In addition to the faculty-teacher partnerships, Bravo and USC have created a network among their libraries. High school students from Bravo now have access to a special USC medical school library collection designed to support research in science and medicine but that also includes literature and biographical materials. The new resources have created a resurgence in library usage across the campus. Connecting library collections via networks is only one technological method being used to improve school media centers. Many fear that the ability to access vast amounts of information merely by using a computer with an Internet connection will diminish the role of the conventional library in society.
Some experts disagree.
That is exactly what the Library of Congress is hoping the National Digital Library will do. The National Digital Library's goal is to digitize and make available online, at no cost, five million important American historical materials by the end of the year 2000. One of the most exciting aspects of the Library of Congress' effort is the unveiling of many rare and delicate items preserved by the Library that have never been seen before by the public. The Learning Page offers specially designed sample lesson plans, history features, games, and activities tailored to the primary materials offered in American Memory. This tool is in fact being used in school libraries throughout the country.