December 3, 2014

Dear Mr. Wright:

The library collection is an important part of our ongoing efforts to improve SOL test
scores and make Annual Yearly Progress. It is important that our library collection
contains the materials needed to assist both teachers and students in the various
tested subject areas, as well as the specific categories of information covered by the
tests. I sat down with Cathie Mumford, Social Studies Department Chairperson, to
discuss the SOL test data produced by her department last year. In disaggregating
the data, we found there were testing categories in which students overall
(including the various subgroups), consistently struggled. The scores in these
categories contained a greater number of incorrect responses that the mean of
incorrect answers overall, indicating that even students who did well on other
portions of the test, performed poorly in these areas.
The problem areas that we have identified include the following scoring categories
by content area:
World History I

World History II

U.S. History

Nomads, the Paleolithic and Neolithic

periods, the Roman Republic and its fall,
and trade routes
Geography (historical maps) the
Enlightenment, and the Age of
Revolutions (scientific, Latin American,
French
The Colonial Era, the Constitutional
period

With this information, I went to the library to analyze our collection for completion
and relevancy in these areas. I began in the stacks, in the 900s section, and
noticed that it seemed there were some of the above content areas that had plenty
of materials that were on the newer side. On the other hand, there were some
areas that seemed to be lacking in materials. Many of the materials in the 900s
section appear to be rather dated.
I then met with librarian Jane Katoulka to analyze the collection quantitatively using
the TitleWise Collection Analysis Report. The Geography and History (900s) section
of our library represents 10.23% of the librarys total holdings, which is good.
Unfortunately, our collection is extremely dated. In this section of the collection,
best practice dictates that books be retained and circulated in most cases for five
years maximum. To underscore this point, materials in our section on Geography,

Maps, and Atlases (910-919) should be kept for five years. Out of 70 items that we
have available for students and teachers in the section, 66 are considered aged,
or unacceptably old. This is an astounding 94.29% of the items in that section, an
area in which students are floundering on their SOLs.
The problem is pervasive. The Geography and History section contains 99 items
and the History of the Ancient World section contains 72 items. In both sections,
the average publication date of these items is 1998. The books in these critical
sections are, on average, nearly 17 years old. The other problem areas are in
only marginally better shape, and also do not reflect best practice. In the General
History of Europe section, we have 245 items with an average publication date of
2003 (11 years old) and in General History of North America, there are 388 items
with an average publication date of 2000 (14 years old). These areas of critical
need require some updates in the library.
Obviously, with budget considerations, we cannot expect to overhaul the entire
900s section today, or even this year. I have come up with ten items, the total cost
of which is just over $600, which will bolster our collection for the upcoming testing
season in the areas in which students struggle the most, based on the data: The
Colonial Era, historical maps, the Enlightenment, and the Roman Empire. The items
were chosen based on appeal, ease of use, and relevancy to the problem testing
scoring categories. I also chose items that would appeal to teachers and a wide
range of student interests and ability levels. Most of the items are at a high school
or adult interest level, but a few are appropriate for struggling readers or ELL
students. Hopefully each year we will be able to zero in on new areas of need, as
the budget allows.
While conducting this analysis, I also stumbled upon anecdotal evidence of a related
problem. The library team reports that, The social studies department NEVER
comes to the library. The implication is why we would then spend money on social
studies materials for classes that do not use them. On the other hand, the social
studies teachers report that they do not come to the library because there is no
longer time for fun things like the library because all of their time is focused on
test preparation. If we could improve our collection in the areas of need, and then
communicate that the librarians are here to assist with test preparation (ideally in a
fun and interesting way), we could most certainly stop this cycle of circular
reasoning and work together to improve student learning.
Please find my purchasing recommendations attached.
Thank you for taking the time to read my analysis.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Grace OConnor

Kathleen Grace OConnor
Current English Teacher
Your Future Librarian

Annotated Bibliography of Recommended Resources

The following titles are available from Follett.
Wave wish list pending approval for purchase:

They have been saved in our Title

Books
Gibbon, E. (2005). The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
(Vol. 1 and 2). New York: Penguin Books.
Paperback $22.15
Collects the first two books in Edward Gibbons six-volume series from the
eighteenth century that chronicles the history of the Roman Empire from the
second through the fifteenth century.
Hakim, J. (2009). From Colonies to Country. Oxford University Press.
Hardcover $27.00
Presents an overview of American history from 1735 to 1791, providing
information on the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary Wars, the
Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and more.
Hakim, J. (2009). Making Thirteen Colonies. Oxford University Press.
Hardcover $27.00
Presents a history of colonial America between 1600 and 1740 including such
topics as the Jamestown colony, the Mayflower, interaction with the natives,
and important figures such as Benjamin Franklin, Roger Williams, and more.
Audiovisual
Burns, James Macgregor. Fire and Light: How the Enlightenment
Transformed Our World [Audio presentation on MP3]. (2013). Tantor
Media.
$29.99
(also available
in hardcover book for 27.99)
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, Burns explores how
the ideals of the Enlightenment (liberty, equality and happiness) were

instrumental in shaping modern governments and sparked revolutions in

Britain, America and France.
Heroes of the Enlightenment: How Power Came to the People. [DVD Set].
2013. New York: Films for the Humanities and Sciences
$183.60
Explores the contributions of Nicolas de Condorcet, Thomas Jefferson, and
Frederick the Great towards the Enlightenment t ideals of 18 th Century
society.
Historical Maps on File. [CDR] (2008). Facts on File: New York.
Contains hundreds of historical maps on ancient civilizations, medieval
Europe, Europe between 1500 and1815, Europe between 1815 and the 21 st
Century, the Western Hemisphere, Africa and the Middle East, Asia, Australia,
and the U.S.

The Holy Roman Empire. [DVD]. (2010). Wynnewood, PA: Schlessinger

Media.
$39.95
Investigates the fall of the Roman Empire, discussing the extent of the
civilization, the significance of the relationships between German emperors
and the Roman Catholic Church, and factors that contributed to the empires
decline.
The following titles are available on Amazon.
Aronson, Mark. John Winthrop, Oliver Cromwell, and the Land of Promise.
(2004). New York: Clarion Books.
This carefully researched and insightful account focuses on the intertwined
lives of John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony,
and Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Puritan Commonwealth in England.
Set against a broad canvas of the turmoil that engulfed Britain in the 17 th
Century, the book examines the clashes of the monarchy and the church with
Parliament, which led these two powerful men to take opposite courses.
Rome: The Rise and Fall of An Empire [4-DVD Set] (2009). The History
Channel.
$19.99
From a small republic, it grew into the greatest empire ever known, lasting for
over six hundred years. At its zenith, it stretched from London to Baghdad,
projecting its power with the first professional army and creating the model of
Western Civilization. And yet, when the Empire begins to falter, it collapses
with shocking speed. It only takes one hundred years for the imperial edifice
of Rome to vanish like smoke, swept away by the barbarian invasions. How
did it happen?

America: The Story of Us. Season 1 (2010) [DVD set]. The History
Channel.
$29.99*
From Jamestown to Plymouth, early settlers fight for survival. Tobacco sows
the seeds of opportunity in the south, the north becomes a powerhouse of
trade, and the American spirit is born.

*this series and many others are available to view FREE with an Amazon Prime
membership, which I also recommend as a worthwhile investment for our library.