The Impact of Technology on School Library Media Centers in Two Florida School Districts

Abstract

In the last two decades technology has had a tremendous impact on school library media centers and personnel. The purposes of this study are to investigate the effects of technology on (1) school library media programs, (2) collections, (3) jobs of media personnel, and (4) student learning in media centers, and to determine if media staffing influences such effects. Twenty-- three media personnel in two Florida school districts with different media staffing procedures were administered open-ended questionnaires. In both districts technology had positive effects on provision of information resources in many formats to accommodate a variety of student learning styles, management of the media center, and creation of enthusiasm and interest in learning. It appeared that differences in district staffing and funding affected feelings about the impact of technology on jobs and the media collection.