I went to a library that I encountered once last year when I had to design a field trip for an education class. It was the Science Library at the Museum of Science and Industry, a Public Library in the Hillsborough County Public Library System. (THIS BRANCH IS CLOSING AS OF THE END OF THIS WEEK, SEE MY PREVIOUS POST: http://thelibrary-whereitsat.blogspot.com/2011/04/science-library-at-mosi-closing.html ) The rationale for the library closing was a mutual decision by both museum and county. The Museum will be using the space as laboratories. The library staff members are being moved elsewhere in the county system, and the majority of the collection of realia will be housed at J.F. German library downtown.
The mission and history follow:
"The Science Library @ MOSI located in the main exhibition hall of the Museum of Science and Industry is a unique partnership between the Museum and the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative. The branch works collaboratively with MOSI to provide library resources, bibliographies and pathfinders for their exhibits, events and other partnerships. The branch is free and open to the public. The Science Library currently functions as a Media Center for the MOSI Partnership School, a School District of Hillsborough County Public School, housed at MOSI.
Realia is a unique collection only available at The Science Library @ MOSI. In addition to books, magazines, DVDs, and CDs, library patrons can checkout realia items such as microscopes, telescopes, slides, skeletons, globes, dissected animals, and a number of other Science and math related objects. The realia is an invaluable resource for teachers, students, homeschoolers, hobbyists and science enthusiasts of all ages." (http://www.hcplc.org/hcplc/locations/msi/)
" History: The Science Library @ MOSI was originally built to primarily meet the needs of the Hillsborough County's Citizens to have a core sciences collection. In the fall of 2007 with the addition of the MOSI Partnership School the library now has a larger juvenile collection. These materials include science and other subject matter that enhances the school's curriculum." (taken directly from the website before the end... http://www.hcplc.org/hcplc/locations/msi/)
The main clientele of the library or information center were lots of homeschooling families, and other patrons were mostly locals who bus/walk in from surrounding areas people. These local patrons were mostly looking for jobs; the few open access computers were full most of the days with people working on job searches. MOSI partnership school used the library as a media center twice a week, which explained hours on the two days. The partnership school will have books at a new space on site. Sulphur Springs & Egypt Lake are still partnership libraries.
A recent challenging situation encountered was how she had to trespass a patron – he was a regular, demanding of time, but became increasingly belligerent and aggressive (accused staff of taking rights away). It was difficult to walk fine line so as not to exacerbate situation even more.
The most satisfying thing about Mrs. Quinn's work at the Science Library was the interactions with one homeschooling family that checked out materials, takes homeschooling classes w MOSI, and mom does classes at library. Mrs. Quinn was able to watch family and kids grow, get to know patrons really well, and know that they know the library/librarian as community. Mrs. Quinn was drawn to the Public library; she was a children’s librarian and really enjoyed outreach to Headstarts/local schools, reading story time. She liked to watch children’s reactions to dissections/then amazed at the beauty of the butterfly. She found the interaction with people is best part. Because the center was so small she still did all manner of things including circulation.
Most of the questions at this location came from mostly parents looking for books for their kids projects, to foster something the child is interested in or something the schoolwork required. One recent caller called about intersecting galaxies and information on these, sent to planetarium to get info. Reserve books, internet information- ebook access. Teachers were not the standard patron, but home school parents were. The USF medical students would make a run on the skeletons during osteology exams.
There were 4 public service staff that included librarian, senior library assistant, library technical assistant, and part timer. All interacted with the public on some level.
The level of public access electronic resources are limited to certain databases purchased by the county. Library cards can be bought for $100 if one does not live in the county. Some electronic resources are only available at downtown, such as geneology, databases that may be very expensive.
The Science Library did not have a social media presence because such contact is restricted in part by the county; in order to have social media needs commissioners' approval. However, email and texting are done.
The most used resources and assets of this library were its largest collection: children’s materials, the science fiction DVD’s for adults, documentaries, and the Bill Nye series. The realia was frequently checked out, but not out as much as previous list of things.
The Science Library included children’s collection, easy non-fiction, k-young adult; and a small fiction section. It was geared towards being science library and also served as the school's library as well because of the school’s presence, including special collections of items like “Battle of the Books”.
Interlibrary is (was) very prevalent from other branches and since most patrons are local and had limited means of going to library away from the area. Some local residents and other patrons like USF students/staff used the science library as a drop off/pick up (about 10%). There was a slow shift over time and it was most recently less science specific. The downsized adult collection made room for kid’s collection, and the adult collection was shipped elsewhere in county.
Mrs. Quinn also told me a about the new system being tested. The County library system is experimenting with a floating system so that items are balanced. In other words if a patron returns a book to one library from another it will remain at the return library until it is checked out again or requested elsewhere. It means an item is home where ever it is returned, to save on shipping costs and reshelving time.
Electronic monitoring of internet is unnecessary as most inappropriate content blocked by the main server and filtered. It is not monitored because of privacy issues with the library codes of ethics.
I spoke with Mrs. Rebecca Quinn who received her MLIS in the east coast public library track from USF in 2007 .
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