The #TXLchat provides a forum for Texas librarians (but not limited to Texas librarians) to create collaborative connections, share educational resources, and foster life-long learning.
Hey y’all! Priscilla Delgado, librarian at Bowie Elementary in San Marcos CISD. Looking forward to learning with y’all tonight! #txlchat#futurereadylibs
A1 Planning for what you don't know you'll need. It's hard to plan for future trends when you have to be specific with your budget. Sometimes it feels like I'm always catching up. #futurereadylibs#txlchat
A1 I always consider curriculum, identify gaps in the collection, determine whether collection reflects the student body and is inclusive of all groups. #txlchat
A1: when planning my budget spending I think about what program costs I have to consider as well as keeping my collection current for my Ts and Ss. #txlchat#FutureReadyLibs
A1: Our district has been undergoing intensive weeding at all schools. We need to update and replenish with quality materials but it doesn’t come cheap. Our goal is to have the most useful and inviting collections that benefit teachers, students, and community members. #txlchat
A2 I think it's about balance. Being at HS & knowing what Ss are using in the lower grades to meet their changing needs & interests is a consideration. #txlchat#futurereadylibs
A1 You have to budget for what the Ss want, the teachers need, and support campus initiatives. Also if you aren’t lucky to be blessed with adequate funding you need to be creative to find ways to get what you need #txlchat
A1. plan next year's budget in early spring when admin is working on it. I don't wait to be asked, I submit a proposal with goals listed.#txlchat#furturereadylibs
A2 If something is going to be used again and again, I'll go for e-books and/or databases. I also prefer e-books for district reading competition books or award winners. But I'll also purchase print copies because we have some print book lovers out there. :) #txlchat
A2) Databases and NoodleTools are my first purchases in Aug. because they can be used by everyone. Books get more $ than digital because of demand, but I still spend on ebooks & audiobooks to keep them current/relevant. #txlchat
A2 #futurereadylibs#txlchat Often past usage is not the most important factor when selecting e-resources. Curriculum needs play a role. Sometimes, we just have to spend the $$ on items we know can be useful then find a way to promote them.
A2: I conducted a student survey to see how many had devices at home to read e-books before purchasing them. Still Ss on my campus like print books much better. #futurereadylibs#txlchat
A1: I look for our school's areas of opportunity... Does our ELAR dept need help with poetry? Does science need help with physical science? This is where the majority of my budget will go. Resources to support these areas. #txlchat
A2: Some factors are (at least for me) the resources that are available to our students. I am looking forward in expanding our e-book collection due to our district laptop initiative. #futurereadylibs#txlchat
A2: I like to check circulation stats before purchasing e-books vs. print. Also like to check usage stats before considering renewing or adding databases. I also take teacher and student input into consideration when purchasing. #txlchat
A2 Amount of budget available, use of individual databases and ebook titles We are evaluating this heavily this year as we will be living through a major budget cut this year. If they aren’t using it and we’re marketing it then we probably don’t need it #txlchat
A2-Vertical conversation btwn Elem, MS, & HS librarians is another important convo so that there's an understanding for need and usage #txlchat#futurereadylibs
A2: When faces with a very limited budget, you have to assess and determine where you can get the biggest bang for your bucks. Print resources are in the greatest demand in my school with ebooks gaining popularity. Magazines are on donation basis.#txlchat
A2 Hard to find balance between what is popular & what is useful. Where do you draw the line on the things you think you should have (& know could be beneficial) but don't get used?
#futurereadylibs#txlchat
A3-Being transparent is so important! Sharing what you are considering, why it's needed, and per student costs helps to build understanding #txlchat#futurereadylibs
A3 My Principal is awesome at working with me on our budget & helping meet the needs of our campus! Couldn't ask for a better partnership! #txlchat#futurereadylibs
A3. Need to be transparent with admin about user stats to demonstrate we are conscientious with limited funds and that we are not wasting $ on resources that are not truly needed. #txlchat#futurereadylibs
A3 Fortunately, my budget is set by district level, so principal only OKs purchases not budget. But we talk about how to spend it & why. Students & teachers give suggestions for purchases.
#futurereadylibs#txlchat
A3 I'm really bad (or good!) about providing an explanation for which books I'm purchasing and why when I turn in book or magazine orders. Sometimes I think I might be overdoing it. But the more you know ... #txlchat
A2-also for databases, usage data should be an important determining factor on renewals too. We need to be fiscally efficient stewards #txlchat#futurereadylibs
A3) I get input from teachers re. periodicals, also visit with ELAR about class reads for coming year. Visit with AP Capstone & Lang about digital resources. Others are more informal. Especially when I hear of teachers spending their own $, I remind them I can help. #txlchat
A2: My library was designed to be a compact space to house a small print library and possess a large ebook collection. Its not working. The Ss want print! A big part of budget goes to print books. #txlchat
A3: I’ve never really disclosed budget info to our faculty or students; no one has ever asked. I do keep a list of requested titles from Ts and Ss and will share that info with our principal. Often times she finds the $ to purchase those materials. #txlchat#futurereadylibs
A3: I included my budget in my goals toy principal this year. I hope to include my Ss in deciding a portion of our budget spending this year. #txlchat#FutureReadyLibs
A3 I often email teachers asking for which books they want to add to the collection or create surveys to identify their needs. As for charts, graphs and the actual numbers, I prefer to discuss with my principal. I don't want to overwhelm teachers w/ data #txlchat
A3 Does anyone post their budget/spending publicly? I've thought about sharing my budget online, including all the different areas of spending.
#futurereadylibs#txlchat
A3: my budget is set by the district, but I do still go over it with the principal. I am thankful for a great relationship with my principal. With Ts, I do like to get input on curriculum needs. #futurereadylibs#txlchat
A3: My principal and I usually discuss the budget during the spring for the following school year. She adjusts the budget depending on what needs and wants we foresee. #txlchat#futurereadylibs
A2: My library was designed to be a compact space to house a small print library and possess a large ebook collection. Its not working. The Ss want print! A big part of budget goes to print books. #txlchat
I haven't ever considered it, but I don't think I would do it without asking my principal if it was OK to share first. I'm not sure whether department budgets are shareable. #txlchat
I form a library selection committee open to anyone but definitely teachers from multiple grade levels, parents, and a community member. I would like to add a couple of students next year to the committee. #txlchat
Q3 Budget request goes to principal Then once we know what we get we send emails to teachers asking for requests, we also keep a constant running list of student requests and gaps in our series #txlchat
#txlchat A3. Show them how much things cost with visuals. Take a photo of the new books on the cart and share it out via Tweet, Announcements, Email, or Event.
A3: These conversations happen at the end of the year and at the beginning. Ill meet with admin and dept heads to discuss goals, needs and wants. We recently discussed that a 3D printer would provide great hands on activities. Our budget was able to accommodate it! #txlchat
This hasn't been done yet? I assumed it had been because it's become a hot topic in the past few years. But I'll admit I haven't taken the time to research studies on the topic. #txlchat
A4 EOY reports hav e varied wildly for me. Now I tend to focus on usage for in house examination & social media & more library story info for stakeholders. #txlchat#futurereadylibs
A4 Show usage & growth (or decline) of resource use which can direct budgeting choices. Affect curriculum involvement (We spend how much on that resource & we're not using it enough)
#futurereadylibs#txlchat
I form a library selection committee open to anyone but definitely teachers from multiple grade levels, parents, and a community member. I would like to add a couple of students next year to the committee. #txlchat
A4 EOY report is a factor in planning for next year, so we can focus on what we need, what our stakeholders want, and where our collective gaps are #txlchat
#txlchat A3. Show them how much things cost with visuals. Take a photo of the new books on the cart and share it out via Tweet, Announcements, Email, or Event.
Same for me... My monthly reports focus a lot on the collaborative projects and lessons that went on in the library. But, I still include some of the circ stats. #futurereadylibs#txlchat
I've started breaking down my P.O. info to specify ebooks, Spanish books, large print to show how the budget is being used to order diverse materials, instead of just saying "books". #txlchat#futurereadylibs
A4: EOY report can show what part of your collection is checked out the most and what your patrons are reading. This can help in future planning #futurereadylibs#txlchat
This hasn't been done yet? I assumed it had been because it's become a hot topic in the past few years. But I'll admit I haven't taken the time to research studies on the topic. #txlchat
A5. #AASLStandards should push us #futurereadylibs to do more instructionally with Ss to drive their learning to a higher level, which in turn with help set our spending and time priorities. #txlchat
A4: Data should be driving many of our decisions regarding budget spending. It allows for more of a prescribed method of spending. Its a big factor, but not the only factor. #txlchat
A5 These standards give us some support when asking for different types of resources. Admin like to see standards & these show that libraries are not the same as they once were. "You're not just about books?"
#futurereadylibs#txlchat
A5: I tend to keep #FutureReadyLibs in mind as I set goals and select materials simply because I haven't delved into the other standards as much yet. #txlchat
#txlchat A5 Reflection, goal setting, and looking beyond our passion to what truly can have the greatest impact-but leverage and collaborate with Instructional partners to wisely stretch the 💰
I agree but financial equity across the district is also important. Not all budgets are coordinated at the district level which allows for inequity #txlchat#futurereadylibs
Poster printers are a great asset for a campus and if it is in library its a great service to provide. I think more useful than 3D printer. #txlchat#futurereadylibs
A2: My library was designed to be a compact space to house a small print library and possess a large ebook collection. Its not working. The Ss want print! A big part of budget goes to print books. #txlchat
Thanks chat team. This chat was packed with excellent information and good advice. I hope a lot of lurkers will take advantage of the archives. LInk will be tweeted by in the morning. #txlchat
Our district is definitely an example of that. Disparity among HSs, among MSs, and among elementaries. Definitely among the levels as well, but even among levels. #txlchat
Castleberry ISD will have an opening for an elementary Teacher Librarian for the 2018-2019 school year! AV Cato Elem. has a gorgeous library, full-time library aide, flexible schedule & future ready library program. Come collaborate with us! #txlchat@heatherlamb08
