Reflection as I evaluated my library's existing collection policy/practices.

I realised from this assignment that I really had to face up to my library's inadequacies in terms of 20th Century technology. It wasn't that I hadn't been trying to address those issues - I had. However it is my second year in library and I still had some learning to do regarding how to get funding for what was needed when there were conflicting priorities. From evaluation of the existing collection policy/practices I learnt many of the finer points of collection policy previously unknown to this (new) TL. One example of this was the discovery in the policy that there was a need to stocktake/weed technology. In fact this subject, CSU ETL503 - Resourcing the Curriculum, was a catalyst for me, it drew many areas of my previous learning at CSU together and made me confront the elephant in my library – that while the school is technology-resource rich, the library was seriously deficient. For almost two years I had requested 21st Century resources, but nothing had been forthcoming. Spurred on by my collection evaluation and analysis of the existing library policy advocating ‘mobile technology’ (TTS LCDP, 2013, p.4) I used my information as ammunition, channelled all my energy into renewed requests and within a 24 hour period secured a semi-permanent ‘loan’ of 20 new iTouches, 6 new iPads (to add to our small collection of 5) as well as a Visualiser and an interactive whiteboard for teaching/learning activities. Resourcing the Curriculum (CSU ETL 503, 2013) was a valuable module to my library! Evaluating the existing collection policy, in conjunction with the evaluation of the library collection, taught me to question why some collections were little used, despite the policy stating this collection was a clear requirement for our school library. (E.g. The Mandarin Picture Book Collection.)Survey Monkey It taught me to use borrowing statistics as an indicator that there was a problem, to analyze why these borrowing statistics were low and then to collaborate with library colleagues to seek solutions I had previously never considered traffic flow as an underlying factor to low borrowing statistics, as it was in the case of the Audio Books for example, so much has been learnt.