As school library media specialists, we may never be directly involved in building a new center or in a complete renovation plan. Rather we often take over a facility in a new position and “inherit” a library media center that was built much earlier. However, we will likely be involved in making many smaller but very important facility changes.
As the needs and functions of the library program evolve, the facility must too change.
A large storeroom is used for housing back issues of magazines and periodicals. The collection goes back for years. Donations were accepted from the community, almost nothing was ever discarded and multiple copies of every issue of National Geographic are there.
The center was built years ago; an addition was made and today the main room is crammed with computer workstations sprinkled about, the library automation system and several terminals are at the checkout desk. Tables and seating are crammed in with bookcases filling the main sections of the library from wall to wall.
Your predecessor gathered clipped magazine and newspaper articles, maps, pamphlets and brochures for several years. This has evolved into a huge vertical file collection that is kept in a series of file cabinets in a prominent section of the library. You are looking for space to add computer workstations for online research and subscription databases.
These are all real cases. In some cases the needed changes may seem fairly obvious. Most library media facilities can be improved in some way. Congested traffic areas can be eliminated or improved. Priorities within the collection shift. Room is needed to accommodate a new initiative.
Example - a number of students are interested in starting clubs at school (reading club, science club, etc). They have sought your assistance and need space to gather. You would like to create a leisure section where they can meet and have access to library resources.
A majority of these changes involve small improvements made to sections of the library media facility. Occasionally an entire collection needs to be rearranged or moved.
Check Your Understanding
Create a plan for renewal project that would make a school library media center more effective, efficient, or appealing. This project shouldn't involve much time or money. You may wish to base this on conditions you observed in your school visit.
Make It Real
Examine a school library media center. Create a list of things that you could do to make the area more effective, efficient, or appealing. Compare your list with the ideas of the library media specialist.
Read More About It
Chappell, Shirien. Planning Shifts of Library Collections. University of Oregon Libraries.
http://libweb.uoregon.edu/acs_svc/shift/index.html
Hornbach, Sue. Moving a Library: The Planning Stages or You Can’t Always Get What You Want (PowerPoint document).
http://www.mame.gen.mi.us/profdev/mame26/handouts/moving.ppt
PowerPoint presentation
Miller, Susan. Chocolate Changes. Michigan Association for Media in Education (PDF document).
http://www.mame.gen.mi.us/profdev/mame26/handouts/chocolate.pdf
This is a PDF file of a presentation on moving and/or renovating a library.