
Jennine Bloomquist
School Library Media Specialist, Camden Central School District – Madison Oneida BOCES
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