The presentation discusses the evolution of the Bialik College library in Melbourne, emphasizing its transformation into a vital educational space amidst changing technology and pedagogical approaches. It highlights the importance of integrating physical and digital resources, supporting curriculum and literacy, and engaging with students in diverse, flexible learning environments. The library aims to meet rising patron expectations by streamlining processes and innovating services while remaining aligned with educational goals.

1. The best of times and
the worst of times:
building the 21st century
school library.
AIS Teacher-Librarian Conference
Investigating possibilities
Sydney 1 June 2012
#AISTL2012

2. About Me
• Librarian of 20 years experience.
• Worked in private enterprise as
well as State and Federal
Government.
• Set up EBSCO Publishing in
Australia & New Zealand.
These and the following photos are of the
Bialik library staff helping launch the new
National Year of Reading web site in
September 2011 with authors William
McInnes, Hazel Edwards, and Alison Lester
as well as students from Melbourne High,
Melbourne Girls’ College, Warrnambool
Secondary College and Dandenong High
School.

3. About Me
• I am an active member of:
– The Australian Library Association.
– and VALA.
I was the VALA2010 Conference Chair.
http://www.vala.org.au
• Passionate about libraries and
their long term wellbeing.
• I was brought into Bialik to rethink
the library as a:
– Playground of learning
– Learning Commons
– Informal education space, the
lounge room for the school.

4. About this presentation
• This presentation is not a
about building a building.
• It is about:
– repositioning a school library
within the school learning
environment and community.

5. About this presentation
• It is also about how one
library is thinking about a
school library’s relevance
and value in a world of:
– more online resources,
– mobile devices,
– changing pedagogues,
– changing expectations,
and
– increased accountability.
• How do we respond to the
best and worst of times

6. About is presentation
• Is the glass half full or
half empty?
• What is the future of a
school library?
• We need to continue to
ask the hard questions
of ourselvesbefore
some asks and answers
them for us.

7. About the Bialik Library

8. About the Bialik Library
• Supports an independent multi communal Jewish
day school with a just over 1,000 students in
Melbourne Australia.
• Academically Bialik is in the top 10 VCE (Victoria
Certificate of Education) schools.
• Supports a Reggio Emilia and Cultures of
Thinking/ Project Zero philosophy.
• Bialik College celebrates its 70th anniversary
in 2012.

9. About the Bialik Library
How has the
library changed?
The new library building
opened in January 2011.

10. Change at the Bialik College Library
• We now have to staff two floors with similar staff
levels in a library that attracts more students and
more classes.
Staff FTE 2010 2011 2012
TOTAL 4.66 5.06 5.26
Info Desk Hours
2010 2011 2012
Per Weeks
TOTAL 46 90 90

11. Change at the Bialik College Library
The print collection is smaller, more focused and better
aligned to the curriculum and supporting student
learning and literacy. It continues to get smaller BUT
Library Before weeding After weeding Change % Weeded
Senior Library 19,701 16,440 -3,261 -17%
Junior Library 23,796 21,767 -2,029 -9%
ELC Library 9,967 8,674 -1,293 -13%
Department 5,499 5,041 -458 -8%
Teacher 823 373 -450 -55%
Reference
Total 59,786 52,295 -7,491 -13%

12. Change at the Bialik College Library
Usage of the collection has doubled because it is more
relevant and appealing.
Average Monthly Issues (Loans)
Note: 2012 shows Term 1 averages
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
All Issues All Issues All Issues All Issues Book Issues All Issues Book Issues
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

13. Change at the Bialik College Library
• Challenges
– We were asked to build a technology rich library.
This has an impact on the recurrent budget.
– Wages remain the biggest line item in the budget.
• Solution
– We have to work smarter Recurrent Budget
and fasterplus 11%
3%
automateand
outsource. Collection
IT
• But how did we Wages
do this? 86%

14. We learn, partner and share ideas
With many different types of libraries AND

15. We learn, partner and share ideas
We contribute and give back as much as we get
or learn from others.

16. We introduced business planning to prioritise
our services and focused on what matters
A. Curriculum B. Independent Learning C. Literacy
•Our main objective (50%) is to support •A key secondary objective (20%) is to •A key secondary objective(20%) is to
the curriculum to maximise each support independent thinking so supporting reading and literacy as a core
student's academic potential. students can learn to learn. life skill.
Support Bialik College's Identity
•We will protect and preserve the Bialik archive material in our care. (10%)
What we deliver How we deliver
•Physical and online content. •Timely, accurate, and authoritative products and services,
•Text and multimedia content. •Delivered in an open, accountable and collegial way, with a,
•Commercial and free content. •User focus that recognises different age and learning
•Curriculum resources. levels, and
•Reference and enquiry services. •Delivered in the most cost effective way - automate or
•Research and study skill programmes. outsource back end processing so library staff can focus on
direct engagement with students and staff.
•Literacy and reading programmes.
•Cybersafety programmes.
•Study, reading, and social spaces.
Face to Face Online / eLibrary Physical Collections Spaces / Buildings
Reporting and Review

17. We introduced reporting and accountability
• We will implement evidence based reporting across everything we do.
• We will measure both Quantitative (What) and Qualitative (How).
• Working towards linking reporting to our budgeting.
• We will use industry recognised, tested and proven metrics.
Content
•The content we purchase, acquire, or Curriculum Learning Literacy Identity
build to deliver on our objectives. 50% 20% 20% 10%
Activities / Programmes
•The face-to-face and online activities
we complete to deliver our objectives.
Staff
•The staff we need to deliver
on our objectives.
Systems
•The open source & commercial
systems we use to deliver on our
objectives.
Facilities
•The building and spaces we use to
deliver on our objectives.

18. We introduced reporting and accountability
• We will use recognised library
standards and best practise
when we report what we do
and how we do it.
• We will report against the
priorities in our library plan.
• We will be open and
transparent in our reporting.
• We will be individually
responsible to our portfolios.

19. We introduced a brand to explain what we do
– Exploreindicates that we offer a stimulating and rewarding physical and online
educational environment that encourages students to actively enquire and
explore as part of their learning.
– Discoverunderlines the fact we support a culture of discovery. Discovery
supports learning because with discovery comes connecting concepts and
learning. Discovery also suggests that learning can be
fun, stimulating, rewarding and empowering.
– Learn underlines the role we play in supporting learning the facts (curriculum)
as well as learning to learn (independent learning).
– The  symbol highlights the progression from exploring to discovery, and
as a result learning.
• The library sub brand and tag is not to be used instead of, or
in competition to, the Bialik College logo.

20. We focus on Students
• Lots of WiFiand
powerpoints.
• Different types
of seating and
study spaces.
• Noisy collaborative
spacesand
quiet studyspaces.
• Variedand flexiblespaces
with lots of colour.
• Printas well as
onlineinformation.
Photos of libraries we used as examples when
we began developing the Bialik College Library.

21. We integrate the online
and physical library
• The new Bialik
Library and the new
Bialik eLibrary are
fully integrated.
• Both the physical
and online libraries
fully support
learning at Bialik.
• See
http://elib.bialik.vic.edu.au

22. How does the
new library
building work?

23. How the building works
The new library is the most environmentally
responsible building the school has built.

24. How the building works
Entrances located off
major thoroughfares.
Multiple entrances. The
library is open and porous
to the rest of the school.
Flexible & bookable
learning spaces: noisy &
quite spaces.
The collection at the centre
of things:
• Easy access.
• Creates separate zones
• Study areas have lots of
natural light
Create spaces students can
own but still maintain line
of sight so staff can
supervise what is going on.

25. How the building works
Entrances located off
major thoroughfares.
Multiple entrances. The
library is open and porous
to the rest of the school.
Flexible & bookable
learning spaces: noisy &
quite spaces.
The collection at the centre
of things:
• Easy access.
• Creates separate zones
• Study areas have lots of
natural light
Create spaces students can
own but still maintain line
The library’s wireless network and power points in the outside of sight so staff can
tables makes the courtyard an extension of the library. supervise what is going on.

26. How the building works
Entrances located off
major thoroughfares.
Multiple entrances. The
library is open and porous
to the rest of the school.
Flexible & bookable
learning spaces: noisy &
quite spaces.
The collection at the centre
of things:
• Easy access.
• Creates separate zones
• Study areas have lots of
natural light
Create spaces students can
own but still maintain line
of sight so staff can
supervise what is going on.

27. How the building works
Entrances located off
major thoroughfares.
Multiple entrances. The
library is open and porous
to the rest of the school.
Flexible & bookable
learning spaces: noisy &
quite spaces.
The collection at the
centre of things:
• Easy access.
• Creates separate zones
• Study areas have lots
of natural light
Create spaces students can
own but still maintain line
of sight so staff can
supervise what is going on.

28. How the building works
Entrances located off
major thoroughfares.
Multiple entrances. The
library is open and porous
to the rest of the school.
Flexible & bookable
learning spaces: noisy &
quite spaces.
The collection at the centre
of things:
• Easy access.
• Creates separate zones
• Study areas have lots of
natural light
Create spaces students can
own but still maintain line
of sight so staff can
supervise what is going on.

29. How the building works
The Junior Library is on the
first floor so it links directly
off the Primary School
class rooms.

30. How the building works
Bookable areas have names that underline the learning activity that takes place in the space.
Story World
Story World supports reading and literacy
among our younger students.
InterACTIVE
A craft / wet area that encourages hands on
learning. It is also used for many of the
Primary School library lunch time clubs.

31. How the building works
Bookable areas have names that underline the learning activity that takes place in the space.
Seminar Room
The class room in the library with a smart
board and coloured glass boards so students
and teachers can write on the walls.
ColLABorate
For collaborative learning. Large TV screens
attached to lap tops allow groups of students
in each booth to learn collaboratively.

32. How the building works
Bookable areas have names that underline the learning activity that takes place in the space.
News Cafe
With newspapers, magazines, and news TV
the news Café is for catching up on new
information. The coffee machine for senior
students and staff makes this a social and
informal learning space. This is where the
printer, photocopier and scanner are located.
Year 12 Study Lounge
A dedicated quite study space for
Year 12 students.

33. Challenges
• Patron expectation is now
much higher. Though we have
given them more they want
more again.
• We have to deliver more.
Especially more technology and
more online services.
• Our workhas become more
variedand complex.
• We have to deliver services on
two levels with the same
number of staff.
• We therefore have to find
further efficiencies and continue
to streamline processes.

34. But what about…

35. What’s over the horizon or
already happening?
• Mobile Web
• APIs
• XML and structured data
• Internet of Everything
• Augmented Reality
• Patron generated acquisitions
• The demise of the library catalogue interface
• Aging profession with more and more Teacher
Librarians set to retire
• Expectation to do less with more

36. Cloud Computing
• Free your catalogue into the cloud..
• Focus on supporting learning and literacy
rather than supporting IT.
• Embed and mesh social media and enriched
content.

37. Cloud Computing
• ILMS Managed
services going into the
cloud. For example
OCLC WorldShare.
• Grab quality online
content like the
National Library Trove
service on the fly and
mash it up with our
content.

38. Mobile Devices
• These are already
here but increasingly
they will be the main
or only computing
platform our patrons
will use.

39. Big data will get even bigger
• www.data.gov There will be bigger datasets to
• www.data.gov.au navigate so infographics will
• www.data.gov.uk become more important.

40. Big Data + Infographics = New Discovery

41. Big Data + Infographics = New Discovery

42. Big Data + Infographics = New Discovery

43. Big Data + Infographics = New Discovery
http://wikiproject.oii.ox.ac.uk/mapping_wikipedia/

44. Big Data + Infographics = New Discovery

45. Big Data + Infographics = New Discovery

46. Next generation discovery in schools
• Products and service functionality found in
universities may start to appear in school
libraries:
– More federated searching
– Better search
and retrieval
– More eContent
– Deep linking

47. The demise of the catalogue
• You will be able to connect to students even
when they don’t think to use the library.
• Imagine a future where from your WiFi hot spots
your students get search results from your library
service prioritised in their Google searching.
• Even when students don’t come to the catalogue
or web address you can
present your collection
and services to them.

48. Better Collection Development
and Accountability
• Smarter and automated ways of collection
development and promotion as well as
• Report use and VALUE. For example:
http://www.collectionhq.com/

49. EBSM® Key Performance Indicators
EBSM KPI KPI Rationale
Grubby Stock Users should not be expected to borrow items which are physically
unattractive. This is a major cause of user dissatisfaction.
Dead Stock Users should not be expected to wade through hundreds of dormant items
of stock in the search for useful or desirable choices. This is a major cause of
user dissatisfaction.
Popular Author Users have an expectation of finding a good selection of works by favourite
authors or on popular subjects on shelves at all times. Lack of such provision
Provision is a major cause of customer desertion.
Popular Subject A good range of material in the most popular subjects areas at a branch is a
key borrower requirement.
Provision
Overstock Subject Large quantities of unused and unwanted non fiction stock in any subject
area, is counter productive to user satisfaction and convenience. It is also a
Areas sign of wasteful provision in the past, based on assumptions about demand
rather than analytical evidence.
Understocked Supply should always try to match demand in non fiction subject provision.
Failure to provide for this is a major cause of customer desertion.
Subject Areas
http://www.ebsm.com/EBSMKPI.html

50. We all need
to avoid
Tall Poppy Syndrome
• At Bialik it didn’t JUST happen, we had to work for it.
• We had a poor old library with a poor budget.
• The new library is bigger and has more technology. It is
therefore more expensive to run. But…
• We have only a slightly bigger budget.

51. We all need
to avoid
The Cargo Cult Trap
• We can’t wait for someone to
empower us.
• We have to empower ourselves.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dret/5197053749/

52. Teacher Librarian of the FutureNow
• What new skills do we
need NOW?
• What work flows and
patterns do we need to
abandon NOW?
• Don’t wait to be taught
• Don’t wait for the in
service / PD training.
• Learn something new
every day.

53. Next Challenges at Bialik
We are now working on the next
challenges:
• Googalise the catalogueand make
the online resources easier to find
and use rather than search.
• Integrating the online and physical
library services.
• eBooks. See Eli NeiburgerLJ/SLJ
eBook Summit presentation
“Libraries are Screwed” on YouTube.
See http://youtu.be/KqAwj5ssU2c
• The internet of everything.
The boundary between the physical and
the online is becoming blurred.
• Deliver library services via
mobile devices.

54. How we are meeting these challenges
• Continue to streamline
and outsourceback end
processes.
• Library staff are vital.
Free them up to directly engage Library staff wiki helps
implement consistent
and support students and staff. and efficient work
practices. The library’s
• Reskillingis the 3 year team plan
communicates to the
new constant. school where we are
going and why. The
• We need to learn new skills plan has the support
of the Principal, Head
and question old habits. of Curriculum, and
Heads of School.

55. How we are meeting these challenges
• Focus on the library space as
a learning environment.
• Work in partnership
with suppliers.
• Be prepared to experiment
and make mistakes but
manage the risks. eLibrary portal and Library YouTube channel
e.g. new Bialik Library YouTube channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/BialikLibrary.
• Reportand document what
we do and the VALUE
we deliver.

56. Conclusions
• Is the glass half full or half
empty? Its up to you.
• Empower yourself.
If you wait for someone to
empower you; you will still be
waiting.
• Focus on why you do things not
what you do. To paraphrase Bill
Clinton:
“Its about the patron stupid”
In the case of a school this
means its about learning.

57. Conclusions
• With changes in
technology, workflows and patron
expectations, if your work is the
same as it was 5 to 10 years ago
something is wrong.
• Are we there yet?
We're never there yet as the world
keeps moving forward. Ride the
wave and enjoy the challenges.
• Report value not work.
Learn how to use pivot tables.
• Enjoy the ride.
Its an exciting time to work in
libraries.

58. Questions
Courtyard with wireless internet and power to the outside tables is an extension of the library.