For my second library visit, I decided to highlight the library at the school where I work, Greenbrier Primary. The school was built in 1986 and is a bit dated in general, but for its age, I think it looks pretty good. There is no website for the library itself but information about the Follette Destiny library catalog can be accessed through the school website. There are also links to eBook websites such as Pebble Go and Epic for students to use as well.
The library is centrally located in the building and can be accessed from both the first and second grade hallways. As I enter from the second-grade door, there are professional books and magazines on the left as well as TV carts, videos, and audio books. There are two small office spaces, one for the school librarian, and the other for the school psychologist. The checkout counter where the library assistant works is located between the two offices.
Beginning on the wall from the first-grade entrance, bookshelves line the remaining walls of the library. The shelves are filled with picture and chapter books for early readers. Tables are set up to display popular books, themed books, or books that might otherwise be overlooked to help increase their circulation. Seats for the children are still set up in socially distant rows instead of clustered around tables which is a side effect of the pandemic.
Because the library is in an interior room with no windows, it is a bit dark but there are ample fluorescent lights to brighten it up. Above the shelves, a multicolored stripe has been painted which adds a bit of color to the space. There are also framed pictures of story book characters hanging above the shelves and more books set out on display.
The fiction books are arranged in alphabetical order and the non-fiction books using the Dewey Decimal System. To help the children find their books, the librarian has hung small pictures of characters or topics at the top of the bookshelves. She also teaches the 2nd graders to use the Follette Destiny library catalog on desktop computers to find books of interest. This is important because “children learn best when they are able to explore subjects of interest to them” (Rubin and Rubin, 2020, p.66).
The center of the library is divided into two sections by a projection screen. On one side of the screen, the librarian teaches her lessons. On the other side, tables are set up for teacher assistants and other support staff to bring children to work in small groups. In addition to the space being used for tutoring type activities, it is used for children that need to quarantine while eating lunch. It is also where events like school pictures and book fairs are set up. If needed, it is a place where students can wait before and after school. Flexibility is key to working in every part of the school including the school library.
Resources
Library/Media Center. (n.d.). Greenbrier Primary School. https://cpschools.com/grp/student-panther-page/
Rubin, R. E. and Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman.
Hello Jennifer,
The painted colors and pictures on the walls help to brighten up the library. When looking at the first picture, I tried picturing myself as a kid going there for the first time and seeing all those books; it would be overwhelming, but exciting to look through them all. I think it is great the librarians teach the kids how to use the use the system and become self-sufficient. Your library has many other uses and that is impressive; I wonder why they put the phycologist there? Thanks for sharing!
Jason
Due to the construction of new apartments and townhouses in our zone, we have outgrown our school. One of the results is they made what I believe used to be a storage room for the librarian into an office space that the psychologist uses when she comes to meet with students. It has a wall of windows so it may have originally been intended as office space anyway.
You think the books being out are too stimulating? I know some classrooms are too busy or disorganized for me, and I would have a hard time concentrating if I had to work in there. I’ll have to keep that in mind when I am a school librarian. Thanks for the input.
Hello Jennifer,
That is interesting about the space in your school; have to make do with what you have and if a storage room is needed to be an office, than so be it. I had to do that to our supply room about 10 years ago for a n assistant manager coming in. We had no extra rooms and this person was promised one so we made one and overcrowded another room with supplies.
I hope I didn’t offend when I said I would be overwhelmed and excited, I didn’t mean anything bad about it and it is very impressive they have so many books.
Not offended in the least, Jason. You have to find the right balance between inviting and overstimulating when decorating in a learning environment. I’m so used to this space, the perspective of someone new is appreciated.
Hi Jennifer!
I think the idea of visual cues for books is a GREAT idea! I’ll have to adapt that for the space I’m in.
You were right about the bright lighting – I think it’s a good solution to having an interior room. The color scheme was lots of fun!
Does your school only have 1st and 2nd grade students? Wild!
Is the professional section ever used? That was one of the first things I moved when I got my position – twenty feet of space used when the books had NEVER been checked out! (We reorganized and made a space especially for 5th graders).
Great job on the write up!
Karen
We are a primary school so just Pre-K through 2nd. I’d never heard of it until I got hired in the district. I thought the little pictures were a great idea too and will have to remember that when I get hired as a librarian. I don’t think that the professional section gets used much anymore. I know before Teacher’s Pay Teachers I used to flip through them to get ideas, but not so much anymore.
The children’s are is so adorable! I love how colorful and fun the space looks. I do wish that they had more windows. I also think its nice how the school psychologist has a space in the library i’m sure that makes the students more comfortable when working with he/her. Your last sentence it my favorite from the post. Flexibility is any environment is important and I agree for a library it’s a must.