It is the function of the School Library System to develop and maintain a union
catalog, provide interlibrary loan, continue professional development for library
media specialists, communicate professional concerns through newsletters, faxes,
email, and liaison meetings, and support cooperative collection development and
electronic databases.
At Eastern Suffolk BOCES Co-Ser 516 Library Services/Media is a shared service for
the purchase and use of online databases to the students, teachers and librarians
in each of the participating buildings. The Virtual Reference Collection (VRC) is
a selection of databases and special software that permits the user to log in with
the same password for each of the different databases, and then continue to search
moving from one to another. This access is available from the building site and
home. Also, available through Co-Ser 516, is the Digital Media Library (DML). This
service provides videostreaming appropriate for grades K-12. Training in the use
of VRC and DML is provided.
Library Automation Co-Ser 508 assists districts in automating the library collection
so students and staff can easily access information electronically. The automation
systems from Media Flex, Inc. (OPALS) and Follett (Circ Cat and Destiny) are supported.
User group meetings are held to keep the participants updated on the features of
the system software.
Ninety (90%) percent of the buildings have been designated NOVELNY Ready Electronic
Doorway Libraries, EDL's. According to the New York State Library, an electronic
doorway library is an integral part of the statewide community that makes use of
computers and telecommunications technology with a full range of library resources
and skilled library personnel. The school library media specialists help their students
and staff to evaluate and use information within and beyond the building walls.
