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Dissertation Information for Barbara Froling Immroth

NAME:
- Barbara Froling Immroth
- (Alias) Barbara Immroth

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science

SCHOOL:
- University of Pittsburgh (USA) (1980)

ADVISORS:
- None

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- None

MPACT Status: Fully Complete

Title: THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA PROGRAM IN A MULTITYPE LIBRARY NETWORK

Abstract: Cooperation among libraries is a venerable concept in library service. The problem of the information needs of children and young people was explored. Although youth comprise a significant proportion of the population, their information needs had been neglected or ignored in serious resource sharing discussions. School librarians had been treated as the stepchildren of the profession. More recently regional and state multitype library networks began including schools in their membership and a task force of school library media specialists developed a plan for their inclusion in the national program.

The literature revealed theoretical definitions and descriptions of networks in articles written by experts in the field. Each of these definitions or descriptions listed similar features as the necessary characteristics or components of a network. Selected among numerous articles about networking theory and practice four were chosen to be discussed in depth--the articles by Nolting, Swank, Casey and Montgomery. A matrix of network components compiled from these four articles was then matched to the components as described in the NCLIS report of the Task Force on the Role of the School Library Media Program in the National Program.

Although definitions of multitype systems exist, concrete evidence of the actual advantages and disadvantages for school library media specialists who participate in a multitype library network has not been collected and disseminated. This study gathered information from school library media specialists who were users or potential users of a multitype library system.

In order to profit from the experiences, positive and negative, of established network participants, background discussions with school library media specialists and network professionals in the Colorado Regional Library Service Systems were conducted. A questionnaire was formulated, tested and mailed to one person who had responsibility for running the school library media program in each of the 181 school districts in Colorado. The study was conducted during the school year 1978-79--the third year of operation for the multitype Regional Library Service Systems and was limited to the public school districts in the state of Colorado.

As a result of this study, information generated about the actual advantages and disadvantages to school library media specialists and their programs of participating in a multitype library network were compared to a matrix of network characteristics, and to the NCLIS Task Force Report for the inclusion of school library media programs in networks. The comparison of theory and practice made in this study led to the formation of the following conclusions: The Colorado RLSS have been successful in overcoming some inhibiting barriers. Strong leadership from the top has led to the inclusion of school media programs as equal members of the network; Professional isolation has decreased through joint participation in activities of mutual interest; Users usually received materials fast enough to satisfy their needs; Distance did not deter libraries from exchanging materials, over three-quarters reported exchanges of over twenty-five miles. In sum, a comparison of the actual experience of the participants in Colorado demonstrated the ability of a multitype library network to successfully include schools.

MPACT Scores for Barbara Froling Immroth

A = 6
C = 2
A+C = 8
T = 6
G = 1
W = 6
TD = 6
TA = 0
calculated 2010-09-28 00:35:15

Advisors and Advisees Graph

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Students under Barbara Froling Immroth

ADVISEES:
- Taghreed Mohammad Alqudsi - University of Texas, Austin (1988)
- Viki Ash-Geisler - University of Texas, Austin (1996)
- Amanda Williams - University of Texas, Austin (1998)
- Dorothy Elizabeth Haynes - University of Texas, Austin (1999)
- Belinda Boon - University of Texas, Austin (2006)
- Don Wade Hamerly - University of Texas, Austin (2009)

COMMITTEESHIPS:
- Kathleen Marie Eisenbeis - University of Texas, Austin (1992)
- Maria Elena Gonzalez - University of Texas, Austin (2008)