Granby High School
Granby High School was closed to the public but, luckily, I have someone on the inside who snuck me some pictures and info. Like all great bloggers (and especially the not great ones) , I cannot reveal my sources.
Granby High School was built in 1939 and is a beloved Norfolk Institution, housing the system’s prestigious I.B. program. According to the library’s website, the school’s literary magazine is called The Cupola, a clear reference to one of the building’s original structures.
The library is staffed by 3 people, two certified teachers and a media assistant. Surprisingly, no one has an MLS.
The library uses the Dewey Decimal cataloging system. It offers a large collection of digital materials, available to all Norfolk Public Schools students which, despite being a parent of one for seven years, I did not know but will be taking advantage of! The library website offers tips and tricks for how and when to cite and encourages students to seek additional help “IRL” if necessary.
The information on the website indicates this is a library working to prepare its students for the information-based challenges they will face in the future.
References:
Rubin, R. E. and Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman.
Photos: Tennille Cyphers (2020)
I wonder what the library is doing exactly to help the students face those challenges?
Should I be surprised that none of the staff has an MLIS? Most schools just require the endorsement which I think you can still get as an undergrad. I can certainly see the benefits and the deep thinking that a person with an MLIS might bring. Their webpage seems to have the essential information and it seems their digital resources are on par with what you would want to see.
I am so surprised no one has an MLIS. All the teachers I know that have moved into the library had to get their MLIS.
I assume the librarians have the School Librarianship endorsement, though? That’s what I have–a Master of Education in School Librarianship. It’s weird that it exists separately from the MLS (and that’s why I’m in this program now), but there is a ton of overlap. The building was built in 1939? Do you know when the library was last updated? It looks pretty old!
This building looks historic, and the library looks like it’s a bit outdated from the photos. I am wondering if there are any limitations in renovating due to the building’s age? I am not seeing a lot of computers in the photos you’ve included, which I feel like students would get a lot of use out of!