Library (institution)

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Elementary School Libraries

Elementary school libraries play a central role in early childhood education by offering young children some of their earliest encounters with books and other resources. These libraries generally feature illustrated children’s storybooks, coloring books, and audio and visual materials. Most elementary school libraries also contain reference materials such as encyclopedias, as well as fiction and nonfiction books aimed at older elementary school students. Some elementary school libraries feature computers with children’s educational software. In the primary grades (typically kindergarten through grade three) children attend special classes to help them develop basic skills in retrieving information from the library. Students learn how to search through their school library’s catalog, find a book on the shelves, and check out the book from the circulation desk. Elementary school students may also use the school library to browse through the materials, learn basic computer skills, or listen to stories.

A growing number of schools encourage students in the later grades of elementary school (typically grades four through six) to come to the library throughout the day to conduct research for school assignments, to read for pleasure, and to meet and work with their peers. This flexible scheduling allows schools to integrate research skills and library resources into daily classroom instruction.

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Middle School and Junior High School Libraries

Libraries at the middle school or junior high school level (typically grades six or seven through eight or nine) concentrate on maintaining students’ interest in gaining information and developing ideas. Classes at this school level usually introduce students to individual and small-group research projects. To adequately support classroom assignments, middle school and junior high school libraries usually offer larger and more varied collections than those at the elementary level. They also often supplement these collections with computer databases and more sophisticated bibliographic tools.

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High School Libraries

Libraries at the high school level (typically grades 9 or 10 through 12) differ in several ways from those serving the lower grades. Because classes at the high school level require students to conduct more research, high school libraries usually have larger and more advanced collections than do libraries in the lower grades. The collections of high school libraries are generally capable of supporting instruction in mathematics, science, technology, social sciences, the humanities, the arts, literature, and foreign languages. In addition, because students must spend more of their time conducting research, high school libraries are usually large enough to accommodate at least 20 percent of the entire student body at any given time. The best-equipped high school libraries feature computer labs, professional reference resources for teachers, conference and group study areas, and classrooms within the library. Most high school libraries also include separate areas devoted to college or vocational preparation. These areas typically contain information on individual colleges, examples of college applications, vocational aptitude tests, and other materials designed to provide guidance for graduating high school students.

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Funding

Schools in the United States have not always had a large number of libraries. As recently as 1958 about half of the public schools in the United States had no libraries at all. The number of public school libraries increased dramatically when the federal government passed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, which provided funds for school districts to improve their education programs and facilities, including their libraries. Nevertheless, many educators claim that since the legislation was passed federal spending has not increased sufficiently to meet the rising cost of new library technologies such as computer databases and Internet access.

Because the federal government provides only limited funds to schools, individual school districts rely on funds from local property taxes to meet the vast majority of public school expenses. Therefore, the libraries of public schools tend to reflect the financial capabilities of the communities in which they are located. Districts in wealthy suburbs often have fully staffed libraries with abundant resources, spacious facilities, and curricular and instructional support. In contrast, school districts in many poor areas house their libraries in ordinary classrooms or in small rooms. The libraries in such areas are generally staffed by volunteers, who organize and maintain books that are often out-of-date, irrelevant, or damaged. See also Public Education in the United States.

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College and University Libraries

Research plays a central role in the academic work of students and faculty at colleges and universities. As a result, college and university libraries—also called academic libraries—are often considered the most important resource of an institution of higher education. Because students and faculty at colleges and universities may wish to conduct research within any conceivable academic discipline, the collections of academic libraries usually reflect a vast range of interests and formats. Academic libraries range in size from the modest collections found in small liberal arts colleges to the immense collections found at research universities. Research universities maintain some of the largest libraries in the world. Most academic libraries are linked to other libraries in cooperative networks, enabling them to share scarce and little-used materials required for advanced research. Many academic libraries open their collections to the public, although borrowing privileges are often limited for users not affiliated with the college or university.

Large research universities often have separate libraries within individual academic departments, schools, or colleges. For example, academic branch libraries may devote their collections exclusively to agriculture, art, chemistry, math, psychology, or other academic disciplines. Universities may also divide their libraries into undergraduate and graduate divisions. Undergraduate libraries typically offer relatively general materials needed to support study toward a four-year, undergraduate degree. Graduate libraries contain materials for more specialized study toward an advanced, graduate degree. Some academic libraries also have separate buildings for rare books, handwritten manuscripts, maps, and other specialized collections.

Academic libraries generally attempt to expand their holdings on an ongoing basis. However, during the 1990s acquisition of expensive printed materials began slowing at most academic libraries as more funds were devoted to the acquisition of new computers, telecommunications equipment for access to the Internet, and online databases.

Because of the complexity, range, and diversity of formats and information in academic libraries, colleges and universities offer programs to introduce incoming students and faculty to the institution’s library services. These programs are designed to teach new users effective ways to make use of a variety of reference tools and library search mechanisms. In some parts of the United States, college accreditation agencies require institutions to offer library-sponsored courses on information retrieval and evaluation. See also Colleges and Universities.

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