I am one who rethinks about space a lot. I spend a little time now and then looking at the library commons I manage and try to figure out what would be the best way to manage the space, especially on the limited budget I have. I started a coffee shoppe last year and that has brought in a little income that I can use for my space, but not enough. At this current moment, my library space is merely a book search area. I want to change it to more of a tech hub/ nook/ reading space. I want kids to come in and find a spot to relax and get comfortable. I want to get new shelving so we can provide the students more open areas and we have more visibility.
I have started my process by watching sales and the internet. I was lucky with one acquisition. The local library where I live was having a garage sale and I was the first to respond. I got these great work chairs where kids can sit and work on the computer at the same time. Things like that help me make the space where I work better for the kids. They come in, find a spot, sit and work.
This summer, we are even going farther. Our custodial manager is also a master carpenter and we have asked him to build us some reading nooks. Our library is loaded with windows, and the way we moved our shelves to out exterior walls allow for little window seats. We are so excited to see that and the kids are too (mostly so they can text and read a book).
We are diligently working on a few grants too that might get us some money to buy shelving. If we get that, the space we have will look like a totally new library.
Showing posts with label Learning Commons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Learning Commons. Show all posts
Friday, February 14, 2014
Friday, August 9, 2013
The Learning Commons: What? How?
I was at a conference a few weeks back and Vicki Davis (AKA Coolcatteacher) was a guest speaker and I was fortunate and honored to spend a little bit of time talking to her. I have followed her blog for awhile and I have admired what she is doing with her flattened classroom projects. As we talked, we started talking about the changes I have made to my media center. She told me maybe someday I would have a learning commons. Come to find out, I already do and I didn't even know it!
What is a learning commons? It's a way to integrate many disciplines into the library. It provides spaces (almost like centers in elementary) where students can socialize, explore and do more hands on things. Often, there is a lax regulation about cell phones, drinks and food and a more cozy sitting space. I HAVE ALL OF THOSE THINGS! (Sorry for the all caps, I am not yelling, but I am excited that I integrated something this amazing with no knowledge of what I was doing. I just did it for the kids!) I have spent the last three years as the media specialist integrating seating, shelving changes, a genre specific fiction section, a categorized non-fiction section, implementation of more databases and websites, everything that happens with a library commons. I even have the coffee shop!
Now, part of the niche of this is integrating the technology. My school is 1:1, but, I still have a few self standing stations where I encourage kids to do different things. My goal is to hand a few of my frequent flyers a video camera and challenge them to build book trailers for the website. What a better way to promote reading than to build a book trailer!
I also want them to be able to expand their information about other places, other disciplines and other genres. What a better way to get kids interested in reading than to offer them a space where they can collaborate. A lot of my kids have been force fed AR since they were very young, so many of them don't find the pleasure I do in reading a book for fun. Our Junior High teachers have done a great job encouraging reading by offering in class books clubs, weekly visits and book reports, and stepping up to my challenge to read state award nominees and voting. This has helped build some pleasure in the book.
My hope is that offering a library commons with spaces to socialize, collaborate and explore will lead my students to enjoy reading and embrace the many things a library (or learning commons) have to offer.
What is a learning commons? It's a way to integrate many disciplines into the library. It provides spaces (almost like centers in elementary) where students can socialize, explore and do more hands on things. Often, there is a lax regulation about cell phones, drinks and food and a more cozy sitting space. I HAVE ALL OF THOSE THINGS! (Sorry for the all caps, I am not yelling, but I am excited that I integrated something this amazing with no knowledge of what I was doing. I just did it for the kids!) I have spent the last three years as the media specialist integrating seating, shelving changes, a genre specific fiction section, a categorized non-fiction section, implementation of more databases and websites, everything that happens with a library commons. I even have the coffee shop!
Now, part of the niche of this is integrating the technology. My school is 1:1, but, I still have a few self standing stations where I encourage kids to do different things. My goal is to hand a few of my frequent flyers a video camera and challenge them to build book trailers for the website. What a better way to promote reading than to build a book trailer!
I also want them to be able to expand their information about other places, other disciplines and other genres. What a better way to get kids interested in reading than to offer them a space where they can collaborate. A lot of my kids have been force fed AR since they were very young, so many of them don't find the pleasure I do in reading a book for fun. Our Junior High teachers have done a great job encouraging reading by offering in class books clubs, weekly visits and book reports, and stepping up to my challenge to read state award nominees and voting. This has helped build some pleasure in the book.
My hope is that offering a library commons with spaces to socialize, collaborate and explore will lead my students to enjoy reading and embrace the many things a library (or learning commons) have to offer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)