At the start of this project I was really stuck for ideas in how to improve my library organization and access. For the most part I feel I have done so many major changes in only a few years of part time at this school.
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| Levelled reading bins |
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| Easy reader paper back bins |
When I came into this school the first thing I did was clean out the office, filing cabinets and other odds and ends. This amounted to 10-15 garbage bags of junk. I think took apart the easy reader section as the books were impossible for little kids to search through. I created reading bins for the paper backs and bins for authors and levelled reading books.
Next I started making it a fun place to be with all the wall decorations. The response was amazing. The entire school loved it. I had contests to see who could name all the flags. After that I brought in new novels for the intermediate students as the librarians before me were primary teachers. The novels were old and awful. I also created sections in an area for students moving from easy readers into easy novels. This way the students were not having issues finding these books at grade 2 or 3. Plus I added many great ideas like reading passports (where a student reads books from different categories to collect 'stamps' when finishing the book). I was given about $10,000 to upgrade the books over the past 3 years. The collection was in desperate need of it.
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| Book spinners with easy novel collections |
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| Div 4 and 5 - Reading Passports |
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Cabinets moved away from the wall for better access
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| Flags for decorations, colour coded chairs, these 5 cabinets were all connected, but I split them giving more space and access and creating ownership with each student responsible for a shelf |
This brings me to this past September. The library was running very smoothly. I have upgraded so many areas and brought in great lessons and guest speakers. The library went from a place to check out books to a fun place the kids wanted to be. There was a major turn around from what I had been told by the long term staff and parents. As you will read in the rational for each tab I will touch on where I started and where I am going with some of these areas. However, there have been major changes. Last September I decided it was time to start taking apart the library, doing the things that course work had discussed. Tossing out old items, wedding etc. Again the library looked so much better and was that much more efficient.
With this project I was not sure what else I could do. I think this is because I have recently completed an inventory, weeding project, and the major clean out. I was stuck looking for more direction. I went to my staff to ask for some pointers, suggestions, anything to help a tired mind and something that I can please them with even more by giving them what they want. I received only about 5 ideas which I have included in this project. Most of them said it was amazing already. I asked them 2 weeks ago and after I received those ideas I spurred on a few more ideas for me. I also thought back to some of my course work the last couple years to see what else I have not done that should be done for ideas. Some of the ideas are short term and some are long term giving this assignment long term goals for this library.
In the end, I am very happy with the ideas I have proposed. I know the assignment said to focus on a couple of areas. Well a number of mine are IT related and the rest are odds and ends that will help to make an amazing library into an even better one. I often hear the compliments from the TOCs and visiting teachers about how great my library is and how well it is organized and run. I take great pride in this and I cannot wait to add some of the new features I have brought forward in this project. I think the staff and the students will be extremely happy with the changes.
With each project I do for this diploma I try to make it actually apply to my work so it feels justified. With this project I feel I have created a checklist of ideas that I can use over the next couple of years to help improve the library. I am sure once I finish a few of the additions that new ideas and additions will be created.
The ideas listed on the tabs do include both organization and access. Organization with regards to the garbage continuing to be tossed out and creating a policy for something I have to fall back onto incase I ever need to. Access in regards to making it a more inviting environment with pillows to sit and read with, book and games clubs, tv with Apple TV, documents camera, smart board, and online access with book reviews. Promotion of the library was also explored with more promotion on the bulletin boards with Dewey posters and using the trophy case for book promotions, along with using the newsletter even more. All areas of the library were considered when doing this project. I feel that improving both organization and access at the same time go together. I have done this with every change I have done over the past years. By improving the organization of the library the access to the library increases and when you bring in a new idea, lessons, or accessory to the library to improve access and making it more exciting you need to be organized with that item.
With this project I was not sure what else I could do. I think this is because I have recently completed an inventory, weeding project, and the major clean out. I was stuck looking for more direction. I went to my staff to ask for some pointers, suggestions, anything to help a tired mind and something that I can please them with even more by giving them what they want. I received only about 5 ideas which I have included in this project. Most of them said it was amazing already. I asked them 2 weeks ago and after I received those ideas I spurred on a few more ideas for me. I also thought back to some of my course work the last couple years to see what else I have not done that should be done for ideas. Some of the ideas are short term and some are long term giving this assignment long term goals for this library.
In the end, I am very happy with the ideas I have proposed. I know the assignment said to focus on a couple of areas. Well a number of mine are IT related and the rest are odds and ends that will help to make an amazing library into an even better one. I often hear the compliments from the TOCs and visiting teachers about how great my library is and how well it is organized and run. I take great pride in this and I cannot wait to add some of the new features I have brought forward in this project. I think the staff and the students will be extremely happy with the changes.
With each project I do for this diploma I try to make it actually apply to my work so it feels justified. With this project I feel I have created a checklist of ideas that I can use over the next couple of years to help improve the library. I am sure once I finish a few of the additions that new ideas and additions will be created.
The ideas listed on the tabs do include both organization and access. Organization with regards to the garbage continuing to be tossed out and creating a policy for something I have to fall back onto incase I ever need to. Access in regards to making it a more inviting environment with pillows to sit and read with, book and games clubs, tv with Apple TV, documents camera, smart board, and online access with book reviews. Promotion of the library was also explored with more promotion on the bulletin boards with Dewey posters and using the trophy case for book promotions, along with using the newsletter even more. All areas of the library were considered when doing this project. I feel that improving both organization and access at the same time go together. I have done this with every change I have done over the past years. By improving the organization of the library the access to the library increases and when you bring in a new idea, lessons, or accessory to the library to improve access and making it more exciting you need to be organized with that item.
