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Action research project. Group 5: Jo, Susan, Janet, Heather , Andrea, Daniel, and Elizabeth. Group 5: Problem identification. Problem: The children’s magazines at Jo and Janet’s library, Independence Regional Library, were not being utilized as frequently as the library would have liked.
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Action research project Group 5: Jo, Susan, Janet, Heather, Andrea, Daniel, and Elizabeth
Group 5: Problem identification • Problem: The children’s magazines at Jo and Janet’s library, Independence Regional Library, were not being utilized as frequently as the library would have liked. • Question: Will the promotional location change of children’s periodicals affect their usage?
Group 5: Review of Literature • “Letting Go: How One Librarian Weeded a Children’s Magazine Collection” by Jennifer Bromann • In this article the author decided to “weed” her children’s magazine collection after noticing that 11 out of 30 magazines had never been checked out and some never left the shelves. Bromann argues that librarians have a responsibility to promote magazines with prominent displays and verbally recommend them to children. She also collaborated with teachers to assign the students research in specific magazines to introduce them to students. Bromann points out that print magazines should not be eliminated simply because most of them also have online components, particularly since online magazines can take a while to download and may not have all of the content of the print version (Bromann 44-46). • “Children’s Magazines and Collection Development” by Susan Patron • In this article the author notices that children enjoy the “browsability, topic-focused approach and glossy look magazines” (Patron 39). Magazines also tend to be visually more appealing and fun (Patron 42).
Group 5: Review of Literature, Part 2 • “The Balance Point: Serials in Service to Children and Youth” by Susan Wackerbarth, Cheryl Boettcher Tarsala, Samuel Jackendoff, Dale Bizub, and Kathy Bouchard • In this article the author conducted a study in public libraries in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. She noticed the effects of cuts in state funding to libraries and decided to study the children’s magazines collections at various local public libraries (Wackerbarth, et al. 99). She started by reevaluating the layout of the magazines in her own library in terms of how each different magazine attracted a child to pick it up and read it. • “Why I Love Children’s Magazines” by Lou Waryncia • In this article the author notes that magazines can serve as the gateway for kids to become lifelong readers. They are a fun and less daunting way to introduce reading to kids, as they are shorter in length, graphically diverse, accessible, and exciting (Waryncia 40-42).
Group 5: Plan of action • Evaluate the current location of the children’s magazine collection at Independence Regional Library. • Move shelving and the move magazines to new shelves. • Organize the Princeton files. • Create signage promoting the new area. • Gather prior moths statistics to compare with circulation statistics after the relocation. • Create a survey to gather additional data on how well the new arrangement is received by patrons.
Group 5: Data collection • Obtaining circulation statistics from the circulation manager was an important step in the data collection. Creating, displaying, promoting and collecting the surveys were another important aspect to the overall data collection.
Group 5: Analysis of data • February 2011: 13 magazines were borrowed by patrons. • *It’s important to know that there were more magazines in the libraries collection at this time. Since then the collection has been weeded and slimmed down. • February 2012: 4 magazines were borrowed by patrons. • March 1-15, 2012: 6 magazines were in circulation. • *Anticipated circulation for the whole month of March is double this amount. • Survey Results: All surveys were unanimously in favor of both magazines in general and of the new location.
Group 5: Plan for future action • Continue to feature material in a more prominent location. • Create a rotating display to encourage the circulation of any items placed in the display. • Make displays to coincide with certain extra-library events to draw in irregular patrons • The possibilities are truly endless!
