1) The district used fund balance monies in 2003 to upgrade libraries by reducing the average age of collections, adding computers, and improving shelving. This brought libraries up to exemplary status by TEA standards. 2) New technologies like ebooks, graphic novels, and audio books were acquired to engage more students. Collaboration on math/science resources also occurred. 3) Reading programs like Accelerated Reader and STAR assessments were implemented to monitor student growth, determine placements, and identify students needing extra help. However, budget cuts now limit funding to less than $8 per student. Sustained support is needed to prevent losses in library quality and use.

1. It’s a whole new world
@ your library R
Edgewood ISD
San Antonio, TX

2. With Fund Balance Monies granted
in 2003, we developed a plan to
upgrade our libraries in the
following areas:
• Books
• Technology
• Shelving

3. Age of Collection
GOAL 1: Reduce the average age of our collection.
In 2004, District average age was
1986 (18 yrs)
In 2008, District average age is 1998
(10 yrs)
Using TEA’s recommended
standards for libraries as our
guideline, we were able to move
from Unacceptable to Exemplary

4. Computers
GOAL 2: Add working computers to our
libraries so classes can become immersed in
the research process.
We now have an average of 12
computers, Internet ready with
MS Office, per library and our
high schools can accommodate
multiple classes simultaneously,
with over 40 computers each.

5. Facilities
GOAL 3: Upgrade library shelving to meet
safety and aesthetic standards.
14 of our 18 libraries have been
upgraded, with new shelving at
Coronado-Escobar, Gardendale,
Gonzalez, LBJ, Perales, Garcia,
Truman, Wrenn, Memorial, and
Kennedy, and all new libraries at
Las Palmas, Roosevelt and soon
to be Cenizo and Stafford.

6. We upgraded our On-Line Catalog

7. A component of our library catalog is WebFeat,
which is a federated search engine that enables
our students to search multiple library databases
simultaneously.
WebFeat allows you to search several databases
for magazine, newspaper and scholarly journal
articles, books in our system and more.

9. Get Information Smart
@ your library R

10. Online databases
Your librarians and Instructional Technology teachers have user
names and passwords for you to access an abundant collection of
online resources, including:
Ebscohost Web, Encyclopaedia Britannica
Facts on File (with Science online, Ferguson’s Career guidance
ctr, Bloom’s literary reference, American History, Women’s
History, Indian History, African-American History)
World Book Online, Teaching Books, Power Media Plus
Newsbank (including the Archive of Texas History, Dallas
Morning News historical archive 1885-1877)
Gale group (including Informe Spanish newspapers, Literature
Research Center, Texas online Almanac)
Testing and Educational Reference center (with AP, SAT, ACT,
Civil Service, ASVAB, and online TAKS practice tests)

11. eAlerts
EBSCO Host Journal Alerts
You may select journal titles from the various EBSCOhost databases to
receive e-mail alerts when new issues are added to the database. If the
journals are available full-text, you will be able to click to get the
articles. Your librarian can help you out, but here's an example of how to
set it up:

12. First, login to EBSCO Host at http://search.ebscohost.com with
User ID = eisd and Password = remote

13. Click on EBSCOHost Research Databases

17. With our increased funding we
have been able to keep on the
cutting edge of library
acquisitions and technology,
such as:

18. Graphic Novels
A graphic novel is a book length comic, telling a story
with sequential boxes of text and art.
We have over 1600 graphic novels in the EISD
system.
Benefits: Good tool to entice your reluctant readers
Facilitates students who are visual learners.
Many titles cover historical events and people and classic novels
Many titles have AR tests available.

19. Playaways
Pre-loaded digital audio book
The entire book is already loaded on the durable
Playaway unit, which is about half the size of a
deck of cards and made of droppable plastic.
Benefits:
Listening to books encourages reading.
Enhances reading out loud to students
Introduces higher reading levels
Pair with book for supported reading
Facilitates auditory learners

20. We are also collaborating with vendors to test
new and improved methods of
disseminating information to our students.
One method we are working to pilot is online
audio book files that will include entire
novels, texts and podcasts that can be
downloaded and listened to on a computer
or an Ipod or mp3 player, so students can
listen and learn with portability.

21. Math / Science Collaboration
Our libraries have coordinated purchases to facilitate the math and science
departments including TAKScopes, AIMS professional guides and Springboard.

22. We’ve got ebooks
An e-book is an electronic version of a print book. We
have over 2000 ebooks online and they are accessible
from inside the district and from home.

23. Type in
Go to your
the search
online phrase
EISD and
Library click
Web on
site. “Search
E-
books”

24. Your Select a
search title by
results clicking
will on the
display blue
link.

25. The description will display. Click on the
blue hyperlink under “Electronic Resource”
to open the contents of the book.

26. The book will
open on your
desktop and you
can use the
navigation tool to
go to a specific
page, to magnify
the text, find text
within the book,
etc. When you
finish, click on
“Return Book” to
free the title for
the next user.

27. Students will be tested three times a year
To monitor growth
To determine placement for new students
To identify those that need individual help

28. Accelerated Reader
1. Provides the essential practice
component of your core reading
curriculum.
2. Gives you continuous feedback to
help personalize instruction so every
student achieves maximum success
3. Makes reading practice fun and
exciting for every student

29. AR Enterprise
• This year we will be moving from the
purchase of individual quizzes on a per
school basis to the “Enterprise” web-based
version of AR quizzes.
• In the past each school would purchase their
own quizzes (for an average of approx.
5000 per school). Now every student in the
district will have access to over 100,000
quizzes and literacy tests.

30. STAR Custom report
ID# Last First Date School Class Teacher GP GE DIFF
9/19/20
576 R Daniel 7 07 MS 70062 ANON 7.1 6.1 (1.0)
12/11/2
576 R Daniel 7 007 MS 70062 ANON 7.5 6.0 (1.5)
9/19/20
577 A Destiny 7 07 MS 70452 ANON 7.1 11 3.9
12/11/2
577 A Destiny 7 007 MS 70452 ANON 7.5 13 5.5

31. With increased funding we have been able to
create new Reading promotions such as
the “Battle of the Bluebonnets”

32. The Future
• Library was combined with Instructional Technology,
reducing personnel. Where we once had 9 employees
between the two departments, we are now down to 3. We
have streamlined processes and standardized procedures to
become more efficient.
• For “Acceptable” libraries, TEA recommends 1 book per
student per year (approx $22 per) which we have been able
to meet in previous years, but now that we have completed
the 4 years allotted for the Fund balance increase, our local
money was cut drastically leaving us with less than $8 per
student.
• With the Board’s support we have made giant gains in the
quality and utilization of our libraries, but we need to
restore our levels of local funding to keep from falling
back. We are working smarter but we need to continue to
sustain our resources.

33. EDGEWOOD I.S.D.